How to deal with yellow toenails

As the weather warms and people enjoy wearing sandals, flip-flops, or open-toed shoes, it’s the ideal time to make sure your toenails are clean and well-groomed. While there are various causes for yellowed toenails, preventing and cleaning them isn't a difficult task.

It's important to know that yellow toenails are often a result of fungal infection. Fungi thrive in moist, high-pH environments, turning sweaty socks into an ideal breeding ground. Fungal infections typically come with other symptoms, such as thicker, brittle, or peeling nails. Other less common causes of yellow toenails include:

• Frequent use of nail polish, leaving residue on the nails.
• Diabetes
• Yellow nail syndrome, a genetic trait
• Lymphedema (chronic foot swelling).

Try using antifungal cream for mild cases. If your nails are brittle or peeling, you can treat them with an over-the-counter cream. Two common creams are Mycocide NS and Nonyx Nail Gel, which should be applied twice daily for several weeks.

Visit a doctor to get a prescription. While there are some antifungal creams available without a prescription, you'll often need to consult a specialist to get stronger medication for treating nail fungus. Common prescription options include:

• Cicloprox (generic name), Zetaclear, Sporanox, and Lamisil.

Understand that nail fungus treatment will take time. You must eradicate the entire fungal colony to fully resolve the infection and prevent it from coming back. Continue the treatment until you're sure it's completely gone, and be patient. The treatment process may take several months.

• If your toenail remains yellow or continues to peel after several weeks, consider revisiting your doctor.

Consider toenail surgery if walking is painful. This option should only be considered as a last resort, as it may take a year for the nail to fully regrow. However, if the toenail causes significant discomfort in your daily life, it may be best to undergo surgery to remove it.

Quit smoking. Smoking can cause discoloration of your skin, nails, and hair. By quitting smoking, you can quickly restore the natural color of your nails.

Limit nail polish use. Nail polish can stain your nails and prevent them from getting proper oxygen, which may lead to infections. Try to let your nails go without polish for a few days each week. This will help them stay healthy.

Change socks when they’re wet and dirty. Wet and dirty socks create an ideal breeding ground for fungus. Wearing them increases the risk of fungal infections. Take time to change into clean, dry socks whenever you can.

Wear breathable shoes. Sneakers, open-toed shoes, and most athletic shoes are made with mesh or breathable materials that allow air to circulate around your toes, which is essential for healthy toenails.

Wash your toes and feet while showering. Don't forget to scrub your toes and nails to remove bacteria, fungi, and dirt. Make it a habit to pay attention to your feet whenever you shower.

Make a paste to treat fungus. Measure 2.5 tablespoons of baking soda into a bowl, then add 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. Mix well and dip a cotton ball into the solution, applying it to your toenails. Leave it on for 5 minutes, then rinse off. Repeat daily.

• If you only have one ingredient, you can use baking soda or hydrogen peroxide separately. Simply mix the ingredient with a little warm water and apply it to your nails.

Prepare a vinegar foot soak solution. Mix 3 parts water with 1 part vinegar in a basin. Soak your feet in the solution for 4-5 minutes once a day to lower the pH of your toenails and treat fungal infections.

Use lemon juice to bleach yellow nails. Soaking your nails in lemon juice can help bleach yellow stains. Immerse your nails for 10-15 minutes each day until you are satisfied with the results.

Try whitening toothpaste. For a quick fix to yellow nail stains, like pinkish tints left from red nail polish, you can scrub whitening toothpaste onto your nails using a nail brush. However, this method is not effective for older stains.

Polish your nails slightly as a temporary solution. Stains usually appear on the topmost layer of the nail. By polishing the nail with fine sandpaper, you will also remove some of the top layers and eliminate the stains. However, nail polishing is not recommended as it can weaken the nail. If you do decide to polish, consider applying a transparent strengthening coat after polishing.

• See a doctor if the issue persists over time.