You don’t have to leave them bare. I wouldn’t go straight into another long manicure.
A thin clear base coat or a sheer treatment like Nailtiques gives some water protection, as long as you remove and refresh it regularly instead of piling on coats.
If the areas are yellow, thick, crumbly, painful, lifting, or spreading on one nail, see a dermatologist.
Don’t buff the white away. Buffing removes nail plate along with the roughness, so you end up with thinner nails that are even more water-sensitive.
Acetone is fine. Hold a saturated pad on the nail for a bit, wipe once or twice, and stop rather than rubbing for ages. The Best Nail Polish Remover? Follow with cuticle oil or plain moisturizer.