I have received so many great tips and information from this site that I thought I was over-due for a pay-back.
Ladies, for those of us who have weak, soft, splitting fingernails, listen up! Buy a bottle of White Iodine (at Wal-Mart or any pharmacy-it can be ordered). It is also very inexpensive - $1.49.
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Yes, it is medically safe, I've checked with my Doctors and Pharmacists (they all thought I was crazy). You don't absorb that much in your system. And after the first week, you only use it a couple of times a week. Like on a Boo Boo.
Also, It really is colorless, not actually white,
Also, Nails are actually dead cells. Somehow, the iodine combines with the protein that the nails are made of and makes them a harder substance.
Ask your Pharmacist. One told me that is was an old wives tale. Be that as it may, it works for me!
Good Luck, Nolasandy
White iodine does work. I've used it. The trick in preventing it from drying out the nails is to mix with a little olive oil or castor oil. Use one part white iodine to 3 parts olive or castor oil and put in small bottle or other container - better to start small (ie 1 tsp white iodine to 3 tsp oil). Shake the mixture well before each use. Then use a small brush or a Q-tip to paint on your nails and cuticles - rub it in with fingers from other hand. Leave on over night. Use it every night for a few weeks then you can go to maybe 3 nights a week or as desired. This strenthens your nails and helps stimulate growth as well. I took a modeling course many many years ago and this was what we were told to do for our finger nails - this was also before women started having acrylic nails put on. It works great and my nails started growing and were much thicker. You can put on cotton gloves made for hand treatments if you want to.
Is there a site I can go to to order the white iodine?
Anyone who wants better nails should try this: Every night (or morning and night) use a heavy hand cream and massage into your nails for a couple of minutes. Do this vigilantly for a few months and you will grow better stronger nails.
Its difficult finding information on this so here are my conclusions based on my research and my wife's experience with white iodine.
- Retail price for white iodine is usually about $3.50 per bottle, but I found it for under $2. Caution, i found some local pharmacies like walgreens and CVS selling it for as much as $6 per 1 oz. bottle!
- It can be nearly impossible to find in some states and countries. Thats where online shopping comes in handy. I found mine at www.AlivioVital.com
- It is medically safe to use & body will not absorb dangerous amounts
- White iodine is a clear iodide and is also known as decolorized iodine, colorless iodine, clear iodine & yodo blanco.
- It became very famous as a treatment for nails (yes it works, my wife talks miracles), alopecia areata (a hair loss treatment) and some rare skin disorders.
- If using for nails, do not wash dishes within an hour or two after. Chemicals in soap make your nails yellowish after iodine was applied.
- Only apply once a day or every 2 days on nails. Or they might get a bit yellowish and even more brittle! Applying more amounts will not do more work! Patience is a virtue.
- If applying daily, its recommended you mix with castor oil. We found both iodine and castor oil in the same online store at very low price. It took about 2 weeks to see obvious results but my wife noticed improvements days after starting the treatment.
- Keep iodine away from reach of children. It is a poison if swallowed!
Hope these tips help. Didn't want to spam with a bunch of links on where to find it so I only provided the most popular and inexpensive one i could find. Feel free to look elsewhere.
Sincerely, Johnny
(happy cause I saved on weekly manicures for my wife; hope she doesnt read this)
I just had to join this site to let you all know, that Nolasandy is absolutely right about the white iodine! I have bitten my nails for over 40 years and my cuticles were a ragged, bloody mess too. I started using the white iodine once a day for about 2 weeks and I started seeing a difference in my nails just after the second day!
Nails are porous; is this medically safe?
I am surely going to ask my doctor if this is medically safe. If it is, I definitely will try it, as my nails are terrible! Thank you for sharing, and God bless you!
Is white iodine the same as colorless iodine??
Thanks for sharing. I went right out and bought some. Is it ok to put over nail polish? Do you think it will absorb it ?
Thanks for the update. I will surely try this remedy!
The question regarding whether the nail will absorb the iodine over nail polish is a good one. I rather doubt it. I always put some under my extended nails. However, I can't keep polish on too long anyway, so I always recoat my nails when I am redoing my polish.
I hope everyone who tries this leaves a feedback on how it works for them. I'd love to know I helped somebody with this problem.
Nolasandy
I think this might be okay in short term, but dries out longer term.
I used to use a hardener and worked great for a while - then back to peeling and cracks.
FYi - I now use flexinail and am very happy.
they have some nail info on the site http://flexinail.com
Thanks Corine, that sounds like a great idea and it really makes good sense. I know the iodine makes my nails harder, but it is drying. The olive oil could take care of that. Nolasandy
Thank you, I will try this. I have tried every thing else and never heard of this. I have spent hundreds on nail products in the past. Judiamc
IS WHITE IODINE THE SAME AS DECOLORIZED IODINE? It is also called IODIDES TINCTURE. Got a 2 oz bottle at Walgreens from the pharmacist and he didn't realize he had any.
Hi Christa, Yes, white iodine is the same as decolorized iodine ( or colorless or clear).
Nolasandy
Just thought you might like to know that regular iodine is very commonly applied to horses hooves to harden them...especially the soles as some horses are tenderfooted there. So it is reasonable to assume that white iodine would work on human nails which are pretty much made of the same stuff as horses' hooves! I'm going to try it for my splitting nails. It seems like every time I do something with my horse I break another nail!
I started using the White (or decolorized iodine) as per suggestions on this forum I also use Flexinail but when that is gone I will try switching to castor oil. Well, the iodine works so well. I got 2 small bottles at Walgreens for $4.50. The pharmacist had to order it and it took only 1 day to get it. Thank you to everyone who wrote about this. I have spent a fortune over 50 years trying to find a solution to my problem nails. This one thing has made a huge difference in my life. Thank you to all.
I'm guessing the girl who wrote about switching from the iodine to flexinail might not see this because it was so long ago. But I am wondering, if the iodine worked in the beginning and then the dryness splits and peels came while using it or was it because you stopped. And for the flexinail, if I stop will it do the same?
Nolasandy is quite right with the white Iodine. I told a friend to use it on her weak fingernails and within a week she started seeing stronger nails and they only got stronger. Cheap and easy and really. And why didn't I think to post that information! Sheesh!
Will try, frustrated 76 yr old nurse.
Thank you i wiil try this
My nails are usually thick/normal but the middle one splits down! It is now about 2 millimeters below the quick. How do I stop and repair this?
Thank you for sharing...I will be trying it!
Do you have to keep your fingernails clear of any polish while using the Iodine?
I tried it and went by directions. It actually stunted my nail growth very obviously and had no positive reaction. So much for health tips on line.
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