I’ve been dealing with a stubborn issue on my right foot for about three years. It started small, but eventually, the nail became thick and quite yellow. I tried those generic paint-on liquids from the pharmacy and even soaked my feet in vinegar every night for a month, but nothing seemed to penetrate the nail or stop it from coming back.
I realized I needed something that focused more on the skin and nail resistance rather than just harsh chemicals that dried everything out. About four months ago, I started using Kerassentials Serum (i buy here). Unlike the thick lacquers I used before, this felt more like a blend of oils that actually absorbed into the cuticle area and the skin around the nail.
Here is how it went for me:
Weeks 1-3: Not much change in the nail itself, but the skin around it stopped being so flaky and red. It felt like the area was finally hydrated instead of irritated.
Month 2: I noticed the base of the nail (the new growth) looked significantly clearer and pinker. This was the first time I felt like I wasn’t just covering up the problem.
Month 3: This was the plateau phase. I got lazy for a few days, and the skin started looking dry again, so I had to get back on a strict morning and night schedule. Consistency is definitely the hardest part.
The Kerassentials Serum seems to work best if you file down the thick parts of the nail first so the oils can actually get in there. It’s definitely not a miracle overnight thing. You have to be patient because nails grow so slowly.
One thing I like now is that I’m not embarrassed to wear flip-flops at the gym anymore. I still have a little way to go before the old damaged part is completely grown out, but the difference is huge. I found that Kerassentials Serum provides a much more holistic approach than just burning the skin with tea tree oil like I did last year.
Caveats: It’s oily, so you have to wait for it to dry before putting socks on, and it’s a bit pricier than the cheap drugstore stuff. But for me, the progress was worth it.