Your nails are hard plates formed mainly from keratin, a protein that also exists in your hair. The primary function of your nails is to protect the sensitive areas of your fingers and toes. Finger- and toenails are most often clear. A white coloring of the nails might not be anything to worry about if you are healthy, but whiteness of the nails can also indicate a range of underlying health conditions.
Normal Nails
Healthy nails are colorless, except for a pale white half-moon shape at the bottom of the nail bed. Your nails might also appear white when they grow past your fingertip or toes. This pattern of white coloring is completely normal and no cause for concern. You might be born with white streaks on your nails. This form of discoloration, when you and your nails are otherwise healthy, does not necessarily indicate poor health.Drugs and Chemicals
Your nails might appear white in areas if you have been exposed to certain drugs or chemicals. Chemotherapy drugs used to fight cancer can cause you to develop white bands on your nails. Arsenic poisoning is another chemically-induced reason for a white discoloration of the nails. In these cases, your nails are perfectly healthy, but are displaying signs that you are reacting to toxins within your body. Once the exposure to toxins has been removed -- your chemotherapy round is over, or you have been treated for high levels of arsenic -- your nails should clear up. Keep in mind that the white areas of your nails will remain until the affected section of nail has grown out of the nail bed.
Underlying Diseases
A number of chronic, underlying diseases can cause your nails to become white, but in many cases, the discoloration points to a medical condition that is unrelated to your nail health. Skin diseases such as psoriasis and vitiligo can cause white spots on your nails. The skin around your nails also whitens in response to vitiligo; your nails might be deformed and pitted in the case of psoriasis. Chronic kidney or liver disease can also manifest itself through your nails. Patients with severe cirrhosis or renal failure might notice the bottom half of their nails turn white, while the upper areas remain pink-to-clear.
Nail Fungus
Fungal diseases of the nail do not usually manifest themselves with a bright white discoloration, but rather a yellowy hue. Nails that are overtaken with fungi might appear thicker than usual, or become crumbly and brittle in texture. Fungal diseases do not heal on their own, but require the administration of either topical or oral anti-fungal medications. Schedule an appointment with your doctor to determine if over-the-counter creams or ointments are sufficient to restore the health of your nails, or if prescription medications are in order.
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