White Spots After Press-Ons (Leukonychia)
Chalky white dots, streaks or patches left on the nail plate after a press-on has been pulled off without softening the adhesive first, known clinically as punctate or striate leukonychia. It is mechanical damage to the keratin layers of the plate itself, not a fungal infection and not the calcium deficiency the folk explanation blames.
Trend context
Key fact
DermNet states that trauma-related punctate leukonychia requires no treatment and grows out over roughly six to nine months on a fingernail, while dermatologist Omer Ibrahim, MD, told SELF that ripping off artificial nails removes chunks of the nail plate's outermost layer, which is what produces the white streaking.
