What does the appearance of white spots on nails typically indicate?

The appearance of white spots on nails is commonly associated with minor injuries to the nail matrix. When a nail sustains a small trauma—such as bumping into an object or applying pressure—the result can be these white spots, also known as leukonychia. These spots usually indicate that there has been some disruption in the nail's normal growth process at the site of the injury.

While other conditions, such as infections or malnutrition, can affect the nails, they typically present with different symptoms or characteristics. Infections might cause discoloration or other visible changes, and malnutrition would often lead to more generalized problems such as ridged texture or brittleness rather than isolated white spots. Aging can change the overall appearance of nails, but it does not specifically account for white spots appearing as a direct result of injury.