What does a white stripe on your fingernails mean?
White spots or streaks are normal and nothing to worry about. Parallel white lines that extend all the way across the nails, known as Muehrcke’s lines, are a sign of low levels of protein in the blood. In contrast to Beau’s lines, they’re not grooved. They can occur as a result of liver disease or malnutrition.
Why do I have a thin line on my nail?
A narrow black line that has formed vertically underneath your nail is called a splinter hemorrhage. It occurs for a variety of reasons and may be harmless or a sign of a more serious health condition. This condition is called a splinter hemorrhage because it may look like a wood splinter under your nail.
When should I worry about Beau’s lines?
Conditions associated with Beau’s lines include uncontrolled diabetes and peripheral vascular disease, as well as illnesses associated with a high fever, such as scarlet fever, measles, mumps and pneumonia. Beau’s lines can also be a sign of zinc deficiency.
What are Merck lines on fingernails?
Muehrcke lines are multiple transverse white linear bands parallel to the lunula of the fingernail. They represent an apparent leukonychia as they result from an abnormality in the vasculature of the nail bed.
What do white lines in toenails indicate?
Causes Allergic reaction. An allergy to a nail polish, gloss, hardener, or nail polish remover may cause white spots on your nails. Fungi. A common nail fungus called white superficial onychomycosis can appear on the toenails. Injury to the nail. Mineral deficiency. Additional causes.
What do white lines on fingernails mean?
White lines in fingernails can be caused by protein deficiency, leukonychia, and arsenic poisoning. One of the medical terms used to refer to white, transverse lines that appear across the width of nails is “Muehrcke’s lines.”(1) It is certainly one of the milder forms of human discoloration,…
What causes white lines on nails?
They are caused by minor, often imperceptible, trauma to the nail. Random white lines can be found on any nail, are usually different shapes and sizes, and move along the nail, unchanged, as the nail grows.
What causes white lines on toenails?
White lines may also occur due to a medical illness or trauma that has occurred elsewhere in the body, causing protein to be deposited within the nail bed. A fungal infection that affects the outermost layer of the toenail may cause a bright white discoloration of the toenail.