Nail polish overuse can lead to ‘green nail syndrome’
By Sam Garcia / Staff writer
Prolonged use of nail polish, gel polish or artificial nails can create a damp environment that allows bacteria to grow beneath the nail, causing the grayish-green discoloration known as green nail syndrome, said dermatologist Wu Jen-chin (吳仁欽), advising people who frequently get their nails done to periodically give their nails time to rest and breathe.
Nails turning a grayish green might not be a fungal nail infection, Wu said.
One patient who wears gel polish regularly found one of their nails was discolored after having the gel removed and sought medical attention as they were unsure how long the discoloration had been there, he said.
A nail with green nail syndrome, marked with a red-circle, is pictured in an undated photograph.
Photo: Screen grab from Wu Jen-chin’s Facebook page
Prolonged use of nail polish, gel polish or artificial nails can create a warm, damp environment beneath the nail, eventually causing the nail to separate from the nail bed, a condition known as onycholysis, Wu said.
Once a gap forms and moisture accumulates, bacteria can infect the area and produce pigments that give the nail a grayish green color, known as green nail syndrome, he said.
Because the patient’s nails were covered by polish, there were no noticeable symptoms and the condition was only discovered after the polish was removed, he added.
Treating the condition requires the patient to keep their nails dry and avoid any nail polish or artificial nails, Wu said.
The patient should trim the part of the nail that has separated from the nail bed to give bacteria less space to accumulate, he said.
In addition, they should undergo local antibacterial treatment, especially for pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is the common cause of green nail syndrome, he said.
If the patient has a simultaneous fungal nail infection, it should be treated at the same time to prevent recurrence, he added.
The discoloration might not disappear immediately, as the nail has to grow naturally to replace the affected part, which can take several months, Wu said.
People who regularly get their nails done should periodically give their nails time to rest and breathe, he said.
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