There might be something to its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that are helpful in a nail-growth treatment, too. Jaime Schehr, N.D., R.D., said that garlic is so powerful because it contains more than 200 naturally occurring chemical compounds. “As an anti-fungal, garlic is most effective in the extract form,” she said. Dr. Schehr agrees. “Often digestive symptoms are the barrier to high amounts of garlic ingested orally; however, as a topical, garlic can exhibit its medicinal effects and bypass many of the unwanted side effects,” she said. That said, garlic itself is quite alkaline and can cause skin to break out or sting, especially if there are any lesions or cuts. Your best bet is to try a product like Growth With Garlic for nail health (and to avoid the smell). “Applying garlic directly to the skin can actually cause a burn, of sorts,” Dr. Villafranco said. “It is extremely irritating in most cases. Don’t get me wrong—there are loads of therapeutic uses for garlic, but direct, topical application to the skin should be approached with caution,” she said. You can dilute a cotton swab with water before swabbing with garlic and applying it to your nails. Always do a test patch first and allow your nails to soak afterward in warm water to minimize the scent. Have you heard? This is the biggest beauty buzzword of 2018.
