4 Reasons Your Fingernails Smell And What To Do About It

  references
  
      Mayo Clinic: "Nail Fungus"
    
      U.S. National Library of Medicine: "Trimethylaminuria"

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

It's actually normal for fingernails to smell when you cut them.

Image Credit: PORNCHAI SODA/iStock/GettyImages

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

Fix it: There’s not much you can do to prevent this smell, unfortunately. But it should dissipate quickly after cutting (and if you keep your fingernails away from your nose, you probably won’t notice it).

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.

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

      Mayo Clinic: "Nail Fungus"
    
      U.S. National Library of Medicine: "Trimethylaminuria"