Have you ever noticed white dots on your fingernails and wondered what it is?. We in the western region believe that, a certain bird which we locally call ‘leke leke’ blesses us with it. Children flap their arms and sing ‘leke leke give me one finger’ when that bird is sighted. But the real truth behind the white patch on the fingernail, is shocking.
‘Leukonychia’ is caused by bubbles of air that become trapped underneath the fingernail.
Often times white nail marks may occur due to a minor injury at the base of the nail.
Leukonychia can also look like wavy horizontal lines across the nails, or sometimes it shows up in various patterns and shapes.
It’s said they also sometimes developed because of hereditary reasons, but in other cases they may indicate a medical issue such a fungal infection or vitamin deficiency.
Consuming adequate protein has been found to rebuild damaged fingernails, and zinc prevents the spots from forming in the first instance. As a preventative, make sure you’re getting the optimal daily amount of zinc and protein in your diet.
Leukonychia may indicate a more serious medical issue such as an organ failure, so it’s always helpful to question your doctor during your regular routine office visit.
Akase Inyang's Blog 