Table of contents:
- How to deal with toenails that turn yellow
- 1. Stop painting nails
- 2. Use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda
- 3. Take antifungal medication
- 4. Apply essential oil
- Tips to prevent toenails turning yellow again
Yellow toenails can certainly reduce your self-confidence. As a result, you can also wear sandals or shoes that show the toes of your feet. Do not be discouraged, this condition can be overcome with routine care. What are the ways to deal with yellow toenails? Let's read the following reviews.
How to deal with toenails that turn yellow
Yellow toenails are a common problem faced by many people. This condition that changes the appearance of the nails may or may not be accompanied by symptoms, depending on the underlying health problem. To overcome this condition, you need to know what causes it.
According to the American Association of Dermatology, yellowing toenails is often caused by a fungal infection. Apart from changing color, this infection causes the nails to thicken and become brittle. Not only that, this nail discoloration can also be caused by aging and frequent painting of nails.
Based on the causes above, there are several ways you can treat yellow toenails and prevent them from recurring, including:
1. Stop painting nails
Nail polish does make your nails even more beautiful. Unfortunately, if too often the color of the nails can turn yellow. When you apply polish to your toenails, the dye can stain the nail plate. It can also occur because nail polish contains formaldehyde which affects the keratin protein in the nails.
If you suspect nail polish is the cause, stop using nail polish. Temporarily leave your toenails free from chemical exposure from nail polish. That way, the keratin protein will return to normal work and restore your nail color.
2. Use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda
To deal with yellow toenails, you can take advantage of natural ingredients at home. For example, the combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda aka baking soda.
Combine warm water, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. Soak your feet 5 to 10 minutes. This way, the two substances can seep into your nails, making them even more effective at reducing nail polish stains.
3. Take antifungal medication
If yellow toenails are caused by a fungal infection, the most appropriate way to treat them is to use antifungal drugs. Usually the doctor will prescribe ciclopirox 8% which is applied to the toenails like nail polish.
In addition to ciclopirox, you can also use 400 mg of clarithromycin to whiten toenails or drugs that contain vitamin E, zinc, corticosteroids, and vitamin D3.
4. Apply essential oil
Apart from doctor's medication, there are several natural ingredients in the form of essential oils that can help you deal with yellow toenails. Options are oregano oil and tea tree oil .
Both of these oils have antifungal and antibacterial properties, which can stop the development of fungus so that the color of your nails returns to normal. Mix in oregano oil or tea tree oil with olive oil, then apply it on the affected nail.
Tips to prevent toenails turning yellow again
So that the nails no longer turn yellow, you need to take care of them. Not just once, but do this as a routine. Caring for your nails and foot skin to stay healthy can be done by:
- Do not paint nails too often. Consider using nail polish only on special occasions.
- Keep your skin and toenails clean, for example cutting your nails regularly, using slippers in the shower or pool, and drying your feet immediately if they get wet.
- Wear shoes that are the right size and clean. Don't let your feet wear closed shoes all day, as this can make them damp and prone to infection.
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