When to See a Doctor When to See a Doctor If you’re wondering whether or not you should be worried about lines on your nails, consider talking to a doctor for peace of mind, especially if you also have symptoms like weakness, fatigue, or shortness of breath. You should also talk to a doctor if the white lines on your nails don’t go away after the trauma heals, or if they’re still present after an antifungal treatment should have kicked in, or if the streaks or spots on your nails are a recent change.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d6c8f6f0-09c8-4abb-9a42-38c692738e33
Muehrcke Lines 3. You Have Muehrcke Lines In some instances, white lines on the nails appear as a pair of parallel lines that run horizontally across the nail from one side to the other. These are known as Muehrcke lines, and they stay in the same place and don’t move when the nail grows.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762992b992df-15c7-4505-8586-e55689ce9bf5 If you squeeze your nail, Muehrcke lines will temporarily disappear. They’re usually caused by hypoalbuminemia, or low levels of the protein albumin in your blood, which could possibly be due to poor nutrition, liver disease , or kidney problems .e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292cf79ad6-f57c-4d2d-b72f-cc2d32501c20 Fix It Improving protein levels will usually improve these lines as well, sometimes via a blood infusion.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762992b992df-15c7-4505-8586-e55689ce9bf5 If you think you have these types of lines, talk to your doctor about how to best treat the underlying cause.
Injury 1. You Injured Your Nail White lines on nails — technically called leukonychia — most often result from minor trauma to the nail. These marks usually appear as irregular white streaks or spots . They can be caused by things like biting your nails or accidentally whacking your hand on your desk.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762980a21658-2568-405b-b1d3-14548b229675 Fix It These random white lines will typically move along the nail unchanged as the nail grows. Eventually, these lines will reach the end of the nail, where they can be clipped or filed off. Try to avoid the damaging behavior, such as biting or picking at your nails, that may be causing the trauma to the nail. You may also want to take a break from harsh manicures.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762980a21658-2568-405b-b1d3-14548b229675
Fungal Infection 2. You Have a Fungal Infection When fungal infections of the nail first appear, they sometimes look like faint white lines. With time they will spread, become more irregular in shape, and develop a yellowish tinge.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629402ba6fc-2e73-4ff5-b93f-5d1b8ec3391f Fix It Fungal infections may require treatment by a doctor. They might prescribe you an oral antifungal medication and a topical cream, ointment, or gel to rub on the affected nails.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629402ba6fc-2e73-4ff5-b93f-5d1b8ec3391fe60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e56e48ab-d90b-492c-ae1b-0df7d3f1197a
Before you worry too much: Most white streaks on nails are harmless. However, if you have similar lines on many nails, or a pair of lines that runs all the way across the nail, it could be a sign that something more serious is going on. Read on to learn why you may experience certain nail abnormalities , and find out how to get rid of white lines on nails.
Mees’ Lines 4. You Have Mees’ Lines Mees’ lines are an uncommon cause of white lines on the nails. They are tiny breaks in the nail, which move up the nail as it grows. Mees’ lines also run horizontally across the nail and extend the entire width of the nail bed, and they don’t disappear when the nail is squeezed.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295c9b3490-8fcf-47c4-a803-9a4bc4a55799 Mees’ lines have historically been linked to heavy metal poisoning from arsenic or other toxins. But these white lines on your nails could also be related to carbon monoxide poisoning , altitude sickness, heart failure, chemotherapy, malaria, or other serious health concerns.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295c9b3490-8fcf-47c4-a803-9a4bc4a55799 Fix It If you notice these types of lines, visit your doctor. They’ll likely do a physical exam and test your hair, nails, and blood for clues to the underlying condition. They’ll determine the best course of treatment depending on those results.
The Takeaway White lines on your nails are usually nothing to worry about and are often the result of minor trauma like biting or bumping your nails. In some cases, however, they may point to more serious concerns, such as a fungal infection, low protein levels, or even exposure to toxins. The appearance and behavior of the lines — whether they move with nail growth or stay in place — can help provide clues to the underlying causes. If the marks don’t go away, or if you experience other symptoms, like fatigue or shortness of breath, speak to your doctor.