You may have wondered why some people – or yourself – have yellow toenails. To answer the question, there are several reasons why we get yellow toenails. Some are less serious due to aging, and the others are related to more serious issues like an infection.

Yellow Toenails Caused by Aging

It is common to have changes in their nail surface, thickness, and color as people get older. Those people commonly have thicker nails, or nails with a yellow-gray, pale, or dull appearance. The exact reasons are still unknown, but it might be because of poor blood circulation at the edge of the body or the effect of ultraviolet radiation.

Nail Polish

If you often use orange or red-colored or dark-colored nail polish, you may also find changes in your nail color. Chemicals in some nail polishes can react with the keratin protein in your nails and change your nail to yellow-ish color. You may want to rest your nails and let them breathe.

Medical Condition

Sometimes, the yellow toenail is a sign of an infection, fungus, or medical disorder. In rare cases, people who have curved, thickened, and yellow, green, or black nails have other symptoms like respiratory problems.

Go see your doctor if you see any of the following in your nails;

  • Alternation in shapes and thickness
  • Any bleeding or leaking
  • Inflammation or pain

Infection

Nail fungus might cause your nails to turn yellow. The fungus eats away at the keratin in the nails to thrive. According to American Family Physician, 10% of the adult population, and half of the people age 70 or older have toenails that are infected by fungus.

As a takeaway, most of the time, yellow toenails might be just due to aging or nail polishes, but it is very common to have yellow toenails that are caused by a fungal infection, especially if you are an adult. Fortunately, most cases of yellow toenails due to toenail infections are treatable – if you have any concerns with your toenail color, or any other issues such as bleeding, thickening, or else, you should go talk to your doctor.

Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus

As you can see, tips for healthy feet without nail fungus can be easy to find. Furthermore, if you have caught nail fungus, it can be easily treated using the FDA-approved PinPointe laser. It typically only takes on treatment. Other treatments like topical solutions and oral medication are not as effective. Topical solutions have a very low cure rate. This is because the solution does not penetrate all the way through the nail bed.  This is because it can lead to liver toxicity. You would need to have consistent blood tests throughout the course of taking the medication. 

Our nail doctor in Dallas, TX recommends this treatment for toenail fungus. The PinPointe Laser treatment has the highest cure rate in the market. It has no side effects and no recovery period. As a result, you can go about your daily activities right after the treatment. Also, there’s no pain. If you have any signs of nail fungus, call us at (800) 672-0625 at our Dallas, TX location. Visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 150 locations.