Why have my toenails turned white?

[maryalice40]

All of my toenails have turned white. Some ridges. One has some brown spots. My fingernails, you can see the change occuring but not as noticable & I have ridges in all of my fingernails. My doctor could not give me any explanation except that it wasn't due to fungus.

[bugoff]

I have had a similar problem and it started gradually over years(20 yrs.). I am just learning this and it became apparent I was having an underlying issues and I am still in the process of figuring this out.In my case I had digestive problems, tinkling, and numbness of feet towards the end(20 yrs.). I am sensitive to certain foods, and to find out which foods are a problem. In the morning when I am fasted with no other foods in my digestive system I eat a single food item(usually wait an hour or more, want to make sure it is go)  and if it causes any bloating,severe odorous gas,and discomfort then I know this a problem food. It works best with single ingredient foods like wholefoods not processed foods. Processed have too much stuff to figure out the culprit. A healthy wholefood diet has helped.

[maatson]

Indexed certain drugs also can cause onycholysis, but then minus skin manifestations the pitting may only be physiological, perhaps relating to vascularity in connective tissue disorders.

[maryalice40]

I have been diagnosed with UCTD. Maybe it's because I have a systemic disorder.

[maryalice40]

Well the doctor didn't do anything except look at them and give his opinion which was I have no clue why. lol

I think they look like lindsay's nails "half and half" but looking closer, I have pitting like you see with psoriatic nails.

[maatson]

Precisely as to why a fungus culture is indicated!

[maryalice40]

About hate to say this but my nail is not similar to any of the 3: http://nail-fungus-cures-that-work.com/nail/index.php/en/component/content/article/92-nail-section/nail-category/97-types-of-nail-fungus. It's not speckled or powdery.

[maryalice40]

Maybe but my doctor was very insistent on the fact that it was not fungal.

Thanks for the help. :)

[maatson]

"Superficial white onychomycosis" in which invasion is restricted to patches or pits on the surface of the nail.

[maryalice40]

My doctor said it was not fungus and they are white, not yellow. The picture might make them look a little yellow (not so great camera). Wanted to make sure it wasn't a condition you would see with psoriatic nails. I've seen pictures of people with PSA have this same issue but then there are the one's you actually see oil spots pitting and damage to the nails.

[maatson]

It is very difficult to give a diagnosis on the nail disorders, minus investigation like culture test on fungus- with the nail clippings.