

Your nails tell the story of your overall well-being. If you have healthy nails, it means there are significant health conditions that need addressing. But, if you notice any stain or brittleness of nails, it means there are some underlying health conditions. There are times when you notice stains on the nails, maybe yellow in colour, but they do not necessarily mean you are suffering from any disease. You may be affected by nail fungus, or it’s just a stain from the nail polish.
Therefore, it is important to understand the causes, treatment, and prevention of yellow nails to counter them on-time and resolve them without any hassle.
Causes of Yellow Nails
Yellow nail syndrome is a rare condition that changes the colour of nails into yellow, as well as thickens and curls them. It also hinders the nail growth. So, here are some of the leading causes of yellow nails –
- Fungal infections cause yellow, crumby, and thickened nails. It commonly occurs in people with nail injury, weakened immune system, or diabetes.
- Regular usage of dark nail polish also causes yellow nails. If you leave nail polish for more than one week or wear acrylic nails, it stains your nails and leads to yellow nails.
- Smoking is another cause of yellow nail fungus. Cigarettes contain tar and nicotine, which leads to yellow nails.
- If someone has melanonychia, they will develop yellow nails. This disease causes vertical black or brown stripes on the nails. The edges of the stripes become yellowish. Melanonychia occurs due to certain medications, infections, physical trauma on the nails, nutritional deficiencies, and inflammatory disorders.
- Medications such as chemotherapy drugs and tetracyclines cause yellow-coloured nails.
Did you know? Tobacco-stained fingers can cause other severe diseases like carcinoma, stroke, ischemic heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. |
Yellow Nail Treatment
The treatment of this condition is planned depending on the causes of yellow nail fungus. There are some effective home remedies to treat this disease, and if they don’t work, then ask your doctor for proper medication. Let’s learn about the home remedies and medications –
- Baking Soda
An acidic environment is suitable for growing any kind of fungus. But an alkaline environment helps to kill them. Baking soda creates an alkaline environment which eradicates yellow nail fungus.
So, add some baking soda to hot water and soak the nails with it. After a few repetitions of this method, you will get clearer nails.
- Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has a strong oxidising ability. Thus, it becomes a good stain remover. So, it becomes an outstanding element for removing the yellow stain from the nails. It goes deep into the nail enamel and bleaches the strips. As a result, the nails turn into their original colours.
You can add this element to warm water and soak the nails into that water. It will improve the appearance of nails. You may add baking soda to the water to gain better results.
- Tea Tree Oil
Applying tea tree oil for yellow fungal infection nail treatment becomes an effective home remedy. A study proves that tree tea oil actively stops the growth of nail fungus.
Mix one or two drops of this oil with a carrier oil such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil. Then, apply the mixture to the affected area.
- Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps to moisturise the nails and make them healthier. It can cure skin, hair, and nail cells. According to a medical study, it gives a positive result on yellow nail syndrome and promotes healthy nails.
You can take it orally or apply it topically to improve the yellow nail syndrome.
- Antifungal Medications
Doctors prescribe antifungal creams or drugs for yellow nail treatment. Oral medications like terbinafine (Lamisil) or itraconazole (Sporanox) will be helpful for this treatment. But these drugs are dangerous for liver health. Thus, you must stay away from long-term usage.
Expert Tip: No antifungal cream or oral medication can become 100% effective for treating yellow nails. |
Prevention for Yellow Nails
By maintaining healthy nail hygiene, you can prevent your nails from becoming yellow. Here, you will learn about the preventive measurements for avoiding this nail fungus –
- Maintain Proper Nail Hygiene
Ensure your nails are clean and trimmed enough. Also, protect your nails from dirt and germs.
- Limit the Usage of Nail Polish
Avoid frequent usage of nail polish to protect your nails from discolouration and infection. Also, you can apply a thin layer of clear polish before applying dark-coloured nail polish.
- Use Gloves
Wear gloves when you have to work with cleaning agents or harsh chemicals.
- Avoid Smoking
You should avoid smoking when you find yellow nail symptoms.
Conclusion
Yellow nail is a common disease, and usually, it is not a health concern. However, it surely dampens your appearance. So, you can try home remedies and a few medications to deal with this problem. Having said that, if this issue persists, then it is important to consult a medical expert, find the root cause of the problem and set the course of treatment to cure it.