Unusual uses for white iodine

December 1, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have heard that white iodine is good for strengthening nails but have not been able to find out the correct way to use it. Thank you for any help.

DEAR READER: I wrote about white (decolorized) iodine last March but will gladly provide an update for this seemingly remarkable product. We all remember growing up with the familiar red liquid in a small bottle that had a glass applicator in our bathroom medicine cabinets and everyone who looked at us and our skin knew where the cuts and scrapes had been treated. Well, things have come a long way since then.
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Decolorized iodine hard to find

February 3, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 74-year-old female. Over the years, my nails have gotten worse. They are thin, ridged, splitting and shredded. I have tried several remedies that were supposed to help, with no change.
In one of your answers to someone who wrote about this problem, you advised using decolorized or white iodine. I cannot find either product and hope you can advise me where to purchase it. I do not have a computer, so I cannot order it online. Is there a pharmacy that might have it available? [Read more…]

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Daily Column

June 24, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have been using decolorized iodine for my nails which have been splitting and shredding. It has worked wonders. When I went to get another bottle, the pharmacist was out and had to order it. In passing, she said she had highly recommended it to treat nail fungus. I have no idea how effective it is, since I never had a fungus problem. Perhaps this will help your readers.

DEAR READER:
I have seen a HUMCO brand of decolorized iodine that can be used for split and shredded nails. There probably are other brands available, but the regular bottle on pharmacy shelves is red and leaves a stain when applied to the skin. Because iodine is used as an antiseptic, it probably does work on nail fungus as your pharmacist suggested. Thanks for the tip.

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