Leukonychia
Leukonychia is taken from the Greek terms Leuko means white and Onyx means nails. This medicinal term is mainly used for white discoloration on nails.
In fact, Leukonychia is nail disease in which colors of nails are changed or the white spotting is mainly seen in nails or it is the streaking of the fingernails.
Leukonychia is mostly associated because of an outcome from injury, renal failure, ill health, arsenic poisoning, hypoalbuminemia, heart disorders or pneumonia.
Most of nail diseases may be acquired or they are come from hereditary. Leukonychia may be come from hereditary or they can be partial, punctate, total or striate.
Congenital luekonychia or luekonychia from hereditary is come at birth or cause due to the family history. This nail disorder is an autosomal dominant inheritance. Acquired of this nail disease is appeared in early days of babyhood.
Possible Causes of Leukonychia:
- Exposure to severe cold
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Psychogenic Stresses
- Leprosy
- Hepatic Cirrhosis
- Onychophagia
- Anemia
- Occupational trauma
- Lack of vitamin can develop brittle nails or a loss of luster
- Hypoproteinemia
- The nail plate may make a permanent deformity or a crush injury to base of the nail
Diagnosis of Leukonychia
The health care providers will take medical history of this disease to determine leukonychia. A doctor can be taken test of kidney and liver functions.
If doctor identifies it is associated due to the lack of zinc, zinc supplements and a diet that contain more zinc can be recommended to the patients.
Treatment of Leukonychia
There is no medical treatment available to treat leukonychia. The white spots on fingernails will be vanished on own. If one is suffered from minor injury to the fingernails, reduce as soon as it is benefits to prevent white spots.
In Leukonychia, the color of nails is changed. If one has to attend the party, one may use nail polish for temporary purposes to hide white spots on them.
But never use nail polish on nails regularly because this can be worsen the problem by developing allergic reaction in the skin and may destroy the fingernails.
One who is suffered from leukonychia should eat whole grains, green leafy vegetables in daily diets. It is beneficial to reduce the possibilities of appearance of this nail disorder.
Nail Care
