Leukonychia , or also known as white spikes or milk stains , is a medical term for white discoloration. appears on the nail. It comes from the Greek leuko ("white") and nychia ("nails"). The most common cause is an injury to the base of the nail (matrix) in which the nail is formed.
It is harmless and most often caused by minor injuries, such as nail biting, which occurs when the nails are growing. Leukonychia occurs most often in healthy people, unrelated to a known nutritional or physiological deficiency. When caused by injury, the signs will disappear when the nail grows outward, but dietary deficiency will lead to recurrent leukonychia.
Other possible reasons for this problem with nail color can be attributed to:
- Arsenic poisoning
- Lead poisoning
- Pneumonia
- Heart disease
- Kidney failure
- Bad health
- Hipoalbuminemia
- Vitamin deficiency
- Ulcerative colitis
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Psychogenic pressure
- Onychophagia
- Job trauma
- Lack of zinc
- protein deficiency
- Psoriasis as well as eczema
- Iron deficiency
Video Leukonychia
Jenis
Leukonychia totalis
This condition is the whitening of the entire nail. This may be a clinical sign of hypoalbuminaemia (low albumin), which can be seen in nephrotic syndrome (form of renal failure), liver failure, protein malabsorption, and loss of enteropathic proteins. Genetic conditions, and side effects of sulphonamides (family antibiotics) can also cause this appearance.
Leukonychia partialis
This condition whitens parts of the nail plate in the form of small white dots. There are several types of these conditions. There are three different variations of partial leukonychia; dappled, transverse and longitudinal leukonychia. Some more serious leukonychia variations can cause Leukonychia totalis.
Leukonychia striata
Leukonychia striata, transverse leukonychia, or the Mees line are bleaching or discoloration of the nail on the ribbon or "stria" that run parallel to the lunula (nail bed). This is usually caused by physical injury or nail matrix interference. Common examples include excessive nail tapping, car door slamming or extensive manicure use. It can also occur in large toe nails as a result of foot-related trauma. Alternatively, this condition can be caused by heavy metal poisoning most often by lead. This can also be caused by cirrhosis or chemotherapy. The tendency towards leukonychia striata is sometimes inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. In other cases, it can be attributed to the strong manicuring and trauma mentioned above, or various systemic diseases. Serious infections known for high fever, measles, malaria, herpes, and leprosy can also cause this condition. In many patients, there is no obvious cause, and the scratches disappear spontaneously. There is a similar condition called the Muehrcke line (distinct leukonychia) which differs from leukonychia in that the line fades with digital compression and does not migrate with the growth of the nail.
Leukonychia punctata
Also known as "right" leukonychia, this is the most common form of leukonychia, where tiny white spots appear on the nail. Choosing and biting your nails is a major cause in children and nail biterers. In addition to parakeratosis, air trapped between cells can also cause this appearance. It is also caused by trauma. In most cases, when white spots appear on one or more fingers or toes, the most common cause is injury to the nail (matrix) of the nail. When this happens, white spots disappear after about eight months, which is the amount of time it takes for the nails to regrow completely. Pattern and number of spots may change as the nail grows.
Longitudinal leukonychia
Longitudinal leukonychia is much less common and has a smaller 1mm white longitudinal line visible under the nail plate. This may be related to Darier's disease.
Maps Leukonychia
Diagnosis and treatment
A doctor will take a thorough medical history, and can take a blood test and check liver and kidney function. Improvements have also been reported from treating malnutrition associated with zinc deficiency and other minerals. Intracellular cell tests (red blood cells) are more sensitive than tests for plasma levels.
References
External links
- What causes white spots on your fingernails? on The Straight Dope
- DermAtlas 129
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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