Yellow toenail
If a toenail appears yellow, this can have various causes. On the one hand, the yellow change on the toenail can occur in the context of a so-called “yellow nail syndrome”. In this case, due to a constant accumulation of lymph fluid in the legs, the nails do not grow back quickly enough.
Further backgrounds, however, have not yet been fully clarified. In this syndrome, in addition to the yellow coloration, there is an increase in nail thickness and an increased accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Another cause for a yellow toenail can be the colonization with a mycosis pedis.
The nail is then also that it is yellow, thickened and has lost stability and firmness. Treatment with medication against a fungal infection can help here. If the toenail shows yellow spots, these can be an indication of psoriasis. Influences that affect the toenail from outside and can discolor it yellow are, for example, certain nail polishes that are not completely removed by nail polish removers and discolor the nail itself. If an external influence can be safely ruled out, it would be helpful to consult a doctor or a podiatrist to clarify the cause.
Toenail is blue
If a toenail is discolored blue this can have two different backgrounds. If besides one toenail all other toenails are also blue, this indicates a so-called “cyanosis“. This means a blue discoloration, behind which there is a low saturation of the hemoglobin in the blood with oxygen.
This can be caused by a malfunctioning organ, such as the lung with a connective tissue alteration or the heart, in the form of heart failure, or simply a slowed blood flow in the foot, which can be caused by cold. One is a problem of the oxygen loading of the blood, the other is an excessive consumption of oxygen. When the feet are reheated and the blood flow in the toes increases, the blue coloration decreases again.
Should an organic disorder be the cause, a visit to a doctor would certainly be advisable. If the blue toenail occurs on its own, it can, for example, after an injury, lead to the formation of a bruise under the nail, which takes on a dark blue color. It can take several weeks for the bruise to heal. Sometimes the injury is so bad that the toenail becomes detached from the nail bed. However, this usually heals very well and the nail grows back as usual.
