Dear Reader,

Now that nail polish comes in all colors and hues, from crystal clear to brilliant black and ruby red to sapphire sparkle, nail colors have never been more hip and fun as a trendy accessory or easier to match with our wardrobe. But for some people who use darker shades of nail polish on their fingers and toes, removing the color may reveal... yellowed, discolored nails. Yuck, you may say, as you use colored nail polish to cover-up the problem. Will you ever be able to go au naturel again? What can be done about this?

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, darker colored polish, in various tints of blue, brown, burgundy, black, and what have you, can cause a chemical reaction between the polish's coloring agent and the nail plate, discoloring nails. Depending on the person, this reaction can take place within days to weeks while wearing the nail color. This is neither bad nor harmful for your nails because it is superficial. To prevent this from happening to unblemished nails, apply an extra layer of base coat first before you spread on the nail color. If your nails are already discolored, you can use an emery board to file off some of the discoloration or allow them to grow out till new nail color emerges, which usually takes about four to six months. Not a big deal if you're about to wear gloves and mittens and pack away those open toe shoes for the winter.

Alice