(One of the many reasons we recommend you toss the cigarettes!) (2015, July 21). Research even shows vitamin E can helpsupport a healthy, fresh nail color4. Mix cup baking soda and 1 cup hydrogen peroxide in a bowl. Jennifer Boidy is a Registered Nurse in Maryland. 2. "I have had yellow finger stains for years. Getting rid of yellow nails depends on the cause. Be sure to use small circles and take your time to avoid damaging your nails. Friendly reminder: You never want to apply the antibacterial on your skin without diluting it first. What causes your fingernails to turn yellow? 3. unlocking this expert answer. To prevent yellow nails, always apply a base coat before painting them with nail polish. Lemon has natural bleaching properties which might help lift the stains on your hands. John G, Pasche S, Rothen N, Charmoy A, Delhumeau-Cartier C, Genn D. Tobacco-stained fingers: a clue for smoking-related disease or harmful alcohol use? Toothpaste Toothpaste can help to eliminate the yellow stains on your nails and whiten them gradually. Apply an over-the-counter anti-fungal solution or cream to your nails, such as clotrimazole or undecylenic acid. In this case, 89% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. For this, you need the standard brown-bottle stuff that you can find on Amazon. "When your nails become weaker and thinner, you might experience discoloration with your nails, where they turn slightly yellow," adds Amy Lin, the founder ofsundaysa nail care brand focused on wellness. Nail staining can occur from wearing dark-colored nail polish and from smoking cigarettes. If they're still yellow, try cutting a lemon in half and rubbing it onto your nails for 30 seconds. That, or a stubbed toenail. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Let the paste sit for 10 minutes, and then rinse off with tepid water. You can repeat this process up to 10 times per day. Keep in mind that this method will sting if you have any small cuts on your fingers. Baking soda can also be used to bleach yellow nails and help restore their natural color. "Combine 3 to 4 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and one-half cup of water," she says. "Certain nail polishes contain triphenyl phosphate, toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate," says Splichal, who adds that those are all ingredients that "can weaken and leech the nutrients from the nails." Consult a doctor or dermatologist for more serious skin conditions. When a fungal infection, like athlete's foot3 occurs in the nail, it leads to a thickening of the nail plate and accumulation of debris beneath it, both of which can lead to a yellow hue, Maiman says. Yellow nails can signify an underlying issue not related to polish or shoe sizenamely, diabetes. Vitamin E is known to help cells retain moisture and look healthier. Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. Read on to see if its right for you. You can repeat this process once a day for one week. I'm so pleased to have some new advice & ways of preventing this hideous problem, can't wait to try them out! It's available by prescription only, though, so seeing a medical professional is necessary. The fungus can cause your nails to become thick, brittle, and discoloured. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. According to board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical Rachel Maiman, M.D., the causes of yellow nails can range from cosmetic concerns (like wearing dark nail polish) to underlying nail health issues (like fungal infections). This article broke down different solutions that were helpful.". Scrub your nails with whitening toothpaste to immediately get rid of colorful stains from wearing colored nail polish. See here for our favorite vitamins for nails. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. In addition, smoking can sometimes stain nails yellow. (That's our motto: When in doubt, ask an MD.) You just have to take a drop or two along with a carrier oil and use a cotton swab to apply it to your nails. For example, if you're a smoker and your nails are tobacco-stained, you'll need to quit smoking. American Cancer Society. Why Do We Pick at Our Nails? Approved. ", "Gave me new ideas to help improve my cleanliness. Never stop taking a medication without first talking with a healthcare provider. Remedies. Although: "Some articles claim that deficiencies of vitamin B12 and zinc can cause yellow nails, but it's not common," says Maiman. Fungal infections may require antifungals. Mix a drop or two of tea tree oil with a carrier oil such as olive oil,. There are, however, other causes of, From infections to the normal side effects of aging, cracked nails have many causes. Experts ExplainAnd Tell Us How to Stop, Why Does My Body Itch? Read our, How Long Does It Take Nail Polish to Dry? Nails can tell you a lot about your overall health. You may need to be referred to a dermatologist. "This is a physical sign that your nails may need a breather from polish.". Be sure to consult a doctor if your yellowed nails do not improve or lessen after trying these methods. This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features. Case in point? Chaftar, N., Girardot, M., Labanowski, J., Ghrairi, T., Hani, K., Frre, J., & Imbert, C. (2015, November 14). Yellow nail syndrome in three siblings: A randomized double-blind trial of topical vitamin E. Flores, F. C., de Lima, J. In . Household products like a paste of baking soda and water or toothpaste with whitening agents can help eliminate yellowing of the fingernails. (2017, March 1). Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Do not use this method if you are sensitive to bleach. Once you pinpoint the cause of your yellow hue, you can create an easy solution to fix it at home or visit a doctor who can get to the root of the issue. Often it presents as a dark stripe. How to Cure Toenail Fungus: Can Vinegar Help? For more tips, including how to prevent your fingers from getting stained by nicotine, read on! Your skin and nails stop yellowing when you stop smoking. She received her bachelor's in Magazine Journalism from Temple University and you can find her work at top publications like InStyle, PopSugar, StyleCaster, Business Insider, PureWow and OprahMag. Use a cuticle pusher to push your cuticles back, then use a 4-way buffer to gently buff away the stains on your nails. Oregano Oil 8. Since vitamin E stimulates healthy nail growth, it can be applied topically or taken orally to help your nails grow in quickly. "It is important to start treatment early while the area of nail involvement is still small," says Kosinski. You can also add a few drops of water to a single aspirin tablet to form a paste and use the paste to scrub your nails. These include: 6 Tetracyclines (an antibiotic used to treat acne and other bacterial infections) Quinolones (a type of antibiotic) Clofazimine (an antibiotic used to treat leprosy) Combivir (a medication used to treat human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV) Home Remedies To Treat Yellow And Thick Nails A mixture of olive oil, baking soda and lemon bleaches, strengthens and softens the nails and hands. Stop rubbing the area if it becomes red or. One of the most common causes of yellow nails is a fungal infection. Likewise, it has antifungal properties which are useful in treating any kind of nail disease that prompts staining. ", toothpaste and the lemon juice when done consecutively did the trick. Directions: In a small bowl, add half a cup of apple cider vinegar to half a cup of warm water. Let them dissolve completely. There's nothing wrong with a faux-glow, but just like these at-home tanners can cause palms to look yellowish-orange, the same goes for your fingernails. 23 April 2020. Use a nail brush to apply the paste to the yellow areas of your skin and let it sit for 15 minutes. Healthy nail growth will gradually replace the yellowed appearance of your nails. Bleach, toothpaste, and lemon juice are all effective ways to remove nicotine stains from your fingers. There are plenty of home remedies that you can try to treat the condition. The sandpaper from a matchbox will also work. Dip your nails into hydrogen peroxide. You can also rub the cut side of a lemon on your nails, then let it sit for 10 minutes to lighten them. This information can often direct the next steps, if any. Yellow stains on your fingers and fingernails may seem like they are permanent, but there are some remedies to remove, or at least lessen the discoloration caused by smoking. It has antifungal and antibacterial properties (12) that can fight off fungal infections that cause nail discoloration in the first place. If you dont already have a doctor, our Healthline FindCare tool can help you connect to physicians in your area. This article has been viewed 930,159 times. You should use this solution which is just 3% hydrogen peroxide. Yellow isn't a frightening color until the hue invades your toenails. 4. Support wikiHow by Split nails are often caused by an injury such as a stubbed toe or receiving a severe blow to a finger or thumb. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 930,159 times. Sure, you can always schedule a manicure to cover up the appearance of yellow-tinted nails (assuming the hue is cosmetic-related and doesn't signal a health issue), but there's also an easy way to clear the color at home. If your nails are yellow from melanonychia, treatment may involve stopping medication or treating the underlying disease or trauma. Although: "Some articles claim that deficiencies of vitamin B12 and zinc can cause yellow nails, but it's not common," says Maiman. Rubbing your nails with lemon juice or whole lemon and rinsing them with water after 10-30 minutes can make a great way to get your nails into their usual color again! "If it is a fungus, there are many options for treatment, including laser therapy, topical medication, and pills," says Kosinski. You need to allow the juice to set for bit loner, about 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing. Mix well and place your fingertips in the bowl. If your nails are damaged (and, by default, yellowing significantly), talk to your doctor about other options. To use denture cleaning tablets to whiten your nails, follow these simple directions: Place 3 denture cleaning tablets in a cup of lukewarm water. Alternatively, rub some lemon juice on the stains. Many things can cause yellow nails. Mix baking soda and warm water to form a paste (or just use toothpaste) and scrub your toenails gently with a toothbrush for about 5 minutes to help lighten or completely remove the stain. The good news? Be it ridges, discoloration, or overall brittleness (which can also lead to yellow nails, as we noted above). Top reasons why your nails are yellow. Alternatively, apply whitening toothpaste to your nails and let it sit for 10 minutes. Mia Rubie. Thankfully, yellow nails aren't impossible to fix. We rub them and let them act for five minutes every day. Mayo Clinic Staff. Dip a nail brush to the solution then apply this to the yellowed parts of your fingers. 3. Hydrogen peroxide has been proven to help whiten teeth effectively when combined with baking soda, and its a common ingredient in whitening toothpaste. A condition called yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is indicated by continually yellow nails and respiratory or lymphatic problems. Scrub your toenails with baking soda or toothpaste. If you use this method and it irritates your skin, then rinse the bleach off of your skin right away. But what happens when you remove your polish to find that your once strong, bright, and shiny nails are turning a less-than-satisfactory shade of yellow? If needed, you can repeat this process two to three times a week. If you have yellow nails, you may notice the following: Depending on the cause of the yellow nails, you may also notice additional symptoms. Last Updated: October 25, 2022 The lemon juice can lighten your nails much in the same way it can lighten hair when it is sprayed on and exposed to the sun. Following are few remedies to get rid of yellow nails that are very efficient. This means its a great treatment for nails stained by product use. Then, dip your nails into the solution and soak them for about 15 minutes. When yellowing is caused by fungus, oral prescriptions such as terbinafine (Lamisil) or itraconazole (Sporanox) can be effective. Alternatively, you could also create a soak by adding the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda mix into about 1 cup of water, and soaking your nails for about 5-10 minutes. "This can occur as a result of trauma, chemicals, certain medications and also certain inflammatory conditions like psoriasis," Maiman says. However, in some cases, with heavy smokers or yellowing that has been on the hair for a long period, you may . References First, wet your hands and apply toothpaste to a clean toothbrush. Lemon can efficiently help to get rid of yellow nails because it is a natural bleaching agent. For more tips, including how to use tea tree oil to get rid of yellow nails, read on! I've always known about the toothpaste theory & lemon juice. Do not rub your finger for more than a few seconds since it can cause irritation. Try using a whitening toothpaste for extra tough nicotine stains. Consider adding a few drops of lemon juice into this paste to give the mixture even more whitening power. Smoking causes a wide range of negative health effects, but it also has some obvious physical effects, such as yellow nicotine stains on your nails and fingers. Then, rinse away the paste and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/onycholysis, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534878/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279547/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16918641/. Prevent future stains by using a hookah or a metal pipe instead of just holding the cigarette with your hands. Yellow nails can range from slightly discolored to a distinctly dark yellowish tint. Do the paste method twice a day for a couple of weeks. That's why nail-strengthening antioxidants, like vitamin E, are beloved in nail care. Use a clean cotton ball and more nail polish remover as needed. Using lighter or sheer nail polish colors can give your nails a break from the harsh dyes found in darker polishes. Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Rotate your nail to the left and right to make sure youre also buffing the sides of your nail, not just the top, middle section. Baking Soda and Lemon 4. Sometimes yellow nails are a symptom of a bigger issue. Your skin, hair, and nails all take on an appearance of vitality when you have plenty of vitamin E. Vitamin E has also been clinically studied as a successful treatment for yellow nail syndrome. How long does it take yellowed nails to go back to their natural color? It is a 100% Australian Tea Tree Oil that has multiple benefits. By using our site, you agree to our. Of course, if nail discoloration is caused by aging, it won't be possible to get rid of the yellow nails. Add one teaspoon of crushed juniper berries to a bowl of warm water. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Lemon Juice Is Not Only A refreshing Drink! "When we're low in protein, calcium, or other vitamins, that can sometimes show up on your fingernails." How To Get Rid Of Yellow Nails Fast With the acidic corrosive and malice corrosive nearness, apple juice vinegar could help diminish nails' staining. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. That's because DHA penetrates the naturally occurring dead skin cells on your epidermis and darkens them, mimicking a tanif it finds its way to the skin on your fingertips, it might give your nails a sunless tan, too. Additionally, the color of your nail polish could actually be staining your nails, according to nail expert Evelyn Lim, and is more likely to happen with colors that are very pigmented. The smoke is cooled as it passes through a water system before going through the pipe the user inhales from. You can prevent nail discoloration by being careful about nail hygiene. Yes, smoking can cause yellow nails. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. American Academy of Dermatology Association. I would smoke, and try to cover the stain on my finger with the cigarette butt. Whitening, "Some great suggestions here. For more tips, including how to use tea tree oil to get rid of yellow nails, read on! Other causes of yellow nails include; fungal infection, allergic reaction, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, thyroid disorder, liver disease, smoking . It's very embarrassing and I never wanted anyone to look. See your physician if home remedies arent helpful in eliminating discoloration. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Fix-Nicotine-Stained-Fingers-Step-01-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-Nicotine-Stained-Fingers-Step-01-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Fix-Nicotine-Stained-Fingers-Step-01-Version-2.jpg\/aid1114329-v4-728px-Fix-Nicotine-Stained-Fingers-Step-01-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"