Facebook Pixel
EmpowHER Guest
Q: 

Why would my toenails be dry, brittle and have white spots/patches? Could it be a fungus? Can my dermatologist help me?

By Anonymous June 22, 2010 - 5:10pm
 
Rate This

I noticed the white markings after taking off toe nail polish that I had worn for a couple of months. That was a couple of months ago and it is still there. I thought it would grow out but it looks like they are not going away.

Add a Comment2 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I have this issue too. I keep polish on my toenails all the time, and every time I remove it they're very brittle and have white patches. If I go a few months without putting polish on them, the new nail growth is perfectly normal. I believe long term exposure to polish damages them over time.

October 4, 2014 - 10:23am

This Comment

Pat Elliott
Empowered
Expert HERWriter Guide Blogger

Thanks for your question. The health of our toes can often be an indicator of our overall health. Here's a link to information about nail diseases, as well as pictures, that will help you figure out what's going on. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/naildiseases.html

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, a toenail fungus is usually a dark color and sometimes results in a foul smell. You can learn more about fungal infections here: http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/Foot-Health/FootHealthBrochures/GeneralFootHealthBrochures/NailProblems.aspx

June 23, 2010 - 5:17pm

This Comment

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.