Ava Monroe
White circles under the nail, also known as the lunula, are a natural part of the nail structure. They are a crescent-shaped whitish area at the base of the nail bed. The lunula is not actually white, but appears so when seen through the nail. However, white spots on the nails can sometimes indicate a health condition, such as a mineral deficiency or inflammatory skin disease.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Lunula |
| Shape | Crescent moon |
| Colour | White |
| Location | At the bottom of the nails of your fingers and toes |
| Appearance | Only visible on the thumb and big toe in some people |
| Cause | The epidermis is thicker beneath the matrix, blocking the pink colour from the blood vessels below |
| Health concerns | Leukoderma causes white patches under the nail |
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What You'll Learn
- The white crescent moon shape at the bottom of the nails is called the lunula
- The lunula is not actually white, it only appears so when seen through the nail
- The lunula is the part of the nail matrix that pokes out from under the flesh of your finger
- The nail matrix is a layer of living tissue at the base of the fingernail that secretes keratin protein
- White spots on nails can be caused by inflammatory skin diseases like nail psoriasis and hand eczema
The white crescent moon shape at the bottom of the nails is called the lunula
The lunula appears by week 14 of gestation and has a primary structural role in defining the free edge of the distal nail plate (the part of the nail that grows outward). It is located at the end of the nail that is closest to the skin of the finger, but it still lies under the nail. It is not actually white but only appears so when it is seen through the nail.
In some people, the lunula barely protrudes and is only really visible on the thumb and big toe. However, it is present on all fingers and toes.
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The lunula is not actually white, it only appears so when seen through the nail
The white circles under your nails are called lunulae (from the Latin for 'little moon'). The lunula is the crescent-shaped whitish area at the base of your fingernail or toenail. It is not actually white, but only appears so when seen through the nail. The lunula looks white because the epidermis is thicker beneath the nail matrix, blocking the pink colour from the blood vessels below. The lunula is a very delicate part of the nail structure. It appears by week 14 of gestation and has a primary structural role in defining the free edge of the distal nail plate (the part of the nail that grows outward).
White spots on your nails can also be caused by a mineral deficiency or inflammatory skin diseases like nail psoriasis and hand eczema. Leukoderma causes white patches under the nail.
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The lunula is the part of the nail matrix that pokes out from under the flesh of your finger
The white circles under your nails are called lunulae (from the Latin for 'little moon'). The lunula is the part of the nail matrix that pokes out from under the flesh of your finger. It is a crescent-shaped, whitish area of the bed of a fingernail or toenail. It is not actually white, but only appears so when seen through the nail. The lunula looks white because the epidermis is thicker beneath the matrix and it blocks the pink colour from the blood vessels below. In some people, it barely protrudes and is only really visible on the thumb and big toe.
The lunula is a very delicate part of the nail structure. Inflammatory skin diseases, like nail psoriasis and hand eczema, can affect the nail matrix and lead to abnormal spots in the nail plate. Leukoderma causes white patches under the nail, which some people may mistake for whiteness in the nail itself.
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The nail matrix is a layer of living tissue at the base of the fingernail that secretes keratin protein
White circles under the nail, known as lunulae (from the Latin for 'little moon'), are caused by the nail matrix – a layer of living tissue at the base of the fingernail that secretes keratin protein. The lunula is the part of the matrix that pokes out from under the flesh of your finger. In some people, it barely protrudes and is only really visible on the thumb and big toe. The lunula appears white because the epidermis is thicker beneath the matrix, blocking the pink colour from the blood vessels below.
The nail matrix is a very delicate part of the nail structure. Inflammatory skin diseases, like nail psoriasis and hand eczema, can affect the nail matrix. This can lead to abnormal spots in the nail plate. Leukoderma causes white patches under the nail, which some people may mistake for whiteness in the nail itself.
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White spots on nails can be caused by inflammatory skin diseases like nail psoriasis and hand eczema
In some cases, white spots on nails may be caused by leukoderma, a condition that causes white patches under the nail. This can sometimes be mistaken for whiteness in the nail itself. While these causes are possible, they are considered rare. If you are experiencing persistent white spots on your nails or other nail abnormalities, it is recommended to consult a doctor to explore potential underlying conditions.
It is important to note that the white crescent moon shape, often referred to as the lunula, is a natural part of the nail structure. The lunula is the whitish area at the base of the nail bed, appearing as a semi-circle on the thumb and big toe. The lunula appears white due to the thicker epidermis beneath the nail matrix, which blocks the pink colour from the blood vessels below. This area is not actually white but appears so when viewed through the nail.
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Frequently asked questions
The white semi-circles at the bottom of your nails are called lunulae (singular: lunula). They are the crescent-shaped whitish area of the bed of a fingernail or toenail.
The lunula looks white because the epidermis is thicker beneath the matrix and it blocks the pink colour from the blood vessels below.
No, in some people the lunula barely protrudes and is only really visible on the thumb and big toe.
White spots on your nails could be caused by inflammatory skin diseases, like nail psoriasis and hand eczema, or by a mineral deficiency.
If you have persistent white spots on your nails, you should consult a doctor.
