Leukonychia

Leukonychia is the name given to white nails. The condition can be congenital or acquired, complete or partial, and true or apparent. Punctate and striate leukonychia (Figure 13) is a common partial leukonychia. It is due to microtrauma of the matrix near the proximal nail fold that causes parakeratotic cells to form in the nail plate. These white spots grow out with the nail.