Nail Discoloration

There are a number of potential causes of nail discoloration, including:

• Fungal nail infection — Caused by the same fungus responsible for athlete’s foot, a fungal nail infection often starts as a small white or yellow-brown spot underneath the tip of the nail. If the infection progresses, the nails can become discolored, typically appearing yellow. 

• Nail polish — One of the most common causes of nail discoloration, nail polish contains a variety of pigments and chemicals that can penetrate the nail and alter the color.

• Nail injury — Bruising from a nail injury can cause discoloration. When the skin underneath a nail is bruised, it may look red in the beginning. Often, the bruise will evolve to a purple color and then eventually turn black. Bruising often occurs from trauma due to stubbing a toe or wearing shoes that are too tight around the toes. 

• Melanoma — In rare cases, melanoma can develop underneath a nail. One of the symptoms is a visible dark brown or black band on a finger or toenail.

• Green nail syndrome — Known medically as chloronychia, green nail syndrome is caused by a bacterial infection. The color of the nails can vary from a bluish-green, dark green or bluish-gray.

• Medications — Certain medications such as antibiotics and retinoids can cause nail discoloration.

• Health conditions — Certain health conditions such as psoriasis and diabetes can alter nail color.

If you have unexplained discoloration of the nails, see your doctor. In some cases, nail discoloration can be a sign of a serious condition that requires treatment.

Yes, nail polish is a common cause of nail discoloration. Nail polish typically contains various substances such as chemicals and pigments. Because nails are permeable, they absorb these substances. This can lead to discoloration.

It’s not possible to remove discoloration on the nails with simple cleaning. However, if your nails are discolored from nail polish, you may be able to fix discolored nails by removing some of the staining in a couple of ways, including:

• Vitamin E oil — Be sure to remove all polish and wash your skin thoroughly with a gentle cleanser. Rub vitamin E oil lightly over the nail and the nail bed.

• Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda — You may be able to lighten nails by soaking them in a footbath containing hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Make sure the nails are completely free of polish before you soak.

Nail discoloration caused by factors other than nail polish may require treatment in order to resolve the discoloration. If you’re not sure what the cause of your nail discoloration is, see your doctor. They can evaluate your symptoms and recommend treatment to address the problem.

There are different causes of discolored nails. In order to determine if there’s a cure, it’s important to identify the cause of the discoloration. If you’re unsure what caused your nail discoloration, see your doctor. Discolored nails may be a sign of a serious medical condition. Sometimes it’s possible to get rid of discoloration on nails, although there might not be a true cure in some cases. The following are some common causes of nail discoloration along with potential solutions:

• Fungal nail infection — If your nail discoloration is caused by a fungal nail infection, there are anti-fungal treatments that can help clear the infection. Over time, the discoloration may resolve. It’s also possible to improve the appearance of nails discolored by a fungal infection with light therapy. Dr. Scholl’s® Fungal Nail Revitalizer: Light-Activated Therapy is a two-step system that eliminates nail discoloration, leaving the nails looking healthier and brighter.

• Nail polish — To fix discolored nails from polish, try giving your nails a break from polish and allow the stained portions of the nails to grow out. In the meantime, you may be able to remove some of the discoloration by rubbing vitamin E oil on the nails or by soaking the nails in a mixture of water, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. 

• Green nail syndrome — Because green nail syndrome is caused by a bacterial infection, the nail discoloration can often be cured with antibiotics. The process may take several months to completely eliminate the discoloration. Antibiotics may be combined with other methods such as nail cutting. 

• Subungual hematoma — The result of a nail injury, a subungual hematoma involves bleeding underneath the nail bed, which causes the skin underneath the nail to turn black or blue. Most cases of nail discoloration from a subungual hematoma will resolve on their own over time. In some cases, the nail will fall off and grow back. See your doctor if you have severe pain. They may recommend draining the fluid to relieve pressure. This may also help address the discoloration. 

Nail discoloration from medications and health conditions may require medical treatment. The specific recommended treatment will depend on the exact cause of the discoloration as well as other factors such as overall health and risk vs. benefit. See your doctor for an evaluation and individual treatment recommendations.

There are several different methods for fixing discolored gel nails, although they might not provide a total fix. These include:

• Method #1: To get discoloration off nails, try soaking them in a mixture of water, baking soda and lemon juice. You can also use vinegar in place of lemon juice. Let your nails soak for about 15 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with warm water.

• Method #2: If you have isolated stains or marks, you can try spot treating. Wet a cotton ball or swab with a small amount of nail polish remover. Gently pat areas of discoloration with the nail polish remover, focusing on one stain at a time. Avoid rubbing too hard so that the gel color remains as intact as possible.

• Method #3: Using a nail file, gently buff away areas of discoloration. Use light pressure to avoid removing too much of the nail gel.