Reasons Your Fingernails Smell, and what to Do About It

You bring a nail up to your mouth for a little nibble. Sure, you know biting your nails isn't the best habit. But at the moment, you've got a bigger concern: Your fingernails seem to be radiating a strange, not-so-nice smell. What gives?

1. You Touched Something Stinky

The edges of your nails are like little dirt traps, especially if you haven't clipped them in a while.

"Oftentimes when a fingernail is long, residual smells and materials can get stuck under there and cause an odor," explains Miami-based board-certified dermatologist Anna Chacon, MD. That's especially true if you didn't wash your hands after touching the funky culprit.

If that's not cutting it, you might be able to speed up the process by rubbing your hands with a stainless steel object (like a fork, spoon or faucet) or a bar like the Amco Rub-A-Way Bar ($8.20, Amazon.com), Dr. Chacon says. Though studies haven't looked closely at stainless steel's de-smelling powers, it's thought that lingering odors are transferred away from the skin when they bind to the steel's molecules.

And to keep weird nail smells at bay in the future? Trim your nails shorter, Dr. Chacon suggests, or wear gloves while you work.

3. You Have Nail Fungus

Onychomycosis, or nail fungus, can cause toenails or fingernails to have a cheesy or foot-like odor that doesn't ease up even after washing your hands, Dr. Chacon explains. The problem typically causes other nail changes too, according to the Mayo Clinic, including:

• Appearing thick, yellow or whitish
• Being brittle or crumbly
• Having a distorted shape

Fix it: Over-the-counter nail antifungal treatments like Opti-Nail 2-in-1 Fungal Nail Repair ($29.99, Walgreens.com) or Foot Cure Nail Fungus Solution ($19.97, Amazon.com) may be enough to help solve the problem, though it can take months to see results.

If an OTC product isn't doing the trick, you might need a prescription topical or oral antifungal medication, per the Mayo Clinic, so talk to your doctor.

4. You Have a Medical Condition

Certain health problems can cause unusual odors throughout the body, so it's possible to notice the smells on your hands or fingers. Undiagnosed or poorly managed diabetes can trigger a sweet or fruity smell, while liver or kidney disease can potentially cause a bleach-like smell, Dr. Chacon says.

These conditions don't typically affect the smell of the fingernails specifically, though. Usually medical problems that cause a strange or unpleasant odor tend to affect the smell of the entire body, not just your fingertips.

Fix it: If it's not just your fingernails that smell sweet, cheesy or just plain bad, call your doctor.

Read more on: livestrong, fingernails