There’s nothing worse than getting your acrylics removed to find you have greenish discolouration on your natural nails. But never worry, we have the ultimate guide for how to get rid of green nails after false nails - and it’s easy; if that fails, there are always false toenails and fake nails.
Let’s start with a detailed description of green nail syndrome...
What are Green Nails?
Green nails happen when fungus accumulates under an acrylic nail. The greenish discolouration is caused by bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, found in fresh and salt water. It’s most commonly found around swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs and showers.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa thrives in damp places with no fresh air circulation, which is why it can grow under your false nails, just like moss grows in a fish tank if not regularly cleaned out.
The dark green or black colour can make your hands look unsightly, but luckily it doesn’t cause any health problems. In fact, if you remove the nail carefully and keep your hands clean while letting them air out, the greenness usually disappears in a couple of weeks. Therefore, regularly using nail treatments is a great way to promote a speedy recovery.
How to Prevent Green Nails After False Nails?
Before applying your acrylics, it’s vital to ensure your nails are clean and dry. Also, look for signs of infection on your hands or feet and treat any cuts that could give bacteria an easy entry point.
When getting your false nails done, try not to soak them in water for too long, as this will increase the chances of fungal growth underneath them. If you’re going swimming or participating in any other activity where your hands will be submerged in water (such as a spa day), wear gloves and take extra care when drying off.
Trimming your nails is also essential, so they don’t trap bacteria. Ensure you disinfect the filed area with an antifungal such as tea tree oil.
How to Treat Green Nails a Step-By-Step Guide
If you find yourself dealing with green nails after false nails have been removed, here are the steps you should take:
- Remove any remaining acrylic nail material using nail clippers or a nail file and gently buff away the green discolouration. Don’t scrub too hard, or you could damage your natural nail bed.
- Soak your hands in warm water for 10 minutes and add a few drops of tea tree oil. The tea tree oil will help kill the fungus causing the green nails and allow your hands to breathe.
- Cuticle remover can soften any hardened skin that might trap bacteria, but don’t cut your cuticles too close, or you could cause an infection.
- Use an antifungal cream (such as clotrimazole) on your hands and around the nail bed for about a week afterwards. Antifungal cream should stop any further fungus growth and eliminate the greenish discolouration.
- Complete the treatment with a moisturising hand cream to keep your skin hydrated, as this will help prevent fungal infections in the future.
Always disinfect your nail tools before you pass on the bacteria to others.
Over-The-Counter Treatments for Green Nails Do They Work?
Yes, there are over-the-counter products available that can treat green nails. However, it’s important to use these carefully and follow the instructions on the label. For example, you should always read how long the product needs to be left on your skin before being washed off. You should also check how often you need to reapply the product and how long it takes for the treatment’s full effects.
For best results, make sure you keep your hands and feet clean and dry as much as possible - this will help stop fungal growth from returning in future. Also, be careful with removing your false nails so as not to damage your natural nails.
How to Cure Yellow Nails
Yellow nail is not an infection. It’s what happens when you wear nail polish or false nails continually without a break, or when your nails are exposed to certain chemicals. The colourant in the polish is made from a pigment called dye, which creates a yellowish tone on the nail.
The great news is that you can rid yourself of it! All you need to do is give your nails some time away from any coloured products and use a few simple remedies to restore them to their natural shade.
Remedies for Yellow Nails
- Soak Your Nails in Citric Acid: Lemon juice contains citric acid, which helps remove discolouration and leaves your nails looking brighter and healthier. Simply mix equal parts lemon juice with warm water and soak your fingers for 10 minutes each day - this will help eliminate your yellow nails in no time.
- Use a Nail Whitening Pen: You can buy nail whitening pens from most pharmacies and drug stores, which work wonders on yellow nails. The pen contains hydrogen peroxide, which helps to lighten the discoloured areas. Apply the solution directly onto your nails and leave it for around 10 minutes - this should make them look brighter in no time.
- Apply Vitamin E Oil: This wonder oil is packed full of antioxidants, which can help restore the natural colour of your nails. Massage a few drops of vitamin E oil into your nails daily, and you should start seeing results after a week or two.
- Use Baking Soda Crystals: Baking soda is another excellent option for getting rid of yellow nails if you don’t have vitamin E oil. Mix one part baking soda crystals with three parts warm water and soak your fingers in the solution for 10 minutes each day - this will help restore their natural colour without damaging them.
Following these easy steps, you can quickly get rid of your yellow nails and restore them to their original, healthy shade. So next time you find yourself dealing with discoloured nails, remember that there’s an easy fix - no need to panic.
Tips and Advice
When trying to restore your nail colour, it’s important to be patient - it can take a few weeks to see results. It would be best if you also tried avoiding coloured nail polish and false nails during this time, as this will only worsen the yellowing.
Remember to use hand cream frequently to keep your hands hydrated and nourished - this will help prevent fungal infections in future. With just a little care, you can easily get rid of yellow nails for good.
Fake Toe Nails Come to The Rescue
If you’ve done everything we suggest and your toenails still look green, you may have a more serious fungal infection that requires something stronger than an over-the-counter remedy. If that’s the case, always seek medical advice. Treatments are available, but some fungal infections can damage the nails, leaving them looking unsightly.
If this happens, don’t despair, fake toenails may be the answer. Click the link to read more about fake toenails.
What’s Next?
You’ve managed to get rid of green nails after false nails or treat your yellow nails, congratulations. To maintain healthy-looking hands and feet, make sure you follow the steps above and keep them clean, dry and free from fungal growth. If your green nail syndrome persists or worsens despite following the above advice, seek medical help from a doctor or dermatologist.
They can perform tests to identify any underlying medical issues and prescribe additional treatments to help stop the discolouration from returning in future. The most important thing is to stay vigilant about how you take care of your hands and feet - with some simple preventative measures, you can keep them looking their best for years to come.
