What Does Yellow Nails Mean

This article was medically reviewed by Caroline Chang, Medico, a board-certified dermatologist and fellow member of the Prevention Medical Review Board, on September 24, 2019.

Yellow nails are where it'southward at when you lot're in the mood for a bright and cheery manicure—but when your digits are giving off a lemony vibe and there's not a drop of nail polish on them, it could be your torso'due south way of hinting that something'southward off.

"Like growth rings of a tree, marks on your nails represent changes in your health over time," says Joshua Zeichner, Doctor, director of cosmetic and clinical enquiry in the section of dermatology at Mountain Sinai Hospital. "If your nails turn yellow, information technology may be as elementary as a nail polish staining the smash plate. However, at that place may also exist an infection or an underlying disease that'south causing them."

Whatsoever changes to your nails where the underlying culprit isn't obvious or that seem to exist sticking around—color changes, thickening, crumbling—should be evaluated by your dermatologist in case there'southward a medical issue that needs to exist addressed, says Dr. Zeichner.

The sooner you nail down the crusade of your tinted fingertips (pun totally intended), the sooner you can get your nails—and mayhap your health—back on runway.

As for what might be causing your yellow nails? Hither are 7 possible culprits that dermatologists were kind enough to share dirt on:

i. You dear wearing night nail polish.

OPI Nail Lacquer Base of operations Glaze

Wearing nail polish on the regular (especially darker shades) can stain your nails xanthous. "The dye in the blast lacquer interacts with the keratin of the boom, causing a yellow discoloration and brittleness," says Philadelphia-based dermatologist Rina Allawh, MD. Acetone boom polish remover can worsen the yellowing by giving the dissolved nail smooth a chance to bail to your nails like a stage five clinger.

Since the yellowing typically strikes the upper part of the blast, the all-time way to get your nails back to normal would be to take a breather from smooth and allow the stained portions to grow out.

To foreclose yellow nails from happening in the first place, use a clear base coat before your polish and switch up your go-to colors then yous're non using nighttime polishes as often, says Dr. Allawh. Investing in a not-acetone polish remover can also be helpful in keeping yellow stains at bay.

ii. A fungal infection might be lurking.

zhongyanjiang Getty Images

When a pesky fungus invades the blast (usually toenails), it tin can lead to thickening of the smash itself and accumulation of debris underneath—both of which can atomic number 82 to a yellow colour, says Dr. Zeichner.

Your dermatologist can culture the nails to determine the exact blazon of mucus, and tailor your handling co-ordinate to what would work all-time to combat it—say, a topical or prescription antifungal medication.

"Because nails grow slowly, a systemic medication would demand to be prescribed for 3-six months in lodge to fully eradicate the fungal infection," says Susan Massick, MD, a dermatologist at The Ohio Country University Wexner Medical Center. (The only bummer is that cure rates with current antifungals are generally l to 60 percentage, and so repeat treatments may be necessary.)

iii. You work with your easily (a lot).

When the end of your nail separates from the nail bed, this is known as onycholysis.

Gain *unlimited* access to Prevention

"Because a space develops underneath the nail, it gives off a yellow or opaque advent," says Dr. Zeichner. Information technology's ordinarily seen in people who work with their hands, such every bit hairdressers, manicurists, food handlers, and cleaners. (It can also be caused by trauma, psoriasis, and every bit a side event of sure medications, says Dr. Massick.)

To care for information technology, it'southward of import to cut off the part of the smash that's separated from the smash bed. "The separation creates a space underneath the nail that allows microorganisms to grow and forbid the boom from reattaching," says Dr. Zeichner, who recommends soaking your nails in Listerine twice daily. "Listerine contains an ingredient called thymol that's anti-microbial and will help the smash reattach as it grows dorsum in," he says.

Avoid farther trauma to your nails by wearing protective gloves, steering clear of wet environments and harsh chemicals, and keeping your nails trimmed, says Dr. Massick. Cleaning nether your nails tin can also make onycholysis worse by causing information technology to move further back on the nail bed. (Same goes for using your nails as a tool, such equally to open up popular cans.)

If y'all think your xanthous nails might be related to medications, consider chatting with your doc well-nigh discontinuing what you lot're on, specially if your nails become bothersome or painful, says Dr. Massick.

4. It could be a sign of a vitamin deficiency.

"Malnutrition can affect growth of the nails, and in some cases, lead to a yellow discoloration," says Dr. Zeichner. Your medico may run claret tests and evaluate you for vitamin and food deficiencies, similar zinc or b12. "If you exercise have a deficiency, then use of supplements over several weeks to months may help correct the deficit," adds Dr. Zeichner. Over time, your nails should go back to their regularly scheduled programming.

5. You're a smoker.

Yellow nails and fingers are both telltale signs that you're a smoker or used to smoke, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. This is caused by the repeated exposure to the tar in tobacco smoke. Your nails may also take on a rounded or clubbed appearance, which can occur from chronic lung illness or COPD in long-term smokers.

You lot may also develop something known every bit the Harlequin nail, which specifically refers to the appearance of a nail afterwards someone quits smoking suddenly because half the nail is stained and the other half (the new boom that grows in during smoking cessation) is non stained.

six. ...or a fan of self-tanners.

Self-tanning products contain an ingredient called DHA. "It reacts with your skin cells to leave backside a yellow-orange colour that mimics a tan," says Dr. Zeichner. If information technology gets on your fingers as you lot apply information technology, it may accumulate at higher levels effectually your cuticles and give your nails a dark xanthous appearance. If yous suspect your self-tanner might exist the cause of your yellow nails, either vigorously wash your hands to remove any backlog product after you've applied information technology, or consider wearing gloves during the application process.

7. It may actually be hereditary.

There's a rare condition that's actually called yellowish nail syndrome—it can happen randomly and may run in families. Forth with yellowish toenails and fingernails, you may experience respiratory breathing issues, chronic sinusitis, and bloated legs. It usually strikes in middle age, merely tin happen when y'all're younger also, according to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.

Your dermatologist will confirm the diagnosis through a boom clipping (to rule out fungal elements), blood work, a physical exam, and a detailed clinical history, says Dr. Allawh. Yous'll and then be referred to a specialist who will treat the specific animate and swelling problems you may be experiencing, as well as your blast issues.

8. An underlying health event may be to blame.

Thyroid disease may lead to nail issues like yellowing, thickening, and aging of the edge of the nails. Diabetes can cause yellowish nails likewise: "Information technology's unclear why, but information technology may have to do with high-circulating sugar levels," says Dr. Zeichner. (Because people with diabetes may feel a compromised immune system, this can also increase the risk of developing a fungal nail infection.)

"For both of these health problems, your doc volition do some claret tests to evaluate for any thyroid issues or diabetes," says Dr. Zeichner. "Close management of these weather condition may, in time, meliorate the advent of the nails."

Similar what you just read? You'll dear our magazine! Go here to subscribe. Don't miss a matter by downloading Apple tree News here and post-obit Prevention. Oh, and nosotros're on Instagram too .