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The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Women: Nail Discoloration

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Nail Discoloration

Nail Discoloration

Get Rid of Yellow Stains

Nail polish is one of the accessories that many women take for granted, changing colors every few days to coordinate the color of their nails with their wardrobes. Or maybe sticking with a classic shade of dragon red, touching up nicks and chips between manicures as their nails grow out. After a few weeks, they remove all the polish, only to discover that their nails have a decidedly yellowish tint.

If your nails are discolored, it may be caused by nail polish, especially if you favor red polish, says Phoebe Rich, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Oregon Health Sciences Center in Portland.

"Discoloration is often caused by the yellow dye that's in many of the red polishes," says Dr. Rich. If you don't wear red polish, other products may discolor your nails.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If your nails are discolored, don't try to aggressively scrape away the stains, warns Dr. Rich. You'll damage your nails. Instead, she offers this advice.

Let your nails grow out, sans polish. "It's best to let the staining disappear, which it will do on its own," says Dr. Rich. In four to six months--the time that it takes a nail to grow out--the stains will be gone.

Use a base coat. "I find that if you apply a base coat and then add a high-quality polish, you can use bright red with less chance of staining," says skin-care specialist Lia Schorr, owner of Lia Schorr Skin Care Salon in New York City.

A coat of clear nail polish works well too, says Dr. Rich.

Avoid formaldehyde. If you want stain-free nails, read labels closely and avoid nail products that contain formaldehyde, says Marianne O'Donoghue, M.D., associate professor of dermatology at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago.

Smoke less (if at all). Red polish isn't the only reason why nails turn yellow, says Loretta Davis, M.D., associate professor of dermatology at the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine in Augusta. The nicotine in cigarettes leaves powerful stains. "Patients of mine who smoke cigarettes to the very end are quite likely to have stained nails. The stains remain until the nail grows out and only disappear if they don't continue to smoke."

Wear protective gloves. Hair stylists, nurses and other health care workers who work with dyes or chemical solutions may end up with stained nails, say women dermatologists. If you work with strong chemicals, always wear protective gloves.

When To See A Doctor

If you've quit smoking and stopped coloring your nails, and they're still discolored, consider seeing a doctor.

Some medications can cause changes in nail pigmentation. Rarely, discoloration is caused by what doctors call yellow nail syndrome--a slow thickening of the nails that may occur in people with pulmonary (lung) disease or other conditions.

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