Why Are My Nails Yellow? 6 Causes + Remedies, From Experts

Sure, you can always schedule a manicure to cover up the appearance of yellow-tinted nails (assuming the hue is cosmetic-related and doesn't signal a health issue), but there's also an easy way to clear the color at home. Here, we tapped experts to get the scoop on what causes yellow nails and how to remedy them.

According to board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical Rachel Maiman, M.D., the causes of yellow nails can range from cosmetic concerns (like wearing dark nail polish) to underlying nail health issues (like fungal infections). Not to mention, this condition can also be hereditary, although it's pretty rare. Let's break down a few of the most common reasons for yellow nails:

"When your nails become weaker and thinner, you might experience discoloration with your nails, where they turn slightly yellow," adds Amy Lin, the founder of sundays—a nail care brand focused on wellness. "This is a physical sign that your nails may need a breather from polish."

Otherwise known as onycholysis1, separation of the nail plate and the nail bed can also cause the nails to appear yellow. "This can occur as a result of trauma, chemicals, certain medications and also certain inflammatory conditions like psoriasis," Maiman says. If this is a condition you may be dealing with, it's best to visit a doctor to avoid infection. 

Yes, smoking can cause yellow nails. (One of the many reasons we recommend you toss the cigarettes!) According to Maiman, the repeated exposure of fingers to tobacco tar can cause discoloration; not to mention, nails are vulnerable to the same harmful players that cause skin texture to appear dimpled, like smoking, which can result in ridges and discoloration on the nail plate.

There's nothing wrong with a faux-glow, but just like these at-home tanners can cause palms to look yellowish-orange, the same goes for your fingernails. Specifically, if the active ingredient in self-tanners called dihydroxyacetone (DHA) gets on your fingers as you apply, it can give your nails a dark yellow hue, Maiman says. That's because DHA penetrates the naturally occurring dead skin cells on your epidermis and darkens them, mimicking a tan—if it finds its way to the skin on your fingertips, it might give your nails a sunless tan, too.

"This condition, which is an excess of beta-carotene, is most commonly seen in children," Maiman says, and in addition to yellow nails, it can also cause skin-yellowing, too. The condition is benign2, which means no cause for concern, but you might still want to get it checked out by a doctor to make sure there are no other underlying issues.

When a fungal infection, like athlete's foot3 occurs in the nail, it leads to a thickening of the nail plate and accumulation of debris beneath it, both of which can lead to a yellow hue, Maiman says. Although, it's much more prevalent on the toes than the fingers.

Although: "Some articles claim that deficiencies of vitamin B12 and zinc can cause yellow nails, but it's not common," says Maiman. "In fact, vitamin B12 more commonly causes blue nails, not yellow." Nonetheless, it's still important to tend to the discoloration, no matter the hue. See here for our favorite vitamins for nails.

If you have a deep stain, Maiman suggests diluting hydrogen peroxide to fix the color:

If your cause isn't cosmetic, Maiman suggests getting to the root of the issue, then addressing whatever the underlying problem may be. Your nails can tell you loads about your health, so you might want to head over to your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. "If there is a medical cause, then professional evaluation and treatment will improve the appearance of the nail," Maiman says. Doctors may even need to prescribe oral and/or topical treatments in some cases, so it's really worth the trip.

Yellow nails can happen for a variety of reasons, ranging from dark nail polishes to fungal treatments. The good news? It likely isn't permanent. Once you pinpoint the cause of your yellow hue, you can create an easy solution to fix it at home or visit a doctor who can get to the root of the issue.