Why do i have white spots on my nails?

That's a super common question, and I'm here to back up what the first user said: don't panic and don't assume it's a major deficiency! The spots are almost certainly just punctate leukonychia, and they're harmless. I've had them appear after a bad manicure where the technician was a little too rough with the buffing. They are basically imperfections in the nail as it's forming. A different scenario, though, is if the entire nail is turning white, or if you have white bands/lines running across the nail (leukonychia striata). That is when you might need to check with a doctor, as those bands (sometimes called Mees' lines) can, in very rare cases, be related to systemic illnesses, certain medications (like chemotherapy), or even heavy metal poisoning. But again, for the small, irregular white spots, just keep your nails moisturized, protect them from injury (especially the base/cuticle area), and they will literally just grow out over the next few weeks or months! They're like a tiny scar in the nail.

I'd throw in a quick word about fungal infections as a possible cause, just to cover all bases! Sometimes those white spots aren't inside the nail's layers, but rather on the surface—that's called pseudoleukonychia. This is basically a superficial fungal infection. If the spot looks a little powdery, scaly, or you can scrape the whiteness off (sometimes!), it might be a fungus. This is more common in people whose hands/feet are often wet. If you suspect this, you'd need an over-the-counter or prescription antifungal lacquer. The vast majority of the time, though, it's just a tiny bit of air trapped from a tiny injury. If you're really worried, a quick visit to a primary care doctor can easily confirm the cause and put your mind at ease! You can find a detailed list of causes on reputable health sites like this one: White Spots on Nails: Causes

Those little white spots on your nails are incredibly common! The medical term for them is leukonychia, and honestly, the number one, most frequent cause is just minor trauma or injury to the nail matrix (the part under your cuticle where the nail starts to grow). Most people think it's a calcium deficiency, but that's actually a persistent myth! * The Real, Common Cause: Micro-Trauma Did you accidentally bang your finger on a door, push back your cuticles too aggressively, or even just lightly bite your nail a few weeks ago? The nail matrix is sensitive. A little bump can disrupt the keratin formation, and an air bubble gets trapped in the nail plate. Since nails grow slowly (fingernails take about six months to grow from base to tip!), the white spot you see today is a little "injury scar" from an event that happened maybe a month or two ago. You just have to wait for it to grow out! * Less Common Causes to Watch Out For: While it's usually nothing, in some cases, leukonychia can be due to: 1. Allergic Reaction: To nail polish, hardeners, or even polish remover (especially if it has acetone). 2. Fungal Infection: A condition called superficial white onychomycosis can cause small white spots, but this often looks powdery or crumbly and tends to be more common on toenails. 3. Nutritional Deficiencies: This is rare for just spots, but severe deficiencies in zinc or selenium can sometimes be a factor. If they appear suddenly, cover all your nails, or are accompanied by other symptoms, it's always best to check with a dermatologist, but for the typical one-off white spot, it's almost certainly an old injury!