Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Fungal nail infection.

54 replies

Summerrain123 · 31/10/2021 20:04

Ive had a fungal nail infection on my toe nails for over 10 years. Has anyone successfully got rid of this? If yes, please can you tell me how you did it and how long it took?

OP posts:
EsmeCrowfoot · 31/10/2021 20:08

Too soon to know if it's going to work yet, but I've just started with Canespro fungal nail infection treatment, it seems to be highly recommended so here's hoping... I know these infections are notoriously difficult to get rid of!

Velvetscrunchy · 31/10/2021 20:08

Same. I’ve tried all the OTC meds and haven’t got rid of it but went to see the dr recently who said they would like to take a sample of the nail, send it to the labs, find out the kind of fungal infection it is and then rest orally with anti-fungals.
I just have to wait as I’m pregnant and can’t take anti-fungals.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 31/10/2021 20:13

Treating fungal nail infections with OTC stuff takes AGES. If you've had it for 10 years I wouldnt even bother with OTC stuff. Send an econsult to your GP and get some anti fungal oral meds.

Also wash your socks at 60 degrees.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Beauty General health General style & beauty Skin conditions
JerkintheMerkin · 31/10/2021 20:30

Cut away as much of the nail as possible, coat nail bed twice daily with thin layer of vicks and wrap with gauze. My big toes came back beautifully. It's a long process but so worth it.

Shamoo · 31/10/2021 20:35

I’m on the way (I hope). Had the side of the nails cut away, and use athletes foot treatment on the nail (and the one next to it) every day. An anti-fungal cream on the rest of the foot. All of the top was scraped away at the beginning. The nail is now growing out and the new one coming through looks healthy fingers crossed.

I had the antibiotics but it never truly cleared it.

kennelmaid · 31/10/2021 20:40

Honestly, Vick's Vapour Rub. I had fungus toenail for two years and after a few applications, it disappeared - never to return.

LucaLoo · 31/10/2021 20:44

I had one recently. The podiatrist drilled lots of little holes into my nail (wasn't as painful as it sounds) then I put Lamisil on each day. It cleared up in a couple of months.

thedarkling · 31/10/2021 20:47

Same! After I did a 100k 24 hour walk, it's been there ever since. I've tried pretty much everything but then decided I had given it enough mental energy, just cover it with nail varnish in the summer...

EsmeCrowfoot · 31/10/2021 20:52

Now I've read this I'm definitely going to try Vicks if the Canespro doesn't work... cheaper! lol

loadypoady · 31/10/2021 20:52

I had it years then a sympathetic locum GP prescribed me the meds and it’s finally gone. She said I had to provide a sample retrospectively and said scrape under the nail and it came back positive. The previous sample just sending in the nail was negative and I was refused the meds.

needtogetfit21 · 31/10/2021 21:00

Not tried it myself for fungal toe but I really struggled with thrush and this is the only thing that helped. It says it works for fungal toenails too. The company are great if you give them a call and there is a pdf available on the website too explaining the product

littlefaith · 31/10/2021 21:02

Terbinafine anti-fungal tablets. Tried the paint on polish, Vicks, tea tree oil, blah, blah, blah. All hopeless. Finally prescriped proper medication by a dermatologist and gone in a month.

JerkintheMerkin · 31/10/2021 21:03

Forgot to mention that you need to sterilise your shoes as the spores will still be in there. I purchased these. sterishoe.com/

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 31/10/2021 21:05

I had the antibiotics but it never truly cleared it.

It wouldnt, considering antibiotics only works on bacteria and fungal nail infections are caused by a fungus.

Bearnecessity · 31/10/2021 21:39

I tried topical lotion stuff for three years, Vicks has got rid of it in a month.

RamblingFar · 31/10/2021 21:41

Terbinafine tablets. Only thing that worked long term.

Original poster
Summerrain123 · 31/10/2021 21:58

Brilliant!! Thank you!! Am going to start with Vicks then work my way through others if that fails. Will report back!

OP posts:
VanGoghsDog · 31/10/2021 22:05

@littlefaith

Terbinafine anti-fungal tablets. Tried the paint on polish, Vicks, tea tree oil, blah, blah, blah. All hopeless. Finally prescriped proper medication by a dermatologist and gone in a month.
I've just started this, really heartened to hear yours cleared up in a month - the pack says min three months but up to six. And as the GP will only prescribe a month at a time it's pretty tedious!

Should also point out that to take this you have to have a three liver function tests - these are just blood tests but you need one at the start, one after three months and one after six. Luckily I'd had one in January anyway so I just need the one at month three next.

I held off for ages because I knew the tablets were a pain but it's really horrible and I've had it over two years, tried literally everything, and I can't bear it any longer!

Though the GP did say it was OK to wear nail varnish.

Chickydoo · 31/10/2021 22:19

Used OTC topical stuff every day for 18 months. Fungal infection remained but big toe nails just eventually dropped off (gross).
New nails are growing back now & all is looking good so far.

MargaretThursday · 31/10/2021 22:28

I've just started this, really heartened to hear yours cleared up in a month - the pack says min three months but up to six. And as the GP will only prescribe a month at a time it's pretty tedious!

Mine have taken about 18 months to clear with that, but they were all totally covered. I have one stubborn one (oddly not the biggest) that seems to still have some, but the others are clear). I get 3 months at a time.

RamblingFar · 31/10/2021 22:35

The tablets took 6 months for me. Was mainly cleared up in 3 (3 month prescriptions) but I wasn't taking any chances. Remember you need to avoid caffeine whilst taking them. 6 months without Pepsi was a challenge.

BoJoSecretGF · 31/10/2021 22:36

Vicks Vapour Rub? What is in it??

VanGoghsDog · 31/10/2021 22:53

@MargaretThursday

I've just started this, really heartened to hear yours cleared up in a month - the pack says min three months but up to six. And as the GP will only prescribe a month at a time it's pretty tedious!

Mine have taken about 18 months to clear with that, but they were all totally covered. I have one stubborn one (oddly not the biggest) that seems to still have some, but the others are clear). I get 3 months at a time.

Interesting, I asked my GP why she only prescribed a month and she said the CCG doesn't allow them to prescribe more.

So this means it's likely to cost me the best part of £60, or £180 if it takes as long as yours. The drilling treatment from a private podiatrist is cheaper!

VanGoghsDog · 31/10/2021 22:54

@RamblingFar

The tablets took 6 months for me. Was mainly cleared up in 3 (3 month prescriptions) but I wasn't taking any chances. Remember you need to avoid caffeine whilst taking them. 6 months without Pepsi was a challenge.
There's nothing in the information leaflet to say I have to avoid caffeine and the GP didn't tell me that either!