You can tell a lot about a person by the condition of their nails. And not only about how he takes care of himself, but also about his state of health. If the fingernails or fingernails turn white, this may indicate the presence of various diseases, the presence of which a person may not even suspect. And now you will find out exactly what pathologies we are talking about.
Are your nails white? In fact, this can be caused by various factors, both external and internal.
If someone in your family had pale nails from birth, then it is quite possible that this “feature” was passed on to you. In this case, there is no need to take any urgent measures. But it won't hurt to undergo a full examination. Indeed, sometimes such a symptom may indicate the presence of congenital or chronic diseases, which we will also talk about a little later.
If your toenail or fingernail suddenly turns white, it may be due to frequent exposure to chemicals. Remember what products you have used recently and be sure to eliminate them from your daily routine. Otherwise, the rest of your nails may turn white.
Quite often you hear from women that if they painted their nails, they turned white and swollen. This is a common allergic reaction to varnish. In general, frequent use of cheap varnishes has a negative effect on nails. Not only may they turn white and swell, but they may also begin to pull away from the nail bed. After all, such varnishes contain very harmful chemicals that destroy the nail. Therefore, the only correct solution in this case is to refuse all varnishes until the nails are restored.
There are many reasons why a nail turns white. The most common of these is iron deficiency anemia. This is a condition in which there is a lack of iron in the body. But without it, oxygen starvation begins in the body, since iron is the transporter of oxygen.
With iron deficiency anemia, the shape of the nails changes - they become concave, like a spoon.
You need to see a doctor and get a blood test. It will show whether you have iron deficiency anemia or not. If so, then you need to undergo treatment, which includes taking iron supplements and a therapeutic diet.
When the nails turn white and small dents (holes) appear on their surface, this is a clear symptom of a malfunction of the spleen. In this case, you also need to seek help from a doctor, undergo an examination and establish the exact cause of such a violation.
If the nail turns white and moves away from the finger, this is a clear sign of onychomycosis. Popularly this disease is called nail fungus. There are several symptoms of the development of this disease, the first of which is the appearance of white spots or longitudinal threads on the nail plates.
Over time, these spots and threads can grow and change color, becoming a dirty gray. At the same time, the nail itself thickens, changes its shape and begins to crumble. Treatment of nail fungus should only be done under the supervision of a doctor.
If your nails turn white all around, then it is likely that you were previously injured. This could happen when your foot or hand hits a hard object or during manicure, such as trimming or filing your nails.
Often women resort to such a procedure as polishing their nails. And if it is not done correctly, it can also cause damage to the nail plate and change its color.
If the nail turns white and its tip becomes flat and split, then this is the first sign of infection of the body with parasites - worms. In this case, a person needs to undergo treatment with special drugs or traditional medicine. In this case they are also effective.
Autoimmune diseases are very dangerous. After all, during their development, a struggle occurs between the body and its immune system. With such diseases, antibodies produced by the immune system begin to destroy the body's cells. This can happen for various reasons.
But such diseases can be recognized by pale nails, in the middle of which there is a red spot. It is this symptom that should alert a person and force him to urgently consult a specialist. After all, if treatment for an autoimmune disease is not started in time, it can lead to dire consequences.
Remember, there are many reasons why a fingernail or toenail hurts. You still won’t be able to make a correct diagnosis on your own, so it’s better not to risk your health, but immediately seek help from a specialist.
Toenails may hurt due to flat feet. In addition to yellow, toenails can also take on other colors. Initially, only the nail turns blue, and then the tip of the finger. If your toenail turns white, it may be due to a recent injury. If not only your nails, but also your fingers hurt, you should immediately seek medical help. Damage to the nail plate on the toe can also cause pain. If your nail hurts very much, and you won’t see a doctor until tomorrow, take a painkiller.
Even an improperly cut nail can cause discomfort, although in some cases, pain indicates more serious health problems. One of the most common causes of pain in the big toe area is wearing very tight shoes and high heels.
To prevent foot pain from bothering you, first of all, you need to choose the right shoes, it is best that they are made of natural materials. When the situation is not very critical, you can get by with home treatment methods, for example, compresses, but if the nail is very seriously injured, seek help from a qualified specialist.
The nail plate grows into the fold, thereby causing sharp pain while walking and more. The cause of such problems can be an incorrectly done pedicure on the feet; it is recommended to cut the nails not in a semicircle, but in a straight line, this way you will avoid the process of ingrown nails.
Due to constant wearing of uncomfortable shoes, the toes are in the wrong position and are subject to deformation. If your toe continues to hurt even after taking medications, it makes sense to change the treatment. Quite often, pain in the nail is felt by people suffering from gout. During the examination, the doctor pays special attention to the place where the pain on the finger or nail manifests itself most strongly with light pressure.
In such cases, it is best to be examined, since in order to establish the true cause of the pain, you will have to take an x-ray. Although, in most cases, if the bones on both legs hurt, this is the first symptom of the appearance of “bumps”. Depending on why your finger hurts, it is necessary to carry out suitable treatment to eliminate the exact cause of the disease.
For example, if the nail has not yet grown very deeply into the finger, it is enough to regularly use baths with antiseptic agents and undergo the hot scissors procedure. For example, purulent-inflammatory processes may occur, which are very dangerous, especially with low immunity, since inflammation can spread deep into the tissues and cause gangrene.
If the nail hurts due to gout, first of all, the patient is prescribed dietary nutrition. Fatty meats are completely excluded from the menu; instead, it is recommended to eat as many greens, fruits and vegetables as possible so that the body receives all the necessary vitamins.
These white spots slowly move towards the outer edge of the nail as it grows. The most common factor that can lead to white spots on the nails is a fungal infection. People who frequently get pedicures with shellac or varnish may notice white spots because starving the nail of oxygen encourages fungal growth.
Wearing tightly closed shoes most of the time can also deprive your nails of air, thus encouraging the spread of fungus. There are three types of fungi that can affect nails, including yeast, mold, and dermatophytes. The initial stage of a fungal infection can last for many years, giving the infection plenty of time to take hold and spread.
Please note that white spots appear on the nail several days or even weeks after the damage. The appearance of white patches on the nails may be an allergic reaction to a product such as nail polish, nail polish remover, etc.
While most causes of white spots on nails are not serious, some conditions can manifest as nail discoloration. Nail discoloration rarely poses a serious health threat. To get rid of white spots on nails, you can use traditional home remedies or natural medicinal products.
Very often, the reason for changes in the natural color and structure of nails lies in diseases of the internal organs. If the nail on the big toe turns yellow, white, blue, or begins to peel, then this is a clear sign that some pathological process is occurring in the body. Not only the color of the nail changes, but also the surrounding tissues. Nails affected by fungus become weaker and peel.