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White Spots on Your Toenails?
White Spots On Toenails: Causes, Home Remedies & Best Treatment
Do You Have White Spots On Toenails? 95% of the time, this is not a fungus! There is a trick to fixing these, and it’s not fungal medication!
- White toenail fungus & keratin granulations can be improved with a few simple treatment changes.
- We are foot doctors & we see this problem get better almost every day.
- The goal is to solve this problem without medication or surgery if at all possible.
What Are White Spots on Toenails—and Should You Be Worried?
White spots on toenails, also known as leukonychia, are a common nail issue that can appear as dots, lines, or larger patches. While they often result from minor injuries to the nail bed, they can also indicate fungal infections, nutritional deficiencies, or allergic reactions to nail products. Most cases are harmless and grow out with time, but persistent or spreading spots could require professional evaluation. Let’s dive into the common causes, what symptoms to watch for, and the best ways to treat and prevent them.
Understanding the Causes of White Spots on Toenails
White spots on toenails can occur for several reasons:
- Trauma to the nail matrix (stubbing your toe or tight shoes)
- Fungal infections like superficial white onychomycosis
- Allergic reactions to nail polish or remover
- Zinc or calcium deficiency
- Underlying medical conditions such as eczema or psoriasis
In most cases, the spots grow out on their own. However, if they’re spreading, thickening, or accompanied by yellowing or crumbling nails, it’s best to consult a podiatrist.
Toenail Pain (Toenail Fungus, Ingrown Toenails, Discolored Toenails)
Don’t Ignore White Spots on Your Toenails—We Can Help
If you’ve noticed stubborn or recurring white spots on your toenails, it could be more than just cosmetic. Our foot care specialists will assess your condition, identify the cause, and recommend the most effective treatment—whether it’s antifungal therapy, nutritional guidance, or custom care.
Call now or book an appointment online—your peace of mind starts here.
Home Remedies White Spots on Toenails Video
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Why Do My Toenails Have White Spots? Causes:
- If you are asking yourself, “Why do my toenails have white spots?”
- This infographic below may help.
We also answer the question in the video above:
White Toenail Picture Gallery
Look:
- These photos are of dehydrated superficial nail keratin granulations vs. other toenail conditions.
- Keratin granulations are white chalky appearing dehydration.
- It is possible that some toenail fungus could be mixed in with the keratin granulations.
- It is also possible to have superficial white onychomycosis.
Pictures of Keratin Buildup Under Toenails
Click on pictures for full size & descriptions:
Causes of White Spots on Toenails
White spots growing on your toenails can signal many different foot and ankle problems as well as diseases.
It can be essential to find out the true cause of white spots on your toenails.
Causes of White Spots on Toenails
- The most common cause of white spots on toenails is something called keratin granulations.
- Keratin granulations occur when the top of the toenail becomes dehydrated.
- A fibrous protein makes up the toenail and when he gets dehydrated or damage develops, this can appear as white marks or white spots on the toenails.
- If you think you have keratin granulations or dehydrated toenail, follow our keratin granulations guide.
Peeling Toenails:
- Peeling toenails can also happen from dehydration dryness or damage the top of the nail.
- This causes damage to the protein that makes up the toenail called keratin.
- This keratin can create the above-mentioned keratin granulations and continue causing pain.
Superficial White Onychomycosis:
- A type of toenail fungus can form white streaking and smear formation on top of the toenails. This is a type of toenail fungus that loves to appear in certain conditions. The most common feet that prefer superficial white onychomycosis love dark moist environments inside the shoes. This is usually associated with athlete’s foot.
Tight Shoes:
- Tight shoes can suffocate the toes and the toenails. Tight shoes can promote sweat and upright of the feet of much-needed air. Some microorganisms such as fungus and bacteria love to grow in these conditions. This can lead to superficial white onychomycosis and caused white spots on the toenails. This can also cause white marks on the toenails.
Calcium Deficiency:
- A calcium deficiency can also appear to cause white spots on the toenails. It is important to have a well-balanced diet, and if you do no, it is important to take a daily multivitamin.
Zinc Deficiency:
- Zinc deficiency has also been linked to white spots on the toenails.
Toe Injury:
- A toe injury can cause white marks on the toenails this can continue to cause pain and issues.
How to get rid of white spots On toenails:
- The best way to get rid of white spots on toenails is to see a podiatrist likes us!
- If you live in Michigan we would love to help you get rid of your white spots and white marks on the toenails.
Are White Spots On Nails Dangerous:
- No!
- It is prevalent to have white spots on your fingernails and toenails.
- In almost all cases, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
- The vast majority of white spots on your nails are due to superficial nail damage, such as drying out or scraping your nails.
- Occasionally they can be due to a superficial fungus leftover from nail polish, but this is also very easily treatable.
- In a minor amount of situations, nails can turn white due to severe medical conditions and poor nutrition.
- If you are worried about a severe medical condition that may be decreasing your health, see a doctor! Don’t be reading this website for those kinds of problems.
White Spots On Nails Causes:
- The most common causes of white spots on fingernails and toenails are due to non-dangerous causes.
- Keratin granulations – which is the dehydration or drying out of the fingernails. This is usually due to nail polish application and removal.
- Leukonychia – this is the fancy way of saying you have scraped your nails. This is more common if your nails are dry and constantly irritated.
- Superficial fungus nail fungus is called superficial white onychomycosis. This is probably the most easily treatable form of nail fungus! Don’t worry.
- It is also possible to have systemic problems, but at this point, you will already be seeing a physician for those problems.
- Read further in this guide to learn how to solve each of these types of problems.
Is It Possible To Treat My White Spots On Nails?
- Yes!
- It is possible to get the white spots to go away in all cases.
- It is not something genetic that will keep coming back, like hair color.
- It is possible to make your nails healthier through treatment; it is possible to prevent these white spots from ever coming back and bothering you!
White Spots On Nails Treatment:
This treatment guide will list the most common to least common causes for white spots. This is a quick synopsis of what causes each and what to do about them!
1. Keratin Granulations from Nail Polish
Skip Straight to the Keratin Granulation Treatment Guide.
What are keratin granulations?
- The fingernails and toenails are made up of protein molecules called keratin. When the keratin becomes dehydrated or dried out, they turn into a white chalky substance. This white chalky substance is called keratin granulations.
- This is a very tricky and diagnosis because they are not dangerous. Superficial white onychomycosis, on the other hand, is more dangerous and can be treated.
- Thus all white marks on the nails are diagnosed as superficial white onychomycosis.
Keratin granulations are very treatable!
Since keratin granulations are caused by dehydration, the goal is to re-hydrate the nails!
This is the basic treatment guide for keratin granulations:
- Obtain an emollient, oil, or any other moisturizing agent.
- Apply the moisturizing agent to the fingernails or toenails before bed every night.
- Also, apply these moisturizing agents after showering or getting your hands wet. Water can actually dry out the nails even further!
- If you are using nail polish or nail polish remover, this may cause your nails to dry out.
- I’m not saying to stop, but it may take longer to get better if you keep using these.
- After a few days or weeks, the nail will start getting better.
- If your nails do not get better after this treatment, it may take approximately 6-12 months to grow new fingernails or toenails.
- The nails grow at approximately 1 millimeter per month. So if your nail is 10 millimeters long, you will be waiting approximately 10 months. Sorry for the bad news!
Skip Straight to the Keratin Granulation Treatment Guide.
- This guide will give you a more expanded guide on how to take care of this problem. How to moisturize your nails and how to get them to grow back faster!
2. White Spots Due To Trauma.
What are white spots due to nail trauma?
- The medical name for this is leukonychia. It is very similar to keratin granulations as above. But this condition is due more to trauma rather than drying out. This is more difficult to heal through moisturizing, but still worth an attempt.
- Your nail is composed of a protein called keratin. When keratin is damaged it will turn white.
- Keratin damage is not dangerous, but in this case it can be irreversible. You may have to wait for you new nail plate to grow out.
This is the basic treatment guide for leukonychia:
- As mentioned above in the keratin granulations guide, you will have to wait a long period of time for your nails to grow out.
- It is possible to try moisturizing your nails as for the keratin granulations above. The odds of this working are much lower.
- The bad news is that toenails and fingernails only grow at a rate of 1 millimeter per month.
- This means 6-9 months for toenails and potentially even longer for fingernails. This is assuming that your nails are approximately 6-9 millimeters long from the site of injury.
- Fun Fact: Nails grow up to 50% faster in the summer over the winter.
Skip Straight to the Treatment Guide.
- For more on how to get your nails to grow back faster and stronger, take a look at the keratin granulation treatment guide.
- This guide will give you a more expanded guide on how to take care of this problem. How to moisturize your nails, and how to get them to grow back faster!
3. White Spots Due To Fungus.
Our recommended products for toenail fungus:
Best Toenail Repair Products:
Best Toenail Repair Pen.
Top Choice For Direct Toenail Application.
Top Choice For Cream For Toenails & Webspaces.
Great Option For Foot Soak.
Great Tea Tree Oil Treatment
Price:
$19.99
$22.88
Price not available
$17.97
Price not available
Overview:
4 Pens with quick dry application that leaves a sealing lid on top. Easy to store and apply. Key is still to trim/file the toenail first!
All natural option that is toxic to fungus. This is similar to tea tree oil in that respect but can be more effective. You still need to exfoliate dead skin and trim thick toenails.
All natural cream option. This is a good option compared to some of the quick dry gels. This can be used on the skin surrounding your toenails.
Safe, cost effective and relaxing all at the same time! This needs to be used in a 20 minute foot soak. Works well for exfoliating loose skin/toenail as well as softening.
Tea Tree Oil is well studied and an all natural anti-fungal treatment.
Pros:
Easy to use, quick drying. This fills into the cracks and seals them with minimal mess. This is great for sealing even dehydrated keratin granulations.
All natural, relatively cost effective. 1,000s of reviews with excellent results. Very clean and quick drying, easy to apply.
Relatively cost effective. All natural tea tree oil that is proven toxic to fungus. Can be used on surrounding skin as well.
Very safe, little risk, low cost and very effective if used correctly. The key is to use it as an aid to soften and exfoliate loose/dry dead skin and toenail.
Great reviews at 4.7/5 at 500+ overall reviews. Well proven and natural option.
Cons:
0% chance of working if your toenail is loose and has no blood supply. Make sure you trim and file any loose finger or toenail. Otherwise “0% CHANCE OF WORKING!” You cannot restore a dead toenail without blood flow.
Small amount and a little more expensive than some other options. Once more has 0% chance of working if your goal is to heal a dead, detached toenail or dry skin. Are you noticing this is a trend? This is really the key!
Still more expensive than other options. Can get messy all over different areas of your foot. Key is still debride and cleaning your dry dead toenails and skin. TRIM them!
It once more has 0% chance working if you are trying to save loose and dead crusty skin. Fungus will always grow on this if no blood flow. It can not regenerate dead skin, only exfoliate it.
Not the greatest amount of solution, the all natural solutions can be more expensive.
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Although tea tree oil does nave studies and is antifungal, it is not an FDA approved medication and not studied for this specific use.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Best Toenail Repair Products:
Best Toenail Repair Pen.
Price:
$19.99
Overview:
4 Pens with quick dry application that leaves a sealing lid on top. Easy to store and apply. Key is still to trim/file the toenail first!
Pros:
Easy to use, quick drying. This fills into the cracks and seals them with minimal mess. This is great for sealing even dehydrated keratin granulations.
Cons:
0% chance of working if your toenail is loose and has no blood supply. Make sure you trim and file any loose finger or toenail. Otherwise “0% CHANCE OF WORKING!” You cannot restore a dead toenail without blood flow.
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Best Toenail Repair Products:
Top Choice For Direct Toenail Application.
Price:
$22.88
Overview:
All natural option that is toxic to fungus. This is similar to tea tree oil in that respect but can be more effective. You still need to exfoliate dead skin and trim thick toenails.
Pros:
All natural, relatively cost effective. 1,000s of reviews with excellent results. Very clean and quick drying, easy to apply.
Cons:
Small amount and a little more expensive than some other options. Once more has 0% chance of working if your goal is to heal a dead, detached toenail or dry skin. Are you noticing this is a trend? This is really the key!
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Best Toenail Repair Products:
Top Choice For Cream For Toenails & Webspaces.
Price:
Price not available
Overview:
All natural cream option. This is a good option compared to some of the quick dry gels. This can be used on the skin surrounding your toenails.
Pros:
Relatively cost effective. All natural tea tree oil that is proven toxic to fungus. Can be used on surrounding skin as well.
Cons:
Still more expensive than other options. Can get messy all over different areas of your foot. Key is still debride and cleaning your dry dead toenails and skin. TRIM them!
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Best Toenail Repair Products:
Great Option For Foot Soak.
Price:
$17.97
Overview:
Safe, cost effective and relaxing all at the same time! This needs to be used in a 20 minute foot soak. Works well for exfoliating loose skin/toenail as well as softening.
Pros:
Very safe, little risk, low cost and very effective if used correctly. The key is to use it as an aid to soften and exfoliate loose/dry dead skin and toenail.
Cons:
It once more has 0% chance working if you are trying to save loose and dead crusty skin. Fungus will always grow on this if no blood flow. It can not regenerate dead skin, only exfoliate it.
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Best Toenail Repair Products:
Great Tea Tree Oil Treatment
Price:
Price not available
Overview:
Tea Tree Oil is well studied and an all natural anti-fungal treatment.
Pros:
Great reviews at 4.7/5 at 500+ overall reviews. Well proven and natural option.
Cons:
Not the greatest amount of solution, the all natural solutions can be more expensive.
Crucial Tips:
Although tea tree oil does nave studies and is antifungal, it is not an FDA approved medication and not studied for this specific use.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
What is superficial white onychomycosis?
- Toenail fungus is very difficult to separate from keratin granulations. If you are diagnosing this at home and are worried that it may be fungus, it is probably best to get it confirmed by a podiatrist.
- Don’t be worried if you are not 100% sure, it is possible to treat your nails as keratin granulations. If the treatment above does not work, then it may be superficial onychomycosis and you can treat it then.
Home Treatment for superficial white onychomycosis:
- Treatment can be rather complex for most types of nail fungus.
- The beauty is that this nail fungus is not underneath the nail but on top of it.
- Most antifungal creams and ointments should be able to do the job and take care of this problem!
- Go see your podiatrist and get some topical antifungal cream and it should be gone very quickly.
- If you are on any immunosuppressing medication, suspect this.
- If you need to know more about toenail fungus in general click on the picture above.
4. White Spots On Nails Due To Systemic Problems.
If the white spots on nails are not like those described above, go see your podiatrist! Ask yourself the following questions below:
- Do you suffer from any severe medical conditions?
- Are you on a large amount of prescription medications?
- Do you not get enough vitamins and nutrients?
If this applies to you go see your podiatrist or foot doctor.
Good Luck with the White Spots On Nails!
Toenail Fungus (Onychomycosis) Treatment & Cure Options
White Spots on Toenails Treatment Video
The video below will go over our TOP 20 treatment options for white toenail spots and white marks on your toenails!
White Marks on Toenails Video Description
Toenail Fungus Treatment can be confusing! That is why we go over the most proven Home Remedies of 2021! 🦶
This is a podiatrist researched guide to toe nail fungus home remedies, toenail fungus cures and toenail fungus treatments.
We will show toenail fungus before and after pictures after laser treatments, remedies and the best treatments. Do home remedies even work?
We discuss Vick’s vapor rub, listerine, tea tree oil, baking soda. The truth is there are now some studies saying they can work, as long as they are done safely and properly!
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Toenail Pain (Toenail Fungus, Ingrown Toenails, Discolored Toenails)
White Spots on Toenails – Frequently Asked Questions
Most commonly trauma, fungal infections, or allergic reactions.
No, they usually grow out unless linked to chronic nail damage or infection.
It’s possible, especially if the spots spread, thicken, or the nail becomes brittle.
Yes, especially if you’re allergic or if polish remover damages the nail surface.
They may signal a zinc or calcium deficiency, but this is less common.
Yes, pressure from tight shoes can traumatize the nail and cause white spots.
Keep nails trimmed, wear breathable footwear, and apply antifungal cream if infection is suspected.
If spots spread, persist for months, or are painful, seek medical advice.
Toenails grow slowly; it may take 6–12 months for spots to fully grow out.
It’s possible, especially if the spots spread, thicken, or the nail becomes brittle.
