Very white nails...all of them - Nail Problems Message Board

stevo72 · 01-29-2006, 01:10 PM

Hello,
All of my fingernails are very white -- not pinkish like they are supposed to be. Its very embarrasing and hinders me from doing things that may focus on the hands in public. It also is distracting when folks ask me why are my nails so white.

When my hands are warm, they get extra white. When they are cold, they lose the white a little.

Is it possible that I have extranneous keratin build up that doesn't make my nail translucent to show the nail bed?? Is it genetics?

Can anyone can recommend something that I can do to my nails to break down the keratin and thin the nail out possibly allowing it to show the nail bed?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Marti · 02-01-2006, 10:34 AM

I have never heard of exteraneous keratin build-up in fingernails and I have been in the nail industry for 39 years now. I have heard of this on skin, but not fingernails.

Are the nails brittle and crumbly? Are they pitted in any way? Are they separating from the nail bed?

stevo72 · 02-01-2006, 12:48 PM

Marti,
Nope, they are not brittle, nor pitted, nor anything out of the ordinary. My cuticles are normal, and the nail is not separating from the nail bed either.

They look completely healthy, except for being Extremely white. No matter what, they just don't show a nice pinkish color. No one else in my family has this either (parents, siblings, nieces, nephews). I've been trying to understand why, and just don't know.

Marti · 02-01-2006, 07:14 PM

It could be something systemic - I would see your physician.