OK, I wanted to get people's takes on a few things.

I've heard that white spots on the nails can indicate a zinc deficiency... which can be caused by mercury, right? I have spots on several of my nails.

Someone also pointed out to me - and now I notice this is semi-unusual - that I have very red skin around the nails, just past the cuticles.

Does anyone have any insight about this redness? Is it an iron issue? My nail beds themselves are not terribly pink or red, which may also be an iron-deficiency issue.