National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Yellow nail syndrome

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How is yellow nail syndrome treated? Can it be treated or not?
Yellow nail syndrome management aims to address each of the symptoms. Treatment for nail discoloration may include oral vitamin E and/or triazole antifungals. Pleural effusion may be treated with surgery. Antibiotic prophylaxis may be prescribed for bronchiectasia with chronic mucus production. Lymphedema treatment may involve low-stretch bandages and elastic compression garments combined with skin care, exercises and manual lymph drainage as needed.[1]

In some cases, yellow nail syndrome goes away on its own or when an underlying, associated condition is treated.[1]
Last updated: 4/17/2017

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  1. Vignes S and Baran R. Yellow nail syndrome: a review. Orphanet J Rare Dis. February, 2017; 12:42:https://ojrd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13023-017-0594-4.