™
Start
Most of the nail still appears yellowed or damaged.
Your Dermatic Routine
How to Use Your Dermatic Antifungal Pen
One thin coat, morning and night. Consistency matters more than using more product.
Usually takes less than 60 seconds
- Apply twice daily
- Use one thin coat
- Track growth from the base
The routine
Clean and dry → lightly coat the whole affected nail → wait 30–60 seconds → repeat morning and night
- Clean and dry
- One thin coat
- Wait 30–60 seconds
- Morning and night
Your 30-Second Routine
Follow these steps every morning and evening.
- 1
Start with a clean nail
Wash with soap and water when needed, then dry the nail and surrounding area thoroughly.
You do not need to wash the nail again if it is already clean and completely dry.
- 2
Prime the pen slowly
Remove the cap and hold the brush pointing downward. Twist the base slowly, one turn at a time, until the brush becomes lightly moistened.
Stop twisting as soon as product reaches the brush.
Twisting rapidly can cause too much product to dispense at once.
- 3
Apply one thin, even coat
Lightly coat the whole affected nail, including both edges and the visible base. The nail should look lightly and evenly coated, not flooded.
- 4
Wait 30–60 seconds, then recap
Allow 30–60 seconds before putting on socks or footwear. The coating should no longer feel excessively wet. Replace the cap securely after every use.
- 5
Repeat morning and night
Twice-daily use over the nail-growth period matters more than applying a large amount.
First application?
It may take several slow twists before product reaches the brush. This is normal and does not mean the pen is empty.
More product will not work faster. One thin coat, twice daily, is the routine.
How Much Should You Apply?
One thin coat per application is enough.
The nail should look lightly and evenly coated, not flooded.
The two most common routine mistakes are using too much and stopping too soon.
A thin layer used consistently is more important than a heavy application used irregularly.
Where to Apply
Cover the whole affected nail, not only the visibly yellow, white or damaged area.
- 1Entire top surface of the affected nail
- 2Left nail edge
- 3Right nail edge
- 4Visible base of the nail plate
- 5Beneath the free edge only where naturally accessible
Do
- Cover the entire affected nail with one thin, even coat
- Treat each affected nail separately
- Apply mainly to the nail plate
- Keep the applicator gentle
A small amount touching the immediate nail edge is acceptable, but do not intentionally coat large areas of surrounding skin.
Do not
- Flood the nail or surrounding skin
- Apply only to one visible spot
- Dig underneath attached nail
Do not force the applicator beneath attached nail or into painful, cut, bleeding or inflamed skin.
How Long Will My 3 ml Pen Last?
Pen life depends mainly on the number and size of affected nails and how heavily the product is applied.
The estimate below includes a conservative allowance for priming, normal application variation and occasional over-dispensing.
Approximately 30 days when treating up to two big toenails, or equivalent, with one thin coating morning and night.
Treating additional nails uses the formula more quickly.
How many affected big toenails or thumbnails are you treating?
Counts as one nail unit each.
How many affected smaller nails are you treating?
Counts as half a nail unit each.
Count every nail you intend to treat
- Count big toenails and thumbnails as big nails
- Count all other fingernails and toenails as smaller nails
- Include every nail you intend to treat
- If you plan to apply Dermatic to a nail, include it in the calculator
Select your affected nails to estimate your supply.
These are conservative planning estimates rather than exact guarantees. Actual pen life can vary with nail size, priming and application technique.
Look at the Base — Not Only the Damaged Tip
The existing damaged nail cannot instantly become new nail. Progress is usually assessed by watching for healthier-looking growth beginning near the base and gradually moving forward.
Illustrative guide only — individual progress varies.
Slow nail growth does not automatically mean the routine is failing.
The old damaged portion can remain visible while healthier-looking nail grows beneath or behind it.
What to Expect Over Time
Weeks 1–4
Build the habit
Focus on applying one thin coat every morning and evening. Major visible changes may be limited because nails grow slowly.
Months 2–3
Watch the nail base
Look for healthier-looking growth appearing near the base. Changes may be easier to notice in monthly photographs than from day to day.
Months 3–6
Allow the new growth to move forward
Continue the routine while healthier-looking nail gradually grows toward the tip and older affected nail is carefully trimmed away.
Months 6–12
Complete toenail grow-out can take time
More severely affected toenails may require many months to fully grow forward. Fingernails generally grow faster than toenails.
Do not stop simply because visible progress is slow or because the first small clearer-looking section appears.
Consistency over the nail-growth period matters more than applying a large amount.
Support Your Routine
Manage the nail
- Keep the nail reasonably short
- Carefully trim loose affected nail as it grows forward
- Use a file reserved for affected nails
- Do not pull off attached nail
Strongly recommended for noticeably thickened nails
If the affected nail is thickened, we strongly recommend gently reducing the excess surface thickness with an electric nail file once or twice per week.
Reducing excess thickness can make it easier to apply the formula evenly across the nail surface.
Filing is optional for nails that are not noticeably thickened, but it is strongly recommended when thickening is present.
- Use light pressure
- Work gradually
- Keep the file moving
- Stop before the nail feels warm, sensitive or painful
- Never file until the nail becomes extremely thin
- Never file into skin or living tissue
- Do not use on bleeding, inflamed or painful areas
- Clean the filing attachment after use
- Do not share filing attachments
Once or twice weekly is enough. Do not aggressively file the nail every day.
View the Dermatic Electric Nail FileSeek professional help if a nail is extremely thick, painful, ingrown or difficult to trim safely.
Keep it uncovered
- Leave affected nails free from polish, gel, acrylic and artificial coverings during the routine
- Cosmetic coverings can make twice-daily application and progress monitoring difficult
- Moisture may become trapped beneath lifted coverings
Keep things dry
- Change socks daily and whenever damp
- Wear well-fitting, ventilated footwear
- Allow shoes to dry between wears
- Clean nail tools after use
- Do not share nail tools, socks, towels or footwear
You do not need an extreme household cleaning routine.
Track Your Nail Every Four Weeks
Daily changes can be hard to notice. Taking a photo every four weeks makes gradual growth easier to compare.
- Same nail
- Same angle
- Similar lighting
- Focus on the nail base
Swipe to see the nail grow forward
Month 3
New growth begins
A healthier-looking band may begin appearing near the base.
Month 6
Growing forward
Healthier-looking nail may now cover more of the nail as older damage moves toward the tip.
Month 9–12
Full grow-out
The damaged portion may be fully or almost fully grown out and trimmed away.
Start
Start
Most of the nail still appears yellowed or damaged.
Month 3
New growth begins
A healthier-looking band may begin appearing near the base.
Month 6
Growing forward
Healthier-looking nail may now cover more of the nail as older damage moves toward the tip.
Month 9–12
Full grow-out
The damaged portion may be fully or almost fully grown out and trimmed away.
Look at the base, not only the tip
Healthier-looking nail usually appears near the base first and gradually grows forward. The older yellowed or damaged section can remain visible near the tip until it is trimmed away.
BaseGrowth moving forwardDamaged tip
Illustrative example only. Individual progress varies. Some toenails may take 12 months or longer to fully grow out.
Take your first photo before starting, then take another every four weeks.
- Use the same nail
- Use the same camera angle
- Use similar lighting
- Keep the same distance
Keep Going Beyond the First Sign of Improvement
Continue applying one thin coat morning and night while the older affected portion remains and healthier-looking nail grows forward.
Do not stop simply because a small clearer-looking section appears near the base.
Consistency throughout the nail grow-out period matters more than applying a heavy coating.
Common Questions
Important Safety Information
- For external use only
- Do not ingest
- Do not use on children under two years old
- Avoid contact with eyes
- If eye contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with water
- Discontinue use if irritation occurs
- Keep out of reach of children
- If swallowed, seek medical help or contact a Poison Control Centre immediately
- Store between 15°C and 30°C
- Keep the cap on when the pen is not in use
- Use only as directed
- Do not apply to open wounds or actively bleeding skin
This guide supports but does not replace the directions and warnings supplied with your product.
Unsure About Your Routine?
Our support team can help with product-use and routine questions but cannot diagnose medical conditions.
Email Dermatic Support
Telling us roughly how long one pen lasted helps us improve our supply estimates for everyone.
Keep Your Routine Uninterrupted
Use your calculator result to plan ahead before your current pen runs out.