White spots on nails, also known as leukonychia, are usually harmless and not a cause for concern. They are a common condition and can be caused by various factors, including:

• Nail Trauma: This is the most common cause of white spots on nails. Injuries to the nail plate or the area where the nail grows from, known as the matrix, can cause damage to the nail. This type of injury is common in children and is usually the cause of white spots on the nail. The types of injury that can cause this include nail biting, manicures, and day-to-day nail injuries.

• Fungal Infections: A nail infection is another common cause of white spots on nails. Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, develops when fungus grows between the keratin layers in the nail. Nail fungus will eventually make a nail look brown or yellow. But at first, it looks like a white spot on the tip of the nail. Nail fungus is more common on toenails, though it can also infect fingernails.

• Allergies and Medications: Certain medications can cause white spots on nails. For example, chemotherapy drugs can cause leukonychia. Allergies to nail polish, nail hardeners, and other nail products can also cause white spots.

• Medical Conditions: Some medical conditions, like iron deficiency anemia, can also cause white spots on the nails. However, this is less common than nail trauma or fungal infections.

• Hereditary Causes: True leukonychia may be an inherited condition, but it’s very rare.

In most cases, white spots on nails are harmless and will eventually grow out to the end of the nail until you can clip or cut them off. However, if you have large, white spots on multiple nails, its best to talk to your healthcare provider to rule out any underlying medical conditions.