What do yellow toenails mean

People who smoke are more likely to develop yellow nails. It’s also more common in people with certain diseases, such as diabetes and thyroid disease. In rare cases, the discoloration is caused by a condition called yellow nail syndrome, which also affects your respiratory and lymphatic systems.

Yellow Toenails

Often, the discoloration is from a fungal infection, or from wearing dark nail polish and even aging. But sometimes, it is a sign of a more serious condition.

Written by Priyanka Gimbel, MD, MPH.
K Health – Telemedicine
Last updated February 9, 2023
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Prevention
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Written by Priyanka Gimbel, MD, MPH.
K Health – Telemedicine
Last updated February 9, 2023

Yellow toenails quiz

Take a quiz to find out what’s causing your yellow toenails.

3 most common causes

Illustration of various health care options.
Smoking-induced cough
Illustration of a health care worker swabbing an individual.
Fungal infection
Illustration of various health care options.
Yellow nail syndrome

Americans see their primary care doctors less often than they did a decade ago. Adults under 65 made nearly 25% fewer visits to primary care providers in 2016 than they did in 2018, according to National Public Radio. In the same time period, the number of adults who went at least a year without visiting a primary care provider increased from 38% to 46%.

Yellow toenails quiz

Take a quiz to find out what’s causing your yellow toenails.

There are many reasons why your toenails may turn yellow. The most common causes are fungal infections and staining from the dyes in dark nail polish. You may also notice that as you get older your nails start to look yellow, thick, and brittle, and grow more slowly. This is believed to be caused by a natural decrease in blood flow to the hands and feet as you age—it happens to most people.

People who smoke are more likely to develop yellow nails. It’s also more common in people with certain diseases, such as diabetes and thyroid disease. In rare cases, the discoloration is caused by a condition called yellow nail syndrome, which also affects your respiratory and lymphatic systems.

Depending on what caused your nails to turn yellow, you may notice other changes in your nails, such as thickening, brittleness, and splitting. You may be able to treat these symptoms yourself, but there are times when prescription medications are necessary.

People often think that vitamin deficiencies can cause yellow nails. There is not much evidence to support this claim—do not worry about stocking up on supplements. — Dr. Priya Gimbel

Top causes

1. Fungal infection

Symptoms

• Yellow nails (most often the big toenail but it may affect other toenails)
• Nail thickening
• Brittle nails
• Split nails

One of the most common causes of yellow toenails is a fungal infection of the nails. They are more common in men. You can get these infections from contact with fungi in the environment, often from public spaces where people go barefoot, like gym locker rooms and pools. It’s also possible to develop yellow toenails if you have another fungal infection, such as athlete’s foot , that has spread to your nails.

People with other nail diseases like psoriasis, or conditions that weaken nails like diabetes , are also more likely to develop these infections. Injuries that make it easier for the fungus to get into the nail may also put you at risk.

Treating fungal infections

Fungal infections are hard to treat and often come back. There are home remedies you can try, such as applying over-the-counter anti-fungal creams or solutions that contain clotrimazole or undecylenic acid. Or you can use Vicks VapoRub on your nails instead: Some studies have shown that its ingredients—eucalyptus oil, camphor, and menthol—can help.

If you don’t see an improvement after a month of using at-home treatments, see your doctor or a podiatrist, who can prescribe a topical solution or a pill to treat it. It often takes several months to a year to get rid of the infection.

Do not feel disheartened if you have a fungal infection in your toenail. It does get better, but it may take some time. Many of my patients have noticed improvement over several months, so just keep in mind that there is no quick fix for this. — Dr. Gimbel

What do yellow toenails mean?

Excessive nail polish use or fungal infections are the most likely causes of yellow toenails. However, yellow toenails can sometimes be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

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.

Share on Pinterest A range of underlying conditions may cause yellow toenails.

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

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

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.

Fungal infections are a common cause of yellow toenails.

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 aged over 50.

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 harmless.

Underlying medical conditions

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.

Why Are My Toenails Yellow?

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Healthy nails are clear in color and smooth, without cracks, indentations, or ridges. Yellow toenails can be caused by aging, nail polish, or an infection.

Read on to learn about the causes of yellow toenails.

Aging can be a natural cause of yellow toenails and fingernails. As people grow older, the color, thickness, and shape of their nails tend to change. Aging individuals will often have a more yellow color to their nails.

If you paint your nails frequently with nail polish that’s red or orange in color, your nails can also be discolored as a result of the polish. Taking a break from painting your nails should make the yellow go away.

Having yellow toenails isn’t dangerous by itself. 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). Doctors don’t know what exactly causes YNS, but people who have it have yellow, curved, thickened nails that grow slowly, along with other symptoms like respiratory problems. Their nails also may have ridges or indentations in them and can also turn black or green.

Go see your doctor if your nails also have any of the following:

• change in shape or thickness
• any bleeding
• discharge
• pain
• swelling

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. If you have a medical condition that causes poor blood circulation in the legs, like diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or other autoimmune disorders, you’re more prone to foot disorders in general.

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. What treatment your doctor recommends will depend on what’s causing the yellow nails.

For example, if your yellow toenails are being caused by a fungal infection, you’ll need antifungal medication to treat it. 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-3.

One study found that using antibiotics, such as 400 milligrams of clarithromycin, cleared up yellow toenails. Using antibiotics is especially helpful if there’s an infection present somewhere in the body, like pneumonia.

Two nonprescription home remedies that’ve been studied to treat yellow toenails are Vicks VapoRub (a topical mentholated ointment) and tea tree oil.

Studies suggest that tea tree oil isn’t really effective in fighting off a fungal infection, but that Vicks VapoRub did work completely in over a quarter of people with yellow toenails and helped cure some of the infection in over half.

You may not be able to prevent yellow toenails from ever happening again, but your best bet is to practice proper nail care and regularly inspect and monitor your nails for any signs of an issue, especially if you have poor circulation or are prone to nail disorders. Be sure to:

• Always wear properly fitting shoes. Have your shoe size fitted by a professional if you’re unsure of your correct shoe size. Feet can change in shape and size with weight gain, loss, or pregnancy.
• Cut toenails straight across with clean nail clippers.
• Keep nails clean and dry.
• Be careful when choosing a salon for a pedicure and check to make sure that they’re changing water and sanitizing stations between customers.
• Regularly air out your shoes after sports or other outdoor activities to ensure that they’re not wet while you wear them.
• Always wear clean socks.

In general, yellow toenails are a sign that something may be wrong. In some cases, yellow toenails may just be a result of nail polish or the normal aging process, but just to be on the safe side, you should always regularly monitor your nails for any changes.

Most cases of yellow toenails are caused by a fungal infection that’s treatable. If you notice that your nails are turning yellow — and especially if you have any other issues like a change in shape or thickness or any bleeding, discharge, pain, or swelling — you should see your doctor.

Last medically reviewed on June 26, 2017