Why Are My Toenails Yellow: Causes And Treatment

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhy are my toenails yellow?

Medically reviewed by Adam Hotchkiss, DPM — Written by Aaron Kandola — Updated on August 13, 2024

Causes
Infection
Yellow nail syndrome
Nail polish
Medical conditions
Seeing a doctor
Treatment
Prevention
Summary

Common causes of yellow toenails include excessive nail polish use and fungal infections. However, yellow toenails can sometimes be a sign of a more serious underlying health condition, such as diabetes.

Nails are typically translucent, with the pinkish flesh underneath clearly visible. However, it is possible for the toenails to turn a shade of yellow. This can happen for several different reasons.

In this article, we look at why toenails might turn yellow and explain how to prevent and treat this symptom.

What can yellow toenails mean?

Applying nail polish can lead sometimes lead to yellow toenails — AleksandarNakic/Getty Images

Nails primarily consist of a hardened protein called keratin. The same protein also occurs in the hair and skin. Nails comprise multiple parts, including:

nail plate — the hard, outer shell
nail bed — the flesh underneath the nail plate
nail folds — the skin around the nail plate
cuticle — the skin tissue covering the base of the nail that protects newly forming keratin
lunula — the light-colored semicircle at the base of the nail

Toenails grow as the living cells under the cuticle replicate and push older, dead cells forward. These dead cells form the hardened nail plate that protects the toe.

Part of the toenail turning yellow can be a natural consequence of aging. Changes to the color, thickness, and shape of toenails can occur as a person gets older and should not be cause for concern.

However, yellow toenails can also occur for other reasons, some of which may require treatment. These include infection, yellow nail syndrome, nail polish, or underlying medical issues.

Infection

If toenails come into contact with a harmful fungus, this can lead to a fungal nail infection called onychomycosis.

Fungal infections are a common cause of yellow toenails.

Onychomycosis can affect any part of the toenail and may cause it to appear yellow. The infection can also be uncomfortable and make it difficult for a person to walk.

With onychomycosis, usually the first toenail is affected.

Yellow nail syndrome

Yellow nail syndrome is a very rare condition that can cause both fingernails and toenails to turn yellow. The nails may also grow more slowly, lack a cuticle, and damage easily.

Yellow nail syndrome also has more severe symptoms, including respiratory problems and swelling of the lower limbs. The cause of the condition is unknown, but it is more common in people over 50 years of age.

Nail polish

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 usually harmless.

Underlying medical conditions

Yellow toenails can develop in some people as a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as:

psoriasis
tuberculosis
thyroid conditions
diabetes
sinusitis
jaundice

In people with these conditions, it is very likely that other symptoms will also occur alongside yellow toenails.

When to see a doctor

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:

pain
bleeding
changes to the shape or thickness of the nail plate
swelling

Treatment for yellow nails

For most people, the cause of yellow toenails will likely be fungal infection or overuse of nail polish. In the case of excessive nail polish use, ceasing to use nail polish for a while 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 can last months.

For people with an underlying condition, treating the cause of yellow toenails is the most effective way to deal with the problem.

However, several home remedies may help with yellow toenails. These include:

mixing tea tree oil with a carrier oil and applying it to the affected nail
soaking the affected nail in hot water mixed with baking soda
applying vinegar to the affected nail
including a sufficient amount of vitamin E in the diet
soaking the affected nail in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and hot water

It is unclear whether these measures will effectively treat yellow nails.

Preventing yellow nails

It is not always possible to prevent yellow toenails from occurring. However, people can reduce their risk of this symptom by:

washing the toenails regularly, applying soap or shower gel directly to the feet when showering
keeping the toenails dry, taking care to dry them properly after washing
using clean nail clippers
wearing clean shoes that fit properly and do not put pressure on the toes
avoiding wearing closed-top shoes all day, particularly in hotter climates
avoiding swimming in contaminated or dirty water
wearing clean socks
airing out sports shoes after use
exercising regularly to stimulate blood circulation

Summary

There are several possible causes of yellow toenails. For most people, the cause will be either a 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 prevent yellow toenails.

Dermatology
Psoriasis
Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Liver Disease / Hepatitis

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Abdullah L, et al. (2011). Common nail changes and disorders in older people: Diagnosis and management.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3038811/
Flores FC, et al. (2013). Antifungal activity of nanocapsule suspensions containing tea tree oil on the growth of Trichophyton rubrum.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23392821
Ghannoum M, et al. (2014). Fungal nail infections (onychomycosis): A never-ending story?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4047123/
Hillan A, et al. (2022). Fungal nail infections.https://dermnetnz.org/topics/fungal-nail-infections
Leung AKC, et al. (2020). Onychomycosis: An updated review.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7509699/
Ringworm and nail infections. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/ringworm/about/index.html
Tips for healthy nails. (n.d.).https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/nail-care/healthy-nails
Yellow nail syndrome. (2024).https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/184/yellow-nail-syndrome
Nail fungus: Learn more — Nail fungus: Polish, cream, or tablets? (2020).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279546/

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Medically reviewed by Adam Hotchkiss, DPM — Written by Aaron Kandola — Updated on August 13, 2024

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Why Are My Toenails Yellow: Causes And Treatment

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What can yellow toenails mean?

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