white fingernail

My thumbnail has gone completely white and now my middle nail has too.  Also on the same fingers I have a patch of really dry skin.  Little bumps appear first, I scratch them and then the dry skin.  Can you tell me what it is and what I need to do?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

You'll need to see a doctor in person about this.  Fungus is possible but unlikely.  Trauma, eczema, dryness--all these may play a role of some sort.  Meantime, apply moisture lotion to the dry skin and don't scratch, so as not to confuse the issue.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[psalmsong]

Look up on the internet about Fungul infections.  I have a friend that has the same symptoms.  Try topical antifungul medication for a few days and see if it makes any difference.  Then talk to your Dr. maybe you need internal meds?  The white is what my toe looks like after I have had strong antibiotics and a certain toe goes whiteish and I use topical ointment and it helps.  Goodluck  psalmsong

[lookin4aclue]

I have a white fingernail, and some of mine even raise from there bed not all the way though.  Mine is from a form of Thyroid disorder.  Alot of the time it starts on the forth diget first.  Mine is now in my thumb nail.  I beleive it is called plummers syndrome.

[land_rover65]

A related discussion, White Fingernails was started.