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Writer's pictureNails and the City

What white spots on your nails actually mean - and how to avoid them


Whether you like your nails covered in weird and wonderful nail art designs, are ga-ga for geometric patterns or prefer sleek and elegant neutral nail colours, strong and healthy nails are the foundations for a great manicure.


One common problem that can pop up seemingly out of nowhere is white spots on the nail bed and we've certainly noticed them appearing on our nails during lockdown. But what causes these mystery spots? We asked for the low down...


What causes white spots on nails?

People often think white spots are caused by a vitamin deficiency, which they can be, but the most likely cause is damage to the nail bed.


Whether you've accidentally bumped your nail bed, are a chronic nail tapper or else have gone a bit hard on your cuticle work, "this will then trap air between the nail layers creating a bubble, which in time, will grow out", says OPI Ambassador, Jenni Draper.


Can you file or buff white spots away?

While you can do this, Jenni advises against it as "over-buffing will cause other problems in the long-run." If trauma is the cause and it started deep within the nail, you'll have to buff too many layers to truly wipe out the white, effectively weakening the nail more.


According to Mavala’s in-house expert Lynn Gray, you'll also need to take particular care when working on your cuticles. "You need to take extra care around the cuticle area as if you are too heavy handed you can cause stress to the nails which will show as white spots, ridges, or weakness," she says. "Use a cuticle remover once a week, apply around the area and wait for a few minutes to let the product dissolve the cuticle, you can then gently push back the cuticle with an orange stick wrapped in cotton wool. To make the contour of the nail look better and to keep the cuticles soft use a cuticle cream or oil every day, preferably in the evening before bed."


Read More at Glamour Magazine UK

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