Vinegar?Vicks?Or both? - Nail Problems Message Board

RoseBud333 · 10-16-2006, 04:09 AM

Hi please help me i desperately want to get rid of my fungal nails and wear sandals again!

I have been trying an OTC treatment that is showing no signs of improvement

I want to try the vinegar or vicks but i dont know which one to try?
Im confused because i read peoples success with one and not the other and vice versa

Please could you tell me if it is ok to use both? For example apply vinegar and then vicks over the top? Or vinegar in the mornings and vicks at night?

What sort of vinegar do i need to use?

My nails are such a mess, 10 years plus, all completely disfigured...is there any hope for me? thanks!

Marti · 10-16-2006, 06:08 PM

What works for one person may not work for another. Try only ONE treatment, and try it for a minimum of three months. If you see absolutely NO improvement, try the other one. I suggest trying the White Vinegar first as it will help to balance the pH of the nail bed. Keep your nails clean and dry at all times. After your shower, use your blow dryer to dry your nails, then apply the vinegar. Be sure it gets under the nail plate in the areas of separation. Keep the nails as short as you can without causing yourself pain. Apply at least twice daily, always after having your feet wet and always before bedtime.

RoseBud333 · 10-17-2006, 02:04 AM

Thank-you Marti

Do you know what type of vinegar is best to use?
I was reading a website where it recommends vinegar it says to use distilled vinegar but elsewhere on the internet people say use white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar, sorry i am not sure of the difference and i dont know which one to use, i would like to know i am using the one with the best chance of working!

I also read some old posts from years ago written by you (unless someone has the same name as you?) where you say that vinegar has no chance of working and only prescription meds would work. Has your opinion now changed?

Do I need to file down my nails aswell? It is very difficult to snip or trim them being as disfigured and deformed as they are

Also(sorry for all the questions)you say to apply the vinegar under the nail plate but dr.stoll says to only put a couple of drops at the base of the nail on the cuticle and not to apply too much as too much moisture is not a good thing, lol sorry im confused

I am sure this is a fungal infection that i have in my nails but if it were caused by something else, such as a bacterial infection would the vinegar still work? (even though i haven't had any scrapings taken etc my podiatrist was sure they were)

Also it would be encouraging to hear of anyones success with vinegar?

Thank-you

Marti · 10-17-2006, 10:52 AM

White distilled vinegar. Apply a drop into the area of separation where the nail plate is no longer attached to the nail bed. The skin and the nail plate will absorb most of the vinegar and the rest will evaporate.

No, I haven't changed my mind about over-the-counter or home remedies. Some of them will work for some people and not for others. I still recommend taking the prescription medication, but most people are afraid of taking it due to the side effects. Lamasil doesn't work for everyone either.

Killing the fungus takes a very long time and if you stop the treatment before you have killed everysingle fungal spore, it will come back again.

Fungus is characterized by nail plate thickening, a yellowish discoloration, nail plate separation and apparent debris in the area of separation.

Bacterial infection, such as Pseudomonas, is characterized by a green to brown to black discoloration with apparent nail plate softening.

What you have described is a fungal infection, not a bacterial infection.

Headinabox · 11-01-2006, 05:33 PM

You need to take Lamisil for at least a year and at the same time put vinegar on first. Let it dry and then put on the vick's vapour rub twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night before you go to sleep. Good luck!