White Areas On Your Fingernails

What Causes White Areas On Fingernails?

White areas on fingernails can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'troubling' to 'generally fatal'.  Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

Diagnose your symptoms now!
  • see your health summarized and in detail
  • understand what's happening to your body
  • have a doctor review your case (optional)

Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms.  In order to diagnose white areas on fingernails, we could:

  • Research the topic
  • Find a doctor with the time
  • Use a diagnostic computer system.
The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "white areas on fingernails" as a symptom.  Here are eight possibilities (more below):
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Nephrotic Syndrome
  • Iron Deficiency Anemia
  • Heart Disease
  • Low Albumin
  • Metal Toxicity
  • Chronic Renal Insufficiency
  • Mercury Toxicity

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:
low ferritin levels
significant diesel exhaust exposure
diminished perspiration
regular unexplained vomiting
brittle fingernails
severe tongue swelling
severe right hypochondriac pain
major unexplained weight loss
jaw lymph node problems
severe abdominal pain
metallic taste in mouth
very frequent stools
... and more than 130 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of white areas on fingernails:
Cause Probability Status
Low Albumin 99% Confirm
Heart Disease 25% Unlikely
Metal Toxicity 20% Unlikely
Iron Deficiency Anemia 4% Ruled out
Chronic Renal Insufficiency 0% Ruled out
Nephrotic Syndrome 0% Ruled out
Ulcerative Colitis 0% Ruled out
Mercury Toxicity 0% Ruled out
* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate abnormal fingernails and toenails, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:
Do you have any white areas (not spots) on your fingernails that are not due to nail injury/trauma?
Possible responses:
→ No / don't know
→ Pink at the base, turning white towards the ends
→ 80% or more of nail beds are white, including base
→ White lines from side to side, do not move
→ White lines from side to side, move as nails grow
Based on your response to this question, which may indicate nails turning white towards the ends, nails that are mostly white, stationary white lines across nails or moving white lines across nails, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:
Chronic Renal Insufficiency

Leukonychia (partial or completely white nails) is a sign of renal failure.

Cirrhosis of the Liver

Mainly white nails, or Terry's Nails, are a significant indicator of hepatic cirrhosis. [Terry (1954) Lancet, 1: p.757]

Heavy Metal Toxicity

Mees' Lines (transverse white lines) are a sign of arsenic poisoning.

Hypoalbuminemia (A low albumin level)

Muehrcke's Lines (side-to-side parallel white lines that do not move with nail growth) are caused by a nail bed abnormality, which in turn is probably due to hypoalbuminemia.

Hypoalbuminemia (A low albumin level) also suggests the following possibilities:

Coronary Disease / Heart Attack

Hypoalbuminemia can be caused by certain heart conditions such as congestive heart failure or pericarditis that lead to low albumin levels in the blood.

Mercury Toxicity (Amalgam Illness)

All heavy metals cause Mees' lines on the nails.  These usually begin a few months after significant exposure starts and may be useful in identifying the source of exposure – dental amalgams or some unrecognized source – if you remember when they started.

Concerned or curious about your health?  Try The Analyst™
Symptom Entry
Symptom Entry
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Suggestions
Suggestions
LifeMeter
LifeMeter®
Full Explanations
Explanations
Optional Doctor Review
Review (optional)
We use cookies for traffic analysis, advertising, and to provide the best user experience