Yellow fingernails

 Yellow nails may not always point to a serious condition; in fact many people that paint their nails with dark colors often have yellow nails. Here are a few reasons why you may have yellow nails:

• Diabetes
  
• Jaundice
  
• Smoking
  
• Psoriasis
  
• Fungal infection
  
• Liver disease
  
• Malnutrition
  
• Kidney disease
  
• Heart disease

In almost half of all cases of yellow nails, the patient has a standard fungal infection that is caused from the climate they live in. There are several types of fungus which will infect the nails along with that bacteria known as pseudomonas. Pseudomonas is worse from other types of bacteria because it infects that actual nail bed and causes the nail to appear yellow-green. It can also cause problems if it is not treated soon.

If you do not have an infection and you don't paint your nails, doctors often do a larger exam that includes testing for several things like diabetes or kidney problems. Some people have yellow nails due to psoriasis and other skin-related problems. If you have psoriasis of the nails, the skin under the nails will become swollen and red in color, which may cause the nails to turn yellow. Once you have treatment for your condition, the nail color will start to return to its normal clear pinkish color.

One way to help prevent the yellow nail color is to start increasing your intake of vegetables in your diet. Carrots and deep green vegetables can help produce more linoleic acid which will help to strengthen the nails and to help them return to their natural glowing pinkish color.

 If you paint your nails often, always start with a protective basecoat. This way you are protecting the protein in the nails and this can help the nail retain its normal clear, pinkish color. Try to change your nail polish at least once a week and don't wear too many dark colors. Like your skin, your nails also crave sunlight. Without proper exposure, they may start to become yellow in color. If you notice your nails are yellow, leave the nail polish off for a few weeks and spend more time outside so you can help your nails return to their natural pink color.

Some people have a condition known as yellow nail syndrome. This condition is embarrassing for many people since almost everyone notices your hands and any imperfections they may have. You can try covering up your yellow nails with nail polish, but this is a temporary fix and you may need to carry around nail polish in case it cracks or breaks off.

Yellow nail syndrome is rare and normally is a side effect of edema or another health problem. To help lessen the effects of yellow nail syndrome, vitamin E supplements are often recommended. Many people with yellow nail syndrome have a chronic cough or they are recovering from bronchitis. Usually there is no need to be alarmed by the yellow nails and they will go away within a few weeks of receiving proper treatment.

To help control your yellow nails, start taking good care of your body, especially if you have been diagnosed with an underlying condition like diabetes. If you are a smoker, now is the time to quit. Each time you smoke, you are restricting the amount of clean oxygen that is sent to the blood stream. This can cause the cells underneath the nails that give nails their pinkish color to be starved of proper nutrients and they react with turning the nails a yellowish color. Try to eat more vegetable and fruits in your daily diet and this helps to remove toxins from the body and it builds more protein on the nails, making them healthy and strong.