I’m sitting on the edge of the bathtub, still wearing my steel-toe boots from the day shift, looking at a photo I just took of my right big toe. It’s Sunday. This is my 104th entry in this pocket notebook. For five years, I didn’t even look at my own feet if I could help it. Now, I’m the guy who spends Sunday mornings documenting the slow death of a fungus colony.
Just so we’re clear: I use affiliate links on this site. If you buy something through them, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend stuff I’ve actually paid for and tracked in this notebook. I’m not a doctor or some skin expert. I’m just a guy who got tired of thick, yellow keratin taking over his feet and decided to track the data himself.
The $400 Failure That Started the Notebook
My wife finally had enough of my "zombie nails" and dragged me to a podiatrist. One visit and a prescription later, I was out $400. Four months later? Nothing. The topical they gave me was like putting water on a grease fire. That’s when I started buying my own supplements and tracking them. Since then, I’ve tested 14 different products across two years. My notebook doesn't care about marketing—it only cares about what shows up in the Sunday photos.
The biggest question I get from guys at the warehouse is whether they should swallow a pill or paint on an oil. I’ve spent $207 just testing the three products I’m talking about today, so I’ve got a pretty good idea of how they stack up. If you're tired of hiding your feet in the locker room, this oil-based formula is where I’d tell you to start based on my March 15th logs.
Pills: The Long Game (Keravita Pro)
I started with pills because they seemed easier. You take a capsule, you go to work. I tried Keravita Pro for a full three-month stretch. It’s got garlic and turmeric, which are fine, but here is the deal: pills have to go through your whole system before they even get to your toes. You can read more about my experience in my 90-day Keravita Pro log.
In my notebook, the entries from late 2025 show that the pills did help with the overall health of the skin around the nail, but the actual yellow gunk didn't budge for a long time. It’s a systemic approach. It’s like trying to fix a leak in the roof by upgrading the plumbing. It might help eventually, but the immediate problem is still there. If you have deep-seated issues, pills might be a good secondary tool, but they aren't the fastest way to clear a nail.
Oils: The Surface Attack (Kerassentials)
On November 2, 2025, I switched gears and started using Kerassentials. This is an oil you drop right onto the nail. The difference in my notebook was night and day compared to the pill-only months. Because it’s an oil, it actually soaks into the cracks of the nail plate where dermatophytes live.
By January 11, 2026, my Sunday photo showed what I call the "line of health." It’s that crisp horizontal line where the new, pink nail starts pushing out the yellow garbage. According to my tracking, it took exactly 7 weeks to see a visible pink nail base. That’s the measurable tradeoff: oils give you faster topical penetration for those surface symptoms, while pills are better for the long-term internal stuff. If you want to see progress before pool season, the oil is the way to go.
Pros:
- Hits the fungus exactly where it sits.
- Tea tree and lavender oils make the feet smell less like a locker room.
- Visible results in my notebook by week 7.
- You have to be consistent—every single day.
- The brush can get gross if you don't clean your feet first.
The Hybrid: ProNail Complex
I also tested ProNail Complex, which is a spray. I keep this one in my locker at the warehouse. Look, after eight hours in steel-toes, your feet are a swamp. I spray this on right after I take my boots off. It’s a probiotic-based approach, which is different from the others. It’s less messy than the oil droppers, but I found it works best as a protective layer rather than a primary treatment for a thick, three-year-old infection.
I’ve written before about surviving warehouse shifts with these nails, and having a spray in the locker is a game-changer for keeping things from getting worse while the oil does the heavy lifting at home.
The Notebook Verdict: What Should You Buy?
After 104 Sundays of taking photos, here is my blunt assessment. If you only buy one thing, make it Kerassentials. The oil penetration is just faster. I’ve seen more clear nail growth in the last few months than I did in the first year of trying random store-bought creams and pills.
I have zero medical training, so obviously, talk to your own doctor or podiatrist if your feet are turning weird colors or hurting. But if you’re like me and you’re just tired of the embarrassment, stop overthinking the science and start tracking the results. If you don't see a change in your own photos by week 8, move on to the next thing. My notebook shows that the oil approach is the winner for anyone who wants their feet back.
Ready to stop hiding? Check out the oil I used to finally see pink nails again.