What Does It Mean if You Have White Fingernail Lines?

mamad · Dec 18, 2013

zinc deficiency

Thatcher29 · Dec 18, 2013

I think it´s more of Zinc deficiency than protein. In Africa and South America ,people in villages believe if the white stripe "disappears" you receive a lot of presents(could literally mean,one is healed)

yahya jhon · Dec 19, 2013

Egyptian Doctor said: ↑

A white line that extends across the nail and doesn’t move when the nail grows is called a Muehrcke’s line. It’s important to distinguish Muehrcke’s nails from Beau’s lines which also extend horizontally across the nail plate. If it’s a Beau’s line you’ll feel a ridge when you touch the nail, whereas a Muehrcke’s nail feels smooth to the touch. Another way to tell? When you press on the white line of a Muehrcke’s nails, the line will disappear whereas a Beau’s line will not.

White Fingernail Lines: Muehrcke’s Nails

Once you know it’s a Muehrcke’s nail, not a Beau’s line, should you be concerned? Muehrcke’s lines are usually seen when blood protein levels are low. The reason for the low protein state can vary from kidney disease to liver disease to malnutrition – among other causes. If you have this sign, see your doctor for blood studies to check your serum protein level. White fingernail lines from Muehrcke’s nails can also appear after cancer chemotherapy.

Other Causes of White Lines on Nails

White lines on fingernails can also be caused by trauma to the nail, but these “trauma lines” will look a little different than Muehrcke’s nails. Muehrcke’s nails usually extend across the entire nail bed horizontally from edge to edge whereas trauma lines typically only involve a portion of the nail and affect only a few fingers - not all the fingers on a hand. Sometimes something as simple as pushing back the cuticles too roughly can cause trauma lines to form.

Another serious cause of white lines on fingernails are Mee’s nails which extend across the entire nail plate – similar to Muehrcke’s nails. The difference is these lines don’t disappear when you press on them and they grow along with the nail, whereas Muehrcke’s lines do not. These lines are usually seen with heavy metal poisoning, particularly arsenic, although they can be present in other cases of systemic illness as well.

White Fingernail Lines: The Bottom Line?

If you have white fingernail lines, it’s a good idea to see your doctor for blood tests unless you know they’re due to nail trauma or injury. Mee’s and Muehrcke nails can both be signs of serious health problems. If you have white fingernail lines, see your doctor to find out why.

Source : Interesting Medical Facts
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Thanx

Munas M.P · Jan 31, 2014

I had such lines on my almost all finger nails In my childhood... still i can't arrive in a diagnosis......

yimika · Mar 29, 2014

tanks for this

sakshi supehia · Mar 29, 2014

(Y)

Amina Baouia · Dec 27, 2014

so helpful

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What Does It Mean if You Have White Fingernail Lines?

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