I have white spots on my nails. What’s the cause?

Dr. Lekutat's answer:

Many of my female patients often wonder whether the white spots on their fingernails are due to a calcium deficiency. But these white spots aren’t caused by calcium deficiencies. Usually it’s due to excessive nail care routines. A manicure that includes cuticle trimming can damage the nail, which in turn can cause white spots or stripes to form on the nail. Excess pressure on the nail can also lead to tiny air bubbles within the nail, which also can lead to white spots. The best way to avoid white spots is to be gentle with nail care. Using hand creams or an olive oil skin treatment can also help. And be sparing in your use of nail polish remover, which can further dry out your nails.