Why have your nails turned that pesky yellow shade? And how do you fix it? For terrific talons, you may want to take note of this advice from Doug Schoon, president of science and technology for Creative Nail Design.
What causes nail discolouration?
"The nail plate can absorb discolouring substances," says Schoon, "It's normally resistant to stains; however a damaged or injured nail plate can become more absorbent." The most common causes of nail plate discolouration are dyes, drugs, or illness.
What factors contribute to the problem?
"Most discolouration is caused by environmental factors such as detergents, cleaning products and dye," explains Schoon. "Nail colours contain dyes, and the level will vary depending on the quality of enamel. Today's high-quality professional nail polishes use low levels of dye and don't permanently stain the nail plate. However, some inexpensive brands cut corners and use large amounts of dye to reduce costs, making them more likely to discolour the nail plate."
Tell us more about the different discolourations and their causes?
- Brown causes: henna, mercury, malnutrition, dyes, glutaraldehyde, iodine, nicotine, radiation therapy, infections, hydroquinone, tetracycline, and pregnancy.
- Grey causes: formaldehyde, silver and malaria.
- Yellow causes: tetracycline (commonly used to treat acne, rosacea and is also found in antibiotics), weed killer, infections, hydroquinone, excess vitamin D, psoriasis and disinfectants.
- Green causes: chlorophyll and derivatives, chlorhexidine and infections.
- Blue causes: metal cleaner, ink, fluoride and tetracycline.
- Pink-red causes: carbon-monoxide poisoning.
How do I fix the problem?
"The best way to fix mild discolouration is to buff the surface of the nails with a three-way buffer," suggests Schoon. This will remove the outer layers of the nail plate, to reveal an unstained surface. "Any remaining discolouration will grow out eventually. The best defence against discolouration is prevention."
Tell us more about prevention
"To give nails a protective barrier against stains, use a good-quality base coat. This will act as a coat of armour to protect the surface of the nail. A healthy, smooth nail plate is also less likely to absorb chemicals which may cause discolouration," Schoon explains. His tip: keep nails healthy by using an oil such as Creative Nail Design SolarOil, $13.95 and have regular manicures. "Of course not unlike our hair and teeth, a healthy diet and general good health will shine through [your] nails," he continues. "If your nails are discoloured due to a medical condition, often a base coat and enamel with a pink tint will help mask the colour."
Prices and packaging correct as at November 18, 2008.
