Question
There are always white spots on a child’s nails, and they are otherwise normal. Why is this? How can it be resolved?
Answer
White spots on nails are relatively common and often recur. Some people say this is a sign of poor gastrointestinal function, but this is not based on medical evidence. Because the nails are easily damaged due to long-term exposure, such as when fingers get caught in door gaps or when nails are squeezed or bumped, this can cause damage to the nail matrix cells during the growth process of the nail root, resulting in white spots. If the damage reaches the nail bed, there may also be splinter-like hemorrhaging under the nail. However, there is no need to worry; as the nail grows upwards, it will eventually be trimmed off. White spots or flaky white spots on nails may indicate a zinc deficiency or gastrointestinal disease or anemia. Rough texture without shine, grooves, longitudinal stripes, white spots, and an abnormal proportion of health rings are often signs of poor constitution.