How to make a discolored nail white again?

[cluelessdude]

Okay this is embarrassing...

but for a few years now my left thumb nail has a black hue to it. I mean it is a bit darker than the rest of my nails which are fine. I once showed it to a dermatologist but he said it seemed fine to him. I think he was just being lazy though and didn't take it seriously. However it does affect my self esteem around others. This all happened back when I was in school, bored with the teacher talking, and jabbed my thumb nail with a lead pencil. I eventually peeled off the entire nail I believe and since then it grew back darker.

Is there ANYTHING that can be done? It's not fungal right so fungal ointment won't work? Do I need to go to a girly nails place? Will they be able to fix it? Jeez, I've looked everywhere for answers for this but even Google has given me any.

 

[Cedar]

I've damaged my nails a few times in my life and what I can tell you is that it takes time. When I say time, I mean time, 10 years if I remember correctly. I know of nothing to help your nail speed up the healing process. You might try jello. ha ha. Don't be embarrassed about your nail, everyone has a flaw or two. Wait till you get a age spot on your face. First you will put cream on it, then you'll think its cancer, then you'll think everyone is looking at it, then you'll go to the doctor pay 100.00 and have them tell you it's an age spot.

When I started out as a plumber I used to hide my hands when I wrote a check (the old days I know) at the checkout. My hands were always cut up and rough looking. I used to never take change because I didn't want to hold my hand out. I got over it when a lady noticed and told me not to be ashamed of being a working man.

 

[cluelessdude]

Thanks for your reply and encouragement Cedar and I kind of have the same problems as you did when you started out as a plumber. I really try hard for people, especially women to not see my hand. The thing though is it has actually been over 10 years. This happened when I was in like grade 6 haha and I'm now graduated from University. It's not that dark though, at least anymore, I don't recall if it was darker initially. So maybe it is improving...at a snail's pace haha!

If anyone knows if there is anything a nail place or a dermatologist can do then I'd love to hear. Right now I just bought OTC anti-fungal ointment but I was reading the fine print and it said it does not help with scalp or nails. So thinking maybe I'll just return it. I'm sure it's not fungal but thought maybe something like that could help anyway.

 

[smalltank]

If you have a fungal thing..the idea behind that is confirming this with an MD..if it's fungus..a diet free of sugar/yeast/dairy/wheat...fungus tends to live in the digestive system

 

[Hippie Kai Yay]

Biotin supplement, perhaps? Just look for things that give nails strength and a healthy sheen. I once jammed my little finger in a window, and I guess it bled underneath the nail, since it gained a small black spot. Took 9 months to get it to move all the way up to the edge of my nail to cut it. Moral of the story: let nature do its thing.

 

[Hippie Kai Yay]

Try this: mix baking soda with enough hydrogen peroxide to make a paste and coat your nails with it, massaging it in and under your nails (this also works to clean them when you've been doing rough work in general). Rinse it off and apply a good moisturizing balm, preferably something with lanolin in it (even pure lanolin, if you can get it).

That... is something that I have never tried, but sounds like a lot of fun