ANSWER: White spots on the nail is perhaps the most common nail disorder and are called leukonychia, which literally means "whiteness of the nails." There are many types of nail whiteness, some of which indicate serious illness; fortunately, by far the most common cause of white spots on the nail is minor injury to the nail matrix. Caused by trauma or minor injury to the nail matrix, these spots will grow out from the matrix with the nail plate and eventually disappear.

ANSWER: When the nail plate becomes dehydrated, the results can be peeling and splitting nails, which fray at the edges. As a consequence, the nails may break and become more fragile, and can easily catch on clothing. It may also be harder for clients with brittle nails to pick up small objects or button a shirt. This condition also causes polish to chip and peel, although it is still a good idea for the client to wear polish to help protect the nail plate from further dehydration.

Tinea Versicolor, a skin condition, caused by a microscopic fungus from the scalp, falls onto arms, shoulders, and other body parts and leaves bleached-looking areas on the skin, which can spread. It is treatable with topical aids such as leaving the active ingredient in Selsum Blue dandruff shampoo on for 10 minutes along with applying Tea Tree oil twice daily for mild cases. For more resistant conditions, your doctor may prescribe pills for treatment.

a child, you may have been told these were called "lie spots." The more lies you told the more white spots you would have on your nails. This, and all other tall tales, are not true. White spots are calcium deposits in the nail, usually caused by hitting the nail or smashing the nail in a door.

ANSWER: Nails may be grooved in two directions: from side to side or from the cuticle outward. (Do not confuse these with normal ridges that often appear in older clients.) When the grooves are from the cuticle outward, they are called longitudinal grooves of the nail, and these are most commonly caused by a cyst, or a little growth in the skin next to the proximal nail fold. To treat this type of cyst, called a myxoma, a doctor typically performs some form of surgery.

A child may have gotten sick during the development of their teeth, causing the enamel to not completely form, making their teeth more cavity prone. Too much fluoride – especially in cities where the water is fluoridated, or digesting a lot of fluoride.

ANSWER: The most common bacterial infection of the nails is due to pseudomonas, and is sometimes referred to as "green nails" because of the greenish-colored nail plate. Pseudomonas is generally caused from air pockets under the nail plate that allow mositure to get in and the green pigment-producing organism thrives in the moist environment. This is usually accompanied by onycholysis (lifting nail), so a dermatologist should intervene.

ANSWER: When a nail is injured, it can assume a number of different appearances. The most common, of course, would be a discoloration of the nail plate due to bleeding under or around the nail. This condition is referred to as a subungual hematoma, or hemorrhage in the nail plate (similar to a bruise on the skin). When this occurs, the blood accumulates under the nail and it usually causes the nail plate to separate from the nail bed.

Yes, acetone can be extremely drying. Since harsh chemicals can damage the delicate skin around and under the nails, we suggest using petroleum jelly, under the nail plate, at the free edge and around fingers.