Beauty myth busted: white flecks
21 Feb 2008 22:21 PM |
Posted by Editor
Myth: White flecks in your nails are caused by calcium deficiency or build up.
Fact: Not so, says Dr Douglas Schoon, Vice President of Science & Technology at CND. Calcium only constitutes one tenth of a per cent of your nail and no imbalance of it, or any other dietary requirement, causes white spots. They are actually caused by trauma to the nail bed and the closer to your cuticle, the more recent the damage. Take it easy on your nails and the flecks will grow out.
Member Comments
(86)
Posted by:
FiFi73
(Member since 2007, Australia)
Hmmm...LLike everyone else I always assumed it was lack of Calcium, But Now I know it's not!! I will definitely be going out to buy a better quality Hand, Nail & Cuticle cream....
Posted on:
October 31, 2007 (Oct 31, 2007 7:36am)
Posted by:
Princess' mum
(Australia)
I had been told it ws a combination of calcium and zinc depletion that did it.
The nails must be VERY sensitive as I don't remember damaging the nail bed(s) yet am comstatntly fighting the issue. MAYBE, I just have to be even more careful (not type so hard on teh keyboard!!!)
Posted on:
November 01, 2007 (Nov 1, 2007 11:13am)
Posted by:
Redlox
(Member since 2007, Australia)
Trauma would mean any influence to the nails, like any sort of vibrations perhaps? Hmm, is that worth me moving from the computer? Nah!
Posted on:
January 31, 2008 (Jan 31, 2008 2:19pm)
Posted by:
ZoutLiquorice
(Member since 2007, Australia)
When you injure your nail/finger most of the time you probably won't even notice you have - and if you injure it close to the cuticle (or matrix) you may not see the white flecks for a couple of weeks - by the time you'll have forgotten all about it. Very very rarely is it health related - if you have experienced white flecks on many or all of your nails for months or years - then you may have health problem that needs to be checked out - but it is very rare for your health to be the cause.
Posted on:
February 21, 2008 (Feb 21, 2008 9:54am)
Posted by:
GlossQueen
(Member since 2007, Australia)
Well that's news to me, I always thought it was lack of calcium. It makes much more sense that it'd be trauma to the nail.
Posted on:
February 21, 2008 (Feb 21, 2008 10:35am)
Posted by:
onigurl
(Australia)
I never knew that - i guess it could be true because not all of my nails have white specks on them- only a few do! - its all making sense now! :)
Posted on:
February 21, 2008 (Feb 21, 2008 12:48pm)
Posted by:
Beauty Obsession
(Member since 2007, Australia)
I was told many myths like lack of calcium and too much salt in my diet. I then found out it was caused by nail trauma.
Posted on:
February 21, 2008 (Feb 21, 2008 12:59pm)
Posted by:
gogirly
(Member since 2008, Australia)
look after those nails girls, once they are damaged they never recover
Posted on:
February 21, 2008 (Feb 21, 2008 1:40pm)
Posted by:
melmeko
(Member since 2007, Australia)
I love calcium so I guess i won't have this problem!!!
Posted on:
February 21, 2008 (Feb 21, 2008 3:04pm)
Posted by:
pinklili
(Australia)
wow i never knew...still im gonna keep having lots of calcium. not seen those specks for a long time so hopefully my nails are not getting hammered :)
Posted on:
February 21, 2008 (Feb 21, 2008 3:29pm)
Posted by:
hannah_almond
(Member since 2008, Australia)
i always thought it was because i dont eat enough zinc foods or something of the sort! damage eh, hmm. i don't mind if i get white specks on them, my nails aren't the most favourite part of my body.
Posted on:
February 21, 2008 (Feb 21, 2008 5:12pm)
Posted by:
Princess75
(Member since 2007, Australia)
same, myth city. i'm please to know this now. hey did anyone notice there is a princess mum now. heheh lol :) welcome princess mum.
Posted on:
February 21, 2008 (Feb 21, 2008 8:17pm)
Posted by:
glamourcat
(Member since 2007, Australia)
Oh yep, knew this one - even though I grew up being fed the myth that it was calcium deficiency... although I do really notice if I'm not getting enough calcium as my nails start getting really weak very quickly - like, even though the length has been there and/or growing for about 6 months, if I lack calcium it's like a ripple effect and it starts affecting my nail strength from the base up...
Posted on:
February 21, 2008 (Feb 21, 2008 8:48pm)
Posted by:
sharna2
(Member since 2007, Australia)
thanks for this myth to be dispelled!
beauty mythbusters!
Posted on:
February 22, 2008 (Feb 22, 2008 11:33am)
Posted by:
Jess84
(Member since 2007, Australia)
I always get white spots on the same nail everytime. What am I doing to this poor nail!
Posted on:
February 22, 2008 (Feb 22, 2008 12:04pm)
Posted by:
cld1986
(Member since 2008, Australia)
I knew that the calcium myth was false but I wasn't really sure what the flecks really were. Thanks for solving the mystery!
Posted on:
February 22, 2008 (Feb 22, 2008 2:01pm)
Posted by:
abrazosbesos
(Member since 2007, Australia)
hmm, looking at my nails i have these again. didnt know what caused it though. will just have to be more careful
Posted on:
February 22, 2008 (Feb 22, 2008 3:39pm)
Posted by:
sweetlove
(Member since 2008, Australia)
now i have finally find the answer! i always get these white spots on my finger nails but i never knew why. thanks beauty heaven mythbusters!
Posted on:
February 22, 2008 (Feb 22, 2008 6:03pm)
Posted by:
Bronze Baby
(Member since 2008, Australia)
nice facttt
Posted on:
February 22, 2008 (Feb 22, 2008 7:17pm)
Posted by:
rhijayne
(Australia)
we are like trees. he he he.
lol well i think im funny!
Posted on:
February 22, 2008 (Feb 22, 2008 9:07pm)
Posted by:
itseternity
(Member since 2008, Australia)
Great to know!
Posted on:
February 23, 2008 (Feb 23, 2008 4:50pm)
Posted by:
rainbows
(Australia)
this is great!
Posted on:
February 24, 2008 (Feb 24, 2008 12:27am)
Posted by:
Lead and Feather
(Member since 2008, Australia)
eeek gogirly! What do you mean they never recover? I assumed because nails were growing all the time if you did have a lot of damage it would grow out? I almost always have white spots on my nails though.
Posted on:
February 24, 2008 (Feb 24, 2008 8:25am)
Posted by:
ZoutLiquorice
(Member since 2007, Australia)
Lead and Feather - what gogirly wrote is not strictly true, if you damage a nail it will take roughly 8 months for the damage to grow out (the time it take a nail to grow from base to tip - depending on the rate of you personal nail growth) But if you REALLY do some damage - at the matrix of the nail (where the nail is formed) you can damage them for life - but that is rare and if it does happen it usually means you'll get a nail that grows irregularly.
Posted on:
February 24, 2008 (Feb 24, 2008 4:09pm)
Posted by:
SparklingStar
(Australia)
I'll have to make sure I look after my nails from now.
Posted on:
February 24, 2008 (Feb 24, 2008 6:20pm)
Comment on this article
Posted by: FiFi73 (Member since 2007, Australia)
Hmmm...LLike everyone else I always assumed it was lack of Calcium, But Now I know it's not!! I will definitely be going out to buy a better quality Hand, Nail & Cuticle cream....
Posted on: October 31, 2007 (Oct 31, 2007 7:36am)