White nails or milk spots, for which the medical term is Leukonychia (or leuconychia; derived from the Greek words leuko "white" and onux "nail"), designates white discoloration appearing on nails. The most common cause is injury to the base of the nail (the matrix) where the nail is formed. It is a benign condition and is most commonly the result of minor injuries that occur while the nail is growing. Unlike what is commonly believed, the presence of leukonychia is not indicative of excess or deficiency of calcium and zinc or other vitamins in the diet. Less commonly, however, it can be a medical sign of hypoalbuminemia (low albumin; albumin is a very important protein in the blood) or chronic liver disease. It is more commonly found on fingernails than toenails. There is no effective treatment for leukonychia. However, the white marks and spots gradually disappear as the nail grows outward from the matrix with the nail plate.
Leukonychia punctate, also known as "true" leukonychia, is the most common form of leukonychia. Small white spots appear on the nails. Picking and biting of the nails are notorious for causing leukonychia punctate in young children and nail biters. Other sources of trauma include aggressive trimming or manicuring. Air that is trapped between the cells may also cause this appearance. It is also caused by trauma. In most cases, when white spots appear on a single or a couple of fingers or toes, the most common cause is injury to the base (matrix) of the nail. When this is the case, white spots disappear after around eight weeks, which is the amount of time necessary for nails to regrow completely. The pattern and number of spots may change as the nail grows.
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