How to Fix Nicotine Stained Fingers

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Boidy, RN

Smoking causes a wide range of negative health effects, but it also has some obvious physical effects, such as yellow nicotine stains on your nails and fingers. Yellow stains on your fingers and fingernails may seem like they are permanent, but there are some remedies to remove, or at least lessen the discoloration caused by smoking.

Things You Should Know

Bleach, toothpaste, and lemon juice are all effective ways to remove nicotine stains from your fingers.
Fingernails, on the other hand, will need different cleaning products. Try apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, mouth wash, or orange peels.
Prevent future stains by using a hookah or a metal pipe instead of just holding the cigarette with your hands.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Removing Nicotine Stains from Fingers

1
Exfoliate your skin. Dampen your skin by soaking your fingers in water for a few minutes, but not long enough for the skin to prune. Use a nail file, pumice stone, body brush, salt scrub, or sugar scrub to sand away some of the nicotine stains on your fingers.^{[1]
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Research source} Use gentle pressure to rub the grit onto the yellowed area of your fingers just until the stain looks faded.
- Do not rub your finger for more than a few seconds since it can cause irritation.
- The sandpaper from a matchbox will also work.
- Stop rubbing the area if it becomes red or irritated
2
Apply a bleach solution. A dilute solution of bleach and water may also help to get rid of yellow nicotine stains on your fingers. Mix 1 part bleach with 4 parts water for this solution into a glass container. Then, dip a nail brush into the solution and apply it to the yellowed area of your fingers. Leave it on your fingers for a few minutes and then rinse it off.
- If this isn’t enough to get rid of the stains, then you can also soak your fingers in the solution for five minute intervals five times a day.
- After you rinse your hands, apply some hand cream or moisturizer to counter the drying effects of the bleach.
- You may want to wear a mask when doing this method.
- Don’t attempt this method when you have an open wound or right after using a different stain removal method.
- Do not use this method if you are sensitive to bleach. If you use this method and it irritates your skin, then rinse the bleach off of your skin right away.
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3
Scrub your fingers with toothpaste. Toothpaste can also help to remove nicotine stains from your fingers. Take any standard brand of toothpaste and squeeze a dab of it onto the yellow area of one of your fingers. Then, use a toothbrush to scrub the toothpaste into the yellow skin for a few minutes and rinse the area with warm water when you are done.^{[2]
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- Try using a whitening toothpaste for extra tough nicotine stains.
4
Apply lemon juice. Lemon juice is an effective natural bleaching agent that may help to remove stains from your fingers. Use a knife to cut a fresh lemon in half, then take half of the lemon and hold it against the yellow area of your fingers. Rub the stained areas with the lemon half until it’s coated in lemon juice.^{[3]
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- Leave the lemon coating on your fingers for 5-10 minutes and then rinse it away with warm water.
- You can repeat this process up to five times per day.
- Keep in mind that this method will sting if you have any small cuts on your fingertips.
5
Rub your fingertips with a potato. This method is gentler than some of the other methods so it may be a good option if you have sensitive skin. Peel a potato and then use it to rub the stained area of your fingers for a few minutes. Rinse away the potato juice after a few minutes have passed.^{[4]
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- You can repeat this process up to 10 times per day.
6
Dissolve an aspirin in water. Take a single aspirin tablet and dissolve it in a standard 8 oz. cup of hot water. Dip the stained fingers into the water after it has cooled down a bit. Soak your fingers in the water for several minutes. Wash your hands with soap and water when you have finished soaking your fingertips.^{[5]
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- You can also add a few drops of water to a single aspirin tablet to form a paste and use the paste to scrub your nails. Use a nail brush to apply the paste to the yellow areas of your skin and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, rinse away the paste and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Removing Nicotine Stains from Fingernails

1
Dip your nails into hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide has some whitening properties that can remove nicotine stains from your fingernails. Pour 3-4 tablespoons (15 ml per tablespoon) of 3% hydrogen peroxide into half a cup (118.5 ml) of water and stir well. Then, dip your nails into the solution and soak them for about 15 minutes. Use a toothbrush to scrub any remaining stains off of your nails and then rinse off your nails with water.^{[6]
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- You can use hydrogen peroxide to clean your nails once per week for up to three months.
- Keep in mind that this method will sting if you have any small cuts on your fingers.
2
Apply apple cider vinegar. Vinegar derived from apple cider contains acetic and malic acids that can decrease discoloration in nails. Pour half a cup (118.5 ml) of lukewarm water into a dish with half a cup of apple cider vinegar. Soak your affected nails in the solution for about twenty minutes. Then, rinse off your nails and use a towel to dry them off.^{[7]
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- You can repeat this process three times a day for up to a month.
- Soaking your nails in apple cider vinegar will sting if you have an open wound.
3
Soak your nails in mouthwash. An alcohol-based mouthwash can also help to get rid of stains on your fingernails. Pour some mouthwash into a clean plastic cup. Make sure that there is enough for you to dip your fingers into the mouthwash. Soak your nails in the mouthwash for 30 minutes.^{[8]
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- You can repeat this process once a day for one week.
- This method works best with Listerine or a similar alcohol-based mouthwash.
4
Rub your nails with orange peels. Orange peels are also high in vitamin C and they can help to get rid of yellow stains on your nails as well. Peel an orange and rub the inner portion of the peels along your yellow nails for 5 to 10 minutes per session.
- Do this two to three times daily for several weeks.
- You can also add two tablespoons (30 ml) of dried orange peel powder to water to create a paste. Use a nail brush to layer the paste on your affected nails. Let the paste sit for 10 minutes, and then rinse off with tepid water. Do the paste method twice a day for a couple of weeks.^{[9]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Preventing Nicotine Stains

1
Wear gloves when you smoke. If the smoke does not make contact with your fingertips, then it will not be able to stain your skin. Try wearing gloves when you smoke to prevent the smoke from reaching your fingertips.
- Some plain knit winter gloves will help to reduce the smoke exposure, but some may still seep through. Try wearing some vinyl or leather gloves to protect your fingers even more.
2
Apply a thick lotion to your hands and fingertips before smoking. Applying a layer of lotion may also help to create a barrier between your fingers and the smoke. Smooth on a thick layer of hand lotion or petroleum jelly before you light up a cigarette.
- Applying lotion after you smoke is not a bad idea either. The lotion can help to reduce the smell of the cigarette smoke as well.
3
Wash your hands right after you smoke. Good hygiene is important when you are a smoker. The smell of cigarettes can linger on your hands for a long time if you do not wash your hands and that also gives the nicotine a chance to stain your fingers.
- Try to get into the habit of washing your hands with soap and warm water right after you finish smoking.
4
Quit smoking. As long as you smoke you will have a high risk of exposing your fingers and fingernails to more nicotine stains. You could enter community support groups to help you quit smoking. You can also ask your doctor about non-staining replacements like the nicotine patch, e-cigarettes, or ask your doctor about other quitting aids that will not stain.^{[10]
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- You may want to avoid chewing tobacco or anything else that may stain another part of your body instead—like your teeth.
5
Smoke with an intervening device. You can smoke with a metal device in between the smoking element and your hand or mouth like a hookah or metal pipe. This will not benefit your overall health, but it will reduce the amount of nicotine that reaches your fingers.^{[11]
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- In the hookah method, you hold the metal holster mid-way while breathing in from one end while the back end is hooked up to a larger container of tobacco that is being heated.
- Other metal pipes simply have you place the cigarette at one end of the pipe while you hold the metal tube and inhale from the free end.
- The smoke by volume is much greater with a hookah than a typical cigarette. The smoke is cooled as it passes through a water system before going through the pipe the user inhales from.

Warnings

Avoid these remedies if you have open wounds.

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If you have a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, consult with a doctor before trying any of these remedies.

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Seek medical attention if any of these methods cause significant skin irritation, pain, discomfort, or make your condition worse in anyway.

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