Leukonychia
Classification and external resources
Leukonychia
ICD-10	L60.8, Q84.4
ICD-9	703.8, 757.5
DiseasesDB	14140

Leukonychia (or Leuconychia, also known as "White nails" ^[1]) is a medical term for white discoloration appearing on nails.^[2]:658-9 It is derived from the Greek words Leuko white and Onyx nail. The most common cause is injury to the base of the nail (the matrix) where the nail is formed.

Contents 1 Types of Leukonychia 1.1 Leukonychia Totalis 1.2 Leukonychia Partialis 1.2.1 Leukonychia Striata or Transverse Leukonychia 1.2.2 Leukonychia Punctata 2 Diagnosis and treatment 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Types of Leukonychia

[edit] Leukonychia Totalis

This condition is a whitening of the entire nail. This may be due to hypoalbuminaemia (low albumin), which is caused by the nephrotic syndrome (a form of kidney failure), liver failure, protein malabsorption and protein-losing enteropathies. A genetic condition, and a side effect of sulphonamides, a family of antibiotics can also cause this appearance.^[3][4]

[edit] Leukonychia Partialis

This condition is whitening of parts of the nail. There are several types of this condition.

[edit] Leukonychia Striata or Transverse Leukonychia

Also called Muehrcke's lines, this is a whitening or discoloration of the nail in bands or "stria". It may be caused by cirrhosis, chemotherapy,^[5] or physical injury to the nail matrix. (e.g. excessive nail "tapping" or slamming in a car door).^[6][7][8]

This condition looks similar to Mee's lines, a condition caused by Arsenic, Lead, or other heavy metal poisoning.

[edit] Leukonychia Punctata

Also known as 'True' Leukonychia. This is the most common form of Leukonychia, small white spots on the nails. Picking and biting of the nails are a prominent cause in young children and nail biters. In most cases, when white spots appear on a single or a couple of fingers or toes, the most common cause is injury to the base (matrix) of the nail. When this is the case, white spots disappear after around eight weeks, which is the amount of time necessary for nails to regrow completely.^[9]

White spots showing up on all or nearly all nails for longer periods of time (months and years) can be due to one of several reasons. One common explanation is zinc deficiency.^[10]

[edit] Diagnosis and treatment

A doctor will take a thorough medical history, and may test liver and kidney function. If a zinc deficiency is identified, a diet rich in zinc or zinc supplements may be administered.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• What causes white spots on your fingernails? at The Straight Dope
• -234487799 at GPnotebook
• DermAtlas 129

v • d • e Disorders of skin appendages (L60-75, 700-709) Nail thickness: Onychogryphosis · Onychauxis color: Beau's lines · Yellow nail syndrome · Leukonychia shape: Koilonychia · Clubbing other: Ingrown nail · Anonychia Hair Hair loss Alopecia areata (Alopecia totalis, Alopecia universalis, Ophiasis) Androgenic alopecia · Hypotrichosis · Telogen effluvium · Traction alopecia · Lichen planopilaris · Trichorrhexis nodosa Hypertrichosis Hirsutism Acne/rosacea Acneiform eruption (Acne vulgaris, Chloracne, Blackhead) · Rosacea (Perioral dermatitis, Rhinophyma) Follicular cysts Epidermoid cyst · Trichilemmal cyst · Sebaceous cyst · Steatocystoma multiplex Inflammation Pseudofolliculitis barbae · Hidradenitis suppurativa · Folliculitis Sweat glands eccrine (Miliaria, Anhidrosis) · apocrine (Body odor, Chromhidrosis, Fox-Fordyce disease) skin appendage navs: anat, noncongen/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

v • d • e Congenital malformations and deformations of skin appendages (Q84, 757.4-757.5) Nail disease Anonychia · Leukonychia · Pachyonychia congenita/Onychauxis · Koilonychia Hair disease keratin disease (Monilethrix) · Sabinas brittle hair syndrome · Pili annulati · Uncombable hair syndrome skin appendage navs: anat, noncongen/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc