Yunhee Kim
White spots: A vitamin deficiency, as many believe, is not the cause of these splotches; minor trauma, like pushing cuticles back too vigorously, is the culprit. “They can also indicate that your nails need a rest from manicures,” says Jeannette Graf, a dermatologist in Great Neck, New York.
Ridges: These are usually hereditary but can also form if nails are dehydrated, says Grace Varon of the Sothys spa, in New York City. Keep your nails moisturized with a lotion or a cuticle oil.
Half-moons: Called lunules, these white crescents at the base of the nails overlie the matrix, or root, which lies under the skin.