NAIL DISCOLORATION AND yellowing isn’t exactly the easiest thing to talk about—and, turns out, pinpointing the cause of it isn’t any easier. With a fairly wide range of visual cues to consider, board-certified dermatologist Dana Stern, MD, explains that ‘discoloration’ is a descriptive catch-all for a nail that has “some kind of color variation from what is considered the normal nail appearance. It’s associated with many different nail issues.” That makes it particularly difficult to treat.
After all, you’ve got to know what’s behind your issue before you can tackle it appropriately. What we can tell you for sure: Whether you’re currently experiencing some unwanted color in your nails or are just curious about future indicators, Dr. Stern says that nail discoloration is an under-discussed topic.
Meet the experts: Dana Stern, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. Jennifer Hanway is a board-certified holistic nutritionist. Ahead, we break down the specifics on nail discoloration, how to treat and prevent it, and a recently discovered connection between nail discoloration and GLP-1 use.
The spectrum of colors that fall under the umbrella term of nail discoloration are plentiful. Below are common associations with each discoloration shade. It’s actually quite common to have discoloration but it’s hard to nail down (pun intended) the rate of occurrence because it’s a symptom of underlying conditions and not considered a disease within itself.
Nail changes and discoloration frequently occur due to age, normal changes in growth rate, and yellowing are extremely common in older adults. Fungal and bacterial infections, causing greenish nails make up a large percentage of nail discoloration or abnormalities. Despite overall prevalence and with no single culprit at times, it’s important to understand that nail discoloration can be an indicator of your overall health.
Though she says that certain changes in nail color have been associated with specific deficiencies, “none is diagnostic on its own,” making it difficult at times to pinpoint the cause and treat it. Stern mirrors that sentiment, saying that since there is such a wide variety of scenarios for discoloration, it’s important to see a dermatologist. Hanway says that in some cases, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause discoloration.
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