What Causes Yellow Fingernails

Nail color reflects a person’s inner state of health, as well as lifestyle or nail care habits. Did you notice that your fingernails color turned on yellow? It may be the sign of internal health disorder, such as problems with your liver, respiratory or lymphatic system disorders and diabetes.

Specialists say that it may be the sign of bad eating habits, since the nails’ structure consists of minerals and a protein called keratin. The yellow color on your nails may appear long before any sign of illness shows up. A simple blood test will throw light on the problem to find out what causes yellow fingernails.

Yellow or brown discoloration may indicate fungal infection. There are more symptoms in this case: an unpleasant odor of your fingers and flaking of the nail. Infected nails are crumby, thicker and yellowish. Usually the infection starts at the tip, but soon the entire nail is affected. In this case you have to see the doctor and get oral anti fungal medication, because it would not clear up on its own.

To avoid catching fungal infection

- do not walk barefoot in public areas
- use only cotton socks and change them every day
- do not share your shoes or socks
- wear gloves when doing household cleaning
- do not wear artificial nails
- always clean the manicure and pedicure tools before use

Long nails are older, so it’s no wonder they are losing their natural color and glow. You don’t have to wear them short, but trim them constantly.

If you are a smoker you may have yellowish fingers. You know that the only solution for both your general health and nails is to stop smoking as soon as possible. If you can’t quit, place the cigarette in an ashtray between puffs and do not hold it between the fingers.

Nail polish may be also the cause of the yellow color of your nails, deprived of the oxygen needed to keep natural color. It would be better if you stop nail polishing your nails for a while or if you just can’t do that, apply a clear base coat before the colored one.

Now you know what causes yellow fingernails. Here are some advice in order to get rid of the colored nails:

- for five minutes, soak your nails in lemon juice. It has bleaching effect and may help reducing the yellow color
- dissolve denture tablets in water and soak your fingers in the solution for ten minutes
- apply French manicure or use whitening pencil
- buy a nail cleaner, which moisturizes fingers and removes any discoloration
- use a nail buffer. But do not exaggerate because buffing can thin an weaken your nails
- try lemon essential oil. Pour it in a bowl and soak your nails in it for some minutes

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