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Why Does Smoking Stain Fingers Yellow?

Yellow-stained fingers from smoking has been identified by the British National Health Service (NHS), as a common side-effect. Caused by toxins found in tobacco, stains are not only cosmetically unsightly, but may also indicate a more serious smoking-related health-risk.

  1. Tar

    • Deposits of tar, the substance producing the think, brown texture of cigarette smoke, are a main culprit for yellow- or brown-stained fingers. The color is a residual-effect of tar's sticky, brown composition. According to The Better Health Channel, tar is one of the most health damaging chemicals found in tobacco.

    Fungus

    • Yellow fingers and nails also may be a symptom of a nail fungal infection. According to Patient UK, smokers are at increased risk of fungal infections. This is because smoking decreases circulation within the extremities.

    Lung Disease

    • More seriously, yellow fingers could indicate lung disease, a condition known as "yellow nail syndrome." Most commonly associated with lymphedema, a genetic disorder, it has been identified by the Maryland Medical Center as a symptom of lung disorders. A report, "Tobacco Use and Skin Disease," published in the "Southern Medical Journal" in 2001, also linked "yellow nail syndrome" to malignancies caused by smoking.

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