Yellow nails, what causes them and tips to overcome them

Causes of yellow nails

Nails are hard, dense tissue made of keratin protein and dead epidermal cells. Nail growth usually lasts about six months. Like skin, nails also need oxygen to stay healthy.

If nails are broken, cracked, and discolored, this can be a sign of a health problem.

For example, a problem with your nails can indicate symptoms of psoriasis or a fungal infection. However, it does not rule out that changing nail color is caused by daily habits.

Here are various things that can make nails turn yellow, from using nail polish to signs of a serious condition.

1. Usage

One of the causes of nails turning yellow is the use of nail polish. The use of nail polish, especially red, can cause white-yellow stains on the nails. This also applies to using acetone nail polish remover.

Generally, the cause of yellowing nails on this one is not dangerous and often happens to everyone. You can treat discoloration of these nails with home remedies.

2. Infection

Onycholysis is a condition when the tip of the nail plate detaches from the nail bed. One of the symptoms before the nail breaks and falls off is that the surface looks white or yellow because the nail bed is often exposed to air.

There are many things that can cause your nails to fall off, such as injury, psoriasis, or the side effects of certain medications. This nail problem is also more prone to occur in people using their hands a lot at work, such as butchers and hairdressers.

4. Syndrome

Although it is quite rare, yellow nail syndrome is also one of the causes of discoloration of damaged nails.

Yellow nail syndrome is a fairly rare disease that is usually characterized by three things, namely:

yellowing nails,
breathing problems, and
swelling of the lower legs (lymphedema).

This disease, which is common in people over 50 years of age, can also cause nail growth to slow down and detach from the nail bed. The cause is unknown.

However, this condition is usually associated with autoimmune diseases or cancer. Apart from that, experts also think that yellow nail syndrome can be affected by exposure to titanium.

5. Smoking

It is no secret that smoking is very dangerous for the health of your body. The cigarette smoke you exhale releases about 7,000 harmful chemicals.

Apart from damaging your health, these chemicals can also interfere with your appearance, including the health of your nails.

Yellow nails are often found in smokers. This is because the nicotine in cigarettes can stain your fingers and nails, turning them brown and yellow.

6. Thyroid disease

In addition to loose nails, yellowing of the nails can also be a symptom of thyroid disease, namely hypothyroidism. This yellowing of the nails is later accompanied by thickening and cracking of the nails, so that nail growth slows down and becomes easily broken.

7. Diabetes

People with diabetes often experience dry skin problems, especially on the feet, which are also accompanied by circulatory problems. As a result, the nails thicken, turn yellow, are brittle, and crumble easily.

Not only that, nails with diabetes are also susceptible to fungal infections which make them thickened and yellow.

Diabetics often experience dry skin problems, especially on the feet, along with circulatory problems. Nails will be wavy, discolored, brittle and crumble easily.

These nails are prone to fungal infection (onychomycosis), which causes the nails to thicken and turn yellow.

Actually there are various other health problems that can cause yellowing of the nails, including liver disease. That is why, changes in the condition and color of the nails need to be examined by a doctor, especially when you have risk factors for certain diseases.

How to deal with yellow nails

Here are some ways to deal with yellow nails that are usually recommended by doctors or you can do at home if the condition is relatively mild.

1. Stop using nail polish

One of the causes of yellowing nails is the use of nail polish (nail polish). If you are a person who paints your nails a lot and now your natural nail color looks yellowish, stop using nail polish.

You can leave your nails free from chemical exposure from nail polish. This is so that the keratin protein returns to normal work and restores the color of your nails.

Meanwhile, you can try the methods below to restore nail color due to using nail polish.

Clean your nails with apple cider vinegar to fight bacteria and fungus on your nails.
Rub the nails with lemon which acts as a bleaching agent
Apply with whitening toothpaste
Scrub your nails with a paste made of orange peel

2. Use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda

Another way to treat yellow nails is to use a combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda (baking soda).

You can mix warm water, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide to start. Then, soak your feet for 5 to 10 minutes. That way, these two substances can seep into the nails to reduce nail polish stains.

3. Use antifungal drugs

If yellow nails are caused by a fungal infection, the most appropriate way to treat them is to use antifungal drugs for nails. Normally, doctors will prescribe ciclopirox 8% which is applied to the toenails like nail polish.

In addition to ciclopirox, you can also take clarithromycin at a dose of 400 mg to whiten nails.

4. Apply essential oil

Apart from doctor's medication, there are several natural ingredients in the form of essential oils that can help treat yellow nails. Options are oregano oil and tea tree oil (tea tree oil).

Both oils have antifungal and antibacterial properties that help suppress fungal growth so that the color of your nails returns to normal.

You can mix in oregano oil or tea tree oil with olive oil. Then, apply the oil to the affected nail.

Basically, how to deal with yellow nails should depend on the underlying health problem. For example, yellowing nails due to diabetes can be treated by controlling blood sugar levels.

Likewise with smoking which is the cause of yellow nails. Try to reduce or quit smoking to reduce yellowing of the nails.

On the other hand, yellow nail syndrome which causes discoloration of the nail plate can be treated by focusing on reducing the swelling of lymphedema. Apart from that, oral vitamin E is also used to improve the appearance of nails.

For that, please consult a dermatologist to get the right treatment.