​"Shellac, shellac on the wall, where's the worst nails of them all?"

I say this to myself each morning before I start work.

I'm sick and tired of hearing a beautician's take on nail gel damage. It's like asking a circus owners opinion on dancing bears. 

Shellac was everywhere a few years back. But of late, I've noticed a drop off in the miracle nail polish.

Is it a mini-rebellion against the damage that gel inflicts on your nails?

​Now, I'm a Podiatrist, so this post is tailored to chalk-colored toenails. 

​But it also applies to the more common coated fingernails. 

Your nail tissue is the same. The process is the same. The white spots and fungal nail infections are the same. ​

There's only one healthy reason for white chalky toenails. You bake bread with your feet and flour dusts your toes.

(Unless you're gluten-intolerant and I'm not going down that rabbit hole) 

​Anyway, before you sprint off for the calcium tablets, take a breather...

Now, call me an old stick in the mud, but I've never worn shellac gel.

But as a Podiatrist, I do know about foot pain and corns.

I see plenty of white chalky spots on toenails after removing polish.

(This is almost always after I've drilled away day-glo shellac)

I also witness the ensuing toenail fungus.

So, what are these white dots and spots? Are they serious? (No) 

​Are they a sign of something far more stubborn coming down the pipeline? (Possibly, yes)