fungal nail infection (yuck!) anyone successfully got rid of theirs?

[Gingerbics]

Just wondered as have prescribed the nail paint Phytex and gp told me it could take a long time to treat but wasn't keen on prescribing me the tablets. Its a pain, really want to get rid of it but conscious of it looking horrible, can't put nail polish on as got to put the nail paint on twice day.
Just wondered if anyone had any suggestions or tips for speeding up the process.

Thanks!

[unclefester77]

My dh suffered with this. Keep feet as dry as poss, wear sandals as often as you can, use an emery board to clear off the surface of the nail before applying the paint. It does work, just stick at it. The tablets also work but they take just as long (up to six months) and sometimes cause side effects (indigestion in dh's case). If it has not reduced a lot by the time you've finished the first bottle request that your doctor takes a nail clipping sample and sends it to the lab to be grown - probably what you have now is a broad spectrum antifungal and they might be able to come up with something designed more specifically for the fungus you have :0)
Good luck x

[midnightexpress]

Now, this is going to sound unlikely, but bear with me, and remember that I'm not at all lentil-weavery. My DM had this, and her friend told her that rubbing coconut oil (you can get it in health food shops - it's solid, but melts at room temp) into the nail every day works. And lo! It did. She had to do it religiously every day for a couple of months, but it did clear it up.

[MordechaiVanunu]

Nope. I've now had it for 10+ yrs and given up trying.

i've had the paint on ointment and the tablets.

I now just keep them filed down and covered in polish so they look OKish.

[shelinka]

I've got it on one foot, had it for years. Finally decided to do something about it (after trying the nail paint - didn't work). I'm now on month three of a four month prescription. I have to have blood tests every month to check liver function, so far everything is ok. My nails are so much better, I hope I'll finally see the back of it.

As far as alternative remedies go, I did try tea tree oil, (rubbing a drop on each nail everyday) and soaking my foot for 20 minutes every night in white vinegar, in addition to keeping the toenails really short and using an emery board on the surface of the nail. It was hard to commit to the 20 minute vinegar thing, which is why I went for the pills. Still using tea tree oil (when I remember!) and I think that helps too. Soon it'll be bye bye manky nails, hello lovely summer sandals - until then I'm living in ballet flats and converse.

[MLWfirsttimemum]

I had it on my thumb nail. Was recommended to use tea tree oil (neat) under the nail (the fungus caused my nail to loosen from the nail bed) and on top of the nail and it cleared up in a matter of weeks.

[nightcat]

OP, get a zinc supplement, 'coz fungal infections are linked to zinc deficiency

[BelovedCunt]

i did the nail painty thing which worked. i don't understand folk who don't treat theirs it is vile.

[MrsCuldesac]

Like MLWfirsttimemum, I had it on my thumb nail, which also loosened from the nail bed about 30 per cent from one side. Made me feel sick at the thought it would fall off or get snagged. However, I subsequently did a load of kitchen cleaning without rubber gloves - using Cillit Bang Universal Degreaser. The infection completely disappeared in a couple of days and the nail re-attached itself - I was totally astonished. When the problem recurred a long time later at the side of my smallest fingernail, I dabbed it with the same product and it stopped the infection in its tracks. Unbelievable - but it worked for me. I have no idea why.

[Gingerbics]

Wow what a lot of responses, thankyou all! Maybe Cilllit bang is the way forward!
Will also try a zinc supplement (thanks nightcat) in addition. Useful alternatives to try too, coconut oil, tea tree etc, I'm determind to get rid of this sick of having manky nails!

[ppeatfruit]

i 2nd the tea tree and the zinc i've also recently discovered castor oil which works well ,just gently rub in twice a day till the stickiness goes.it's fab for dry skin as well!

[MLWfirsttimemum]

at Cillit Bang - bet they don't use fungal infection clearance as their USP

[coffeeinbed]

I love Dr Haushka Neem oil - it's supposed to be anti-fungal, and it really conditions the nails and makes them grow.

[mercibucket]

I also used tea tree and cut off a bit of the nail so I could get underneath it - hardcore but it worked!

[SomebodyNew]

I agree with the cutting off a bit of nail thing to get at it too, really helped. Does Cillit Bang have bleach in it? If so I can see how it works as I used bleach to treat ringworm once and it worked ( not on a child of course).

[ashamedandconfused]

garlic and tea tree oil are great for fungal skin and nail infections (if you dont mind stinking the place out!)

[TheAccidentalExhibitionist]

Best over the counter treatment is Curanail. More effective than Phytex which is an old treatment. Takes perseverance and filing the nail down regularly. Only works if the infection is sitting on top of the nail rather than underneath and in an area that you can't access.

[lyndie]

Some podiatrists are using cold laser treatment now with some success. Do everything suggested above but remember a nail can take months to grow out from the base with nice new nail so there is no speeding up the treatment. Keep nail polish for special occasions and take it off straight after.

[3littlefrogs]

Yes. I cured mine after 7 years of trying and failing with every remedy I tried.

Mine was too bad for the nail paint, and I didn't want to take the drugs.

I adopted a regimen of soaking my foot twice a day in very hot water in which I dissolved a couple of Boots Sterilizing tablets (as you buy to sterilise bottles).

After a week the nail fell off (completely).

It grew back good as new.

[ripsishere]

I have it in both big toe nails. Added to the general unsightliness is the pain from them being misshapen and thick.
I've tried paint on stuff, two types of tablet and having them removed twice. Nothing works. I camouflage them with nail varnish btu am willing to try to track down some cillit bang.

[LetsKateWin]

The chiropodist told me to use Phytex paint which worked really well.

[balotelli]

Hi.

Good Luck

A lot of these nail infections are virtually impossible to shift. It is worth tryig lots of different treatments sucha s Phytex, coconut oil (tesco sells it) tea tree oil (if you can bear the smell, I cant) Cider Vinegar, Zinc supplements.

Perseverence is the key. It will take up to 2.5 years to clear it up completely as you have to wait for a new nail to grow from start to finish and if its your big toe (usually is) then these do take ages to grow out. You also need to carry on for a month or two after the nail seems to have cleared. Might also be worth treating your footwear as they can re infect you. Washing your socks, tights etc on a hot wash or just replace with new. Spray the inside of your shoes, slippers, boots etc with neat cider vinegar. Removing the top surface of the nail with an emery board is vital so never forget to do this.

It might also be worth visiting a foothealth professional to have the nail reduced with a drill, sounds awful but totally painless just a bit tickly.

[JudithS]

Is the coconut oil meant to be runny stuff in a bottle or blocks of it that you put in Thai cooking? Thanks.

[cece]

I had my nail removed by a podiatrist after many many years.

[RockinD]

I'm currently getting good results with neem oil from Neal's Yard.