Yellow nails, though are not indication of any serious health risk, are a cause of embarrassment. Having yellow nails implies that, you are not taking proper care of your nails. Though yellow nails are as common in men as in women, the most common cause of yellow nails in women is the use of nail polish, especially the darker shades. Other reasons can be a fungal infection, smoking and in some cases liver disease. There are some effective methods to get rid of nail discoloration however one must know that since nails do not have living cells they cannot repair themselves. You have to go beyond a regular manicure and pedicure schedules and add some extra efforts to deal with the problem of yellow nails. Here are few remedies for getting back a healthy nail color.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a good whitening agent. Soaking your hands and foot in a solution prepared by adding hydrogen peroxide in water once a week for a few months will help you get rid of yellow stained nails. Mix about four spoons of hydrogen peroxide in about a half cup of water and soak your nails for about two to three minutes. After that gently rub them with soft toothbrush and rinse with water. Make sure to apply moisturizer after this because hydrogen peroxide can dehydrate your nails.
Lemon Juice
If you want to go natural then nothing can be better than lemon juice. It is a natural bleaching agent as well as astringent. Soak your nails in lemon juice or alternatively lemon essential oil ten to fifteen minutes daily for a few weeks. Scrub your nails with toothbrush and apply moisturizer. Follow this remedy until you get desired result.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree oil works best for nails with fungal infection. You can use tea tree oil alone by applying it directly on your nails twice a day for several weeks to treat any fungal infection that are causing the discoloration of your nails. You can also apply tea tree oil with olive oil and dab the solution on your nails with cotton balls.
Increase the Zinc Intake
Zinc is very important for the health of your nails. You can either buy zinc supplements from your local drug-store or can get a doctor’s prescription for the same. Alternatively you can increase the intake of food rich in zinc to increase your overall health. Sesame seeds, oysters, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, lamb meat are all zinc rich food.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E doesn’t only help you treat your yellow nail but also is helpful for your eyes, skin and hair. You can take vitamin E supplements or you can apply vitamin E cream or oil on your nails.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has anti-fungal properties. It contains malic acid and acetic acid that reduces the yellow stains on your nails. Mix apple cider vinegar with lukewarm water and soak your nails thrice a day for about a month to treat any fungal infection responsible for yellow nails.
Anti-Fungal Medication
Most likely cause of nail discoloration is fungal infection. And sometimes simple home remedies are not enough to cure the infection. In such cases you can try some over-the-counter anti-fungal medication. But visiting a doctor is often the best option. The doctors can prescribe most effective drugs after careful examination. What you have to bear in mind is that nail fungus are highly likely to reoccur even after the treatment. This can be prevented by maintaining hygiene.
The best way to treat nail discoloration is to prevent them. Pay attention to the health of your nails. Give importance to your nail care routine. Apply olive oil regularly to strengthen your nails. Avoid applying cheap nail polishes. When using a darker shade of nail polish use a transparent base coat. Maintain personal hygiene to avoid any fungal infection. Make sure to keep your socks and shoes clean and fungus free.
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