Real reason you might spot 'white dots' on your nails

Have you ever removed your nail polish only to notice 'white dots' underneath?

If it's just a one off, you might have ignored it, but if it keeps happening or if you have lots of them, is it something to be worried about your health?

Our body can show us that something isn't right in many weird and wonderful ways, but sometimes what seems like a serious symptom can in fact be entirely harmless.

How can you tell the difference, and when should you be worried?

Injuring your hands could cause white spots to appear (Getty Stock Image/Thai Liang Lim)

What are the white spots on my nails called?

The pesky white spots are called leukonychia, and it comes in a few different forms:

• True leukonychia - in this type you might notice that the white spots form in the part of your fingers or toes where the nail starts to grow, and they also appear in the hard part of your nail, called the nail plate.
• Apparent leukonychia - where the spots form in your nail bed.
• Pseudoleukonychia - where the white spots form on the surface of your nail. This can often caused by things like nail fungus.

Any of the types can appear as simply one or two medium-sized spots, or they could be many tiny specks.

Some others may develop large spots on just one or several nails. In others, the spots may be very large. You may have spots on only one nail, or you may have spots on many nails.

What causes these white spots?

Developing these white spots usually mean that you have experienced some sort of stress or trauma to the nail.

This could be from something obvious, like hitting your nail during DIY or simply hitting it hard on a surface.

It could also be because of an allergic reaction, or could be a side effect of a medication.

Fungal infections can also cause nail discolouration which mimics the white spots seen in the other types.

However, according to Cleveland Clinic, in rare circumstances they can be a sign of diabetes, heart failure, HIV, psoriasis or more.

Some hereditary conditions such as Bart-Pumphrey syndrome and Darier disease can also cause the white spots.

The spots can be concerning but are usually harmless (Getty Stock Image/MementoJpeg)

What about deficiencies?

It has often been thought that white spots in your nails are a symptom of a vitamin deficiency or not getting enough calcium.

Experts aren't sure whether deficiencies cause the white spots to appear.

Some believe it's down to a lack of iron, calcium and zinc, but many professionals say there isn't enough research to know for sure.

There isn’t enough research to make any accurate conclusions.

How can I get rid of the white spots?

Treatment for the spots depends on what caused them.

If they have been caused by injuries, there is nothing you can do besides wait for them to grow out.

If there is no obvious injury and you keep getting them, it might be worth a doctors appointment to rule out anything serious or a fungal infection.

The pesky white spots are called leukonychia (Getty Stock Image/Evgeniya Krasnova)

How can I prevent white spots on my nails?

The most important thing is to be gentle with your nails.

Be careful when doing DIY, and wear gloves if doing any activities which could be rough on your nails like playing sports, manual labour or similar.

Moisturising your hands or nails and keeping them trimmed short can also help, as well as avoiding irritating chemicals.