Why is toenail yellow

Excessive use of nail polish can cause toenails to become discolored. In particular, using red, yellow, or orange nail polish can cause the toenails to appear yellow. Although they may look unpleasant, yellow toenails resulting from too much nail polish are harmless. Yellow toenails can develop in some people as a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as:.

In people with these conditions, it is very likely that other symptoms will also occur alongside yellow toenails. Unless the suspected cause is excessive nail polish use, a person with yellow toenails should consider seeing a doctor as they may need a prescription to treat the condition. This is especially important for people experiencing other symptoms alongside their yellow toenails.

These symptoms may include:. For most people, the cause of yellow toenails will be fungal infection or overuse of nail polish. In the case of excessive nail polish use, ceasing to use nail polish for at least a week should allow the nail to return to normal. Fungal infections are straightforward to treat using an oral or topical antifungal medication.

Treatment periods for these infections can be lengthy, with some courses of medication lasting up to a year. For people with an underlying condition, treating the cause of yellow toenails is the most effective way to deal with the problem.

It is not always possible to prevent yellow toenails from occurring. However, people can reduce their risk of this symptom by:. There are several possible causes of yellow toenails. For most people, the cause will be either fungal infection or overuse of nail polish. However, for some people, it could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. Unless the cause is excessive nail polish use, people with yellow nails should speak to a doctor.

Practicing good foot hygiene, keeping the toes clean, and treating any underlying conditions may help to prevent yellow toenails. A look at nail fungal infection, including who is at risk, common causes, effective treatments, and the symptoms. Learn more here. Taking a break from painting your nails should make the yellow go away. However, if the cause for the yellow toenails is an underlying medical condition, it may be a sign that something is wrong.

For example, yellow toenails can be caused by an infection, fungus, or medical disorder. In rare cases, yellow toenails can actually be a sign of a disorder called yellow nail syndrome YNS.

Their nails also may have ridges or indentations in them and can also turn black or green. One of the most common causes of yellow toenails in an infection by a fungus that attacks the nails. This is called onychomycosis , and it happens more in adults than children.

It can lead the nail to turn yellow, have yellow spots, white patches, or even turn black. The fungal infection is caused most often by dermatophytes, which eat keratin to grow. Keratin is found in skin and nails.

According to American Family Physician, onychomycosis occurs in about 10 percent of the adult population, and the risk of getting it increases with age. About half of people over the age of 70 get the fungal infection. Some people are more prone to getting yellow toenails or catching a fungal infection.

Athletes or people who spend a lot of time in hot or moist conditions are also more prone to getting a foot infection. In most cases, yellow toenails are treatable. There are some medications and home remedies that might help cure yellow toenails or help lighten the yellow color.

One of the most common prescription antifungal medications is ciclopirox 8 percent solution, which is applied to the nails like nail polish. Other medications that can help cure yellow toenails include applying vitamin E, zinc, and a topical corticosteroid with Vitamin D One study found that using antibiotics, such as milligrams of clarithromycin , cleared up yellow toenails.

Shop for vitamin E oil. Shop for Vicks VapoRub. To put your best foot forward pun intended , you need to get your fungal nail infection under control. While seeing a doctor is the logical first step, here is a quick look at the various treatment options that can help correct your yellow toenails:.

It is much easier to prevent yellow toenails from happening in the first place than it is to get rid of them. Everyone deals with annoying skin problems at some point in their lives. Yellow toenails can be particularly frustrating because this problem can take months of consistent treatment to eliminate the fungus.

While it may take some time, achieving healthy-looking feet is well worth the effort. Once your yellow toenails are no more, you can switch to a regular maintenance routine to keep your feet healthy for life. Click Here. Here are three things you need to know about getting rid of yellow toenails: Toenail fungal infections can be treated with over-the-counter nail creams and doctor-prescribed medications.

It can take up to a year to completely get rid of a fungal nail infection. The best treatment for yellow toenails is prevention. Lamisil aka, terbinafine is a popular OTC nail cream that can effectively kill your nail fungus over the course of a year. Medicated Nail Polish— If OTC treatments prove to be ineffective, antifungal nail lacquers such as Ciclopirox and Amorolfine can also be used to treat yellow toenails. These are typically applied regularly either daily or weekly to the nail over the course of months.