Vinegar and filing nails question. - Nail Problems Message Board

MissSmartypants · 11-08-2006, 08:31 PM

Hi everyone, this is my first post(but I've been reading for a while now) so please be gentle!

For a few weeks now I have been doing the vinegar routine. Putting vinegar soaked cotton balls on my toenails for 20 minutes each night and it appears to be working a little bit. I can't really tell since I examine them several times a day, though. My question is, since I've started this routine, they've been growing out and the white flakey stuff is there and when I look at their profile(from the side) it appears they are growing upwards instead of growing out. Is this common? Should I file them down or just let them continue to grow? I'm thinking filing them down is the best option since it will allow more of the nail to soak up the vinegar instead of the flakey stuff getting first dibs.

I also have another question. I am considering the Lamisil route too, especially if the vinegar doesn't work, but I am unsure of how much a doctors visit plus the prescription would be. I know it varies but if someone could give me a roundabout cost that would be great.

Thank you all!

Marti · 11-17-2006, 06:09 PM

The vinegar will work, but not in so short a time. It can take upwards of a full year to completely kill the fungal spores as they live deep within the nail bed and the nail plate. They eat the proteins in the nail plate for food and need the moisture from the skin to survive. Vinegar will change the pH of the skin, and the spores don't like that.

If you see improvement within 3 months of regular treatments, I don't see any reason to try the Lamasil. Why take that risk? Lamasil is a prescription that you take for three months, then off for 3 months, then back on again. It cannot kill all the spores in three months, but it would be too hard on your liver if you take it for longer than that. You can use the vinegar twice daily for as long as it takes for the nails to return to normal.

The slight upward turn in the nail is probabley due to the nail plate separation that occurs as the fungal spores eat away the proteins in the underside of the nail plate. Yes, you can file them to keep them short, but not so short as to be painful in your shoes.

MissSmartypants · 02-01-2007, 02:37 AM

Thanks for the reply, Marti.

I noticed an improvement within a few weeks; now a couple months later, my initial observation was correct(my toenails grow fast). On my left foot, big toe, there's a little more than half an inch of perfectly pink nail growing out. The middle toe, same foot is healing as well. The second toe, other foot, haven't noticed very much change in it, unfortunately.

I've been spraying the individual toes everyday, sometimes twice a day, and constantly keep them dry. If it's warm in the house, I'll go sockless. If it's cold, I wear socks, but my feet stay cold so no sweating or moisture there lol. Spraying them daily is so much easier than soaking them like I had been doing.

Hopefully in a few more months all the nails will look normal again!!