Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: akim7 on 30/01/2010 23:10:19

Title: What are the white 'things' that appear in your fingernails?
Post by: akim7 on 30/01/2010 23:10:19

I've been inspecting my fingernails and it seems that some of them have noticeably white patches.
I looked inside these nails, but found that nothing was stuck in there, so it seems to have
naturally happened.

Does anyone know what this white thing is called and why it occurs?

Title: What are the white 'things' that appear in your fingernails?
Post by: yor_on on 31/01/2010 00:10:49

As I learn it as a kid they were sign of a nutritional deficit, don't remember what kind though. Calcium, B vitamin, mineral?

Something like that, as they told me then.

Title: What are the white 'things' that appear in your fingernails?
Post by: yor_on on 01/02/2010 00:10:38

Ahh, Lemmings :)
Where ever did that game go?

I used to love it.

Title: What are the white 'things' that appear in your fingernails?
Post by: mariaguimaraes on 01/02/2010 16:54:36

the patches would be some nutritional deficit, according to one answerer, and what are the moons?? i've heard that they reflect an excess of protein in one's diet, is there any truth to that?

Title: What are the white 'things' that appear in your fingernails?
Post by: chris on 01/02/2010 18:13:05

The white marks are actually caused by minor trauma to the nail, which alters the arrangement of the keratin and its relationsip to the nailbed.

Nutritional and other health problems can manifest in altered nail appearence, but generally these conditions tend to be severe; little white marks secondary to traume, on the other hand, are very common and nothing to worry about.

Chris

Title: What are the white 'things' that appear in your fingernails?
Post by: Bored chemist on 01/02/2010 21:18:49

I don't know much about them except a Latin name which led me here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunula_(anatomy)

Title: What are the white 'things' that appear in your fingernails?
Post by: yor_on on 01/02/2010 23:22:07

"The white half moon at the base of the nail is called the lunula and is the leading edge of the matrix. The shorter the matrix, the less nail cells it can produce. The longer the matrix, the more cells it can produce, therefore; persons with a long matrix usually have nails that are thicker and grow faster.

Small or no moons may indicate low metabolism while large moons may indicate an active metalbolism.

The size, shape, and brightness of the lunula (Half Moons on Nails) varies from person to person and even from finger to finger - for some reason, lunulas are often most pronounced on thumbs. Should you happen to notice your lunula is not as bright as it once was, do not worry: the lunula often fades with age."

But then you can have white marking on your nails, not attached to that area at the base of your nail, those I think were the ones associated with nutritional deficiencies.

Title: What are the white 'things' that appear in your fingernails?
Post by: Karsten on 03/02/2010 12:34:47

One day I lost my big toe nail. What was underneath waiting was the new nail ready to grow. At least it looked like that. And it was exactly the shape of the "moon" on the nail of the other foot. So, I developed the thought that the moon is just the new nail (or whatever you would call it) that is visible through the nail.

Unless we are talking about something else entirely.