Keratin granulation If you remove your nail polish only to find that part of your nail is white and dry underneath, you may have this common condition. It's caused by wearing toenail polish for too long. If you have this, it's best to let your nails heal for a while.
Keratin granulations are dehydrated superficial layers of nail cells that result in white, rough, and uneven dry patches on the top of the nail. Prolonged use of nail polish – as well as acetone-based nail polish removers – dries out the surface of your toenails and can lead to these keratin granulations.
I have white spots on my toenails after removing polish
This can be easily treated with either a topical antifungal polish/lacquer or PACT fungal nail therapy. One of the down sides to using antifungal nail solutions is that you can't put any nail polish on whilst treating, which can be up to 3 months.
Fungal infection, a common cause of white toenails
Topical antifungal solutions, such as medicated nail polish or cream, are recommended for mild infections, while the oral medication is reserved for moderate to severe infections.
"Leaving your nail polish on for too long can dry out the nails, leaving them brittle," says Dr. Curry. "Thin, brittle nails pose a health hazard because the nail is a barrier to keep out bacteria and fungus."
Calcium, selenium, and zinc deficiencies can make nails look white. These deficiencies cause white nail bands, not just white spots. But in order to develop these nail changes you need to have severe vitamin deficiencies. These deficiencies are extremely rare, especially among people eating a typical U.S. diet.
Your nail has become dehydrated and the white spots you see are actually called Keratin Granulations. Nail polish can contain harsh chemicals such as acetone, which can dry out your nails leading to this appearance when your nail polish comes off.
“I always recommend to my patients that it's best to leave polish on for a few weeks on, and then remove the polish and go without for a few weeks,” Dr. Rowland says. “It's not a good idea to leave nail polish continuously on your toes all summer. They need a break.”
“For natural nails, a three- to four-week break usually will be sufficient to allow discoloration to fade, whether nails are yellow-orange or have white patches,” said Batra.
Most nail polishes contain formaldehyde, a carcinogenic chemical best known for preserving cadavers. On a toenail, the formaldehyde dries and damages the nail.
Oil. Argan, neem, avocado, or even the regular olive oil from your kitchen will do. Rubbing your feet down with it will fill in cracks and diffuse the look of calluses better than lotion does. It makes polish-free nails look great, too.
White nails are indicative of any or a combination of the conditions including anemia, overuse of nail polish, weak nails, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and liver disease.
2 Nail changes in vitamin B12 deficiency present as hyperpigmentation of nails like bluish discoloration of nails, blue-black pigmentation with dark longitudinal streaks, and longitudinal and reticulate darkened streaks. The nail pigmentation associated with B12 deficiency is more frequent in patients with dark skin.
But stress can cause other nail symptoms. When you're stressed, you may be more likely to get nail infections, nail ridges or brittle nails. Terry's nails is a type of nail discoloration. The nails look white or washed-out with a thin, reddish-brown strip near the tip.
You Lower Your Chemical Load
There's a reason mommies-to-be skip manicures. A lot of nail polishes are a chemical cocktail of ingredients tied to miscarriages, birth defects, cancer, and lung diseases, and it's not just the toxic trio of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate that's to blame.
Your healthcare provider may tell you not to wear it in any case. Nail polish traps in moisture from your nailbed (the tissue below your toenail). Because fungi thrive in moist environments, wearing nail polish may make a fungal infection worse.
“Applying Vicks VapoRub to fungus-infected toenails can clear up the notoriously hard-to-treat condition. Michigan State University clinicians found that applying the product daily to the infected nail cleared the condition in 32 of 85 patients, though it took anywhere from 5 to 16 months…”
Do you have a toenail that's turned white, or has large powder-like patches? You could have a fungal infection, most likely one called white superficial onychomycosis. If possible, see a doctor as soon as you notice it. This infection spreads across the toenail.