The portion of nail that has separated from the skin surface beneath it will not reattach. Nails are slow to grow and take time to repair themselves. This sample can be tested in a laboratory to check for fungus. If your doctor suspects that a fungal infection is the cause of nail changes, he or she might scrape a sample of tissue from beneath the nail plate. He or she also will examine you to check for evidence of skin rashes or thyroid problems. If the cause of onycholysis is not obvious, your doctor will note additional characteristics of your nails, such as their shape and color, the presence of indentations in the nail surface, and the appearance of the skin under and around the nail. Your doctor will be able to confirm that you have onycholysis by examining your fingernails or toenails. Depending on the cause of onycholysis, the nail may have collected thickened skin underneath the edge of its nail plate, and the nail plate may have a deformed shape with pits or indentations in the nail surface, a bent nail edge or coarse thickening of the nail. A greater portion of the nail is opaque, either whitened or discolored to yellow or green.
Fungal infections of the nails thicken the tissue immediately underneath the nail plate and cause edge of the nail to lift.In these situations, the nail cannot attach smoothly to the nail bed. Some medical conditions can cause onycholysis, generally by changing the nail's shape or the contour of the soft tissue bed beneath it. Too much moisture also can cause the problem. Onycholysis also can be caused by manicure tools that are pushed beneath the nail to clear dirt or smooth the nail. Even slight trauma can cause onycholysis when it happens repetitively - for example, the daily tapping of long fingernails on a keyboard or counter. The most common cause of onycholysis is trauma. The separation occurs gradually and is painless. Onycholysis is the separation of a fingernail or toenail from its pink nail bed. Know more regarding what your nails say about your health.Medically reviewed by. Let’s just try to avoid the mentioned causes to prevent your beautiful nails from turning yellowish! This points to a possible genetic link, although it has not been proven. In some cases, yellow nail syndrome may occur in two or more people in the same family. People with certain forms of cancer, immune system conditions, thyroid disease, and rheumatoid arthritis may have a higher risk of yellow nail syndrome. Yellow nails can also be the result of a respiratory condition, such as chronic bronchitis. Conditions like liver failure and kidney problems can also change your nail color, turning nails white or yellow at the tips or near the cuticles. Color changes could be the result of a nail fungus or, in some cases they may be a sign of skin cancer. A change in your nail color requires attention, especially if your nails start to turn yellow.
There are a number of nail changes, though, that can signal an underlying medical problem. If you’re not sure if a fungal infection is the cause of your yellow nails, symptoms that can appear after discoloration include cracking of the nail and an unpleasant odor. Yellow nails are most commonly the result of a fungal infection, which makes plenty of sense as your hands and feet come in contact with all kinds of potentially infectious bacteria, exposed to moist, warm temperatures where fungus can fester. Now, clearly the best remedy for yellow nails resulting from smoke is to quit smoking. The close contact to the toxins in the smoke, as well as the smoke itself, can lead to discoloration of nails. Smoking can also lead to yellow fingernails. To combat this, give your nails some time off from nail polish, or you can try applying a clear base coat, which might limit discoloration. Excessive Nail Polish UseĬertain types of nail polish can result in discoloration of nails. This kind of yellowing isn’t harmful and it doesn’t need to be treated. Often this coloring has to do with the breakdown of sugar and its effect on the protein, called collagen, in nails. In some people with diabetes, the nails take on a yellowish shade. It should be noted that these are not the only causes of yellow fingernails. Although it’s not always the case, the following conditions can cause discoloration.