5 MYTHS ABOUT NAILS

We're not pointing any fingers (or toes), but a lot of folks (including manicurists!) are misinformed. Here's the unvarnished truth.

- BY KATE ROCKWOOD

1 MYTH:

White marks on your nails mean you're not getting enough calcium.

MYTHBUSTER

Maybe, but probably not. The most common reason for white marks on your nails is minor injuries, says dermatologist Jenny Liu, M.D., an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. You might hurt your nails by bumping them, using harsh chemicals, or getting an aggressive manicure. The white spots usually are harmless, Dr. Liu says, "and they grow out as the nail grows." If they don't go away or the nails thicken, crack, or separate, that's a sign that they're caused by something more serious, says Saylee Tulpule, M.D., a podiatrist in Washington, DC, and Maryland and a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association. Call your doctor, who might diagnose a fungal infection, an illness, or, yes, a deficiency of a nutrient such as calcium.

2 MYTH:

Nail fungus is just a cosmetic issue.

MYTHBUSTER