Is this a fungal toenail infection? Warning - barf-inducingly graphic photo

[Squiff70]

I've had this for ages. It. Is. Grim. Had an e-consult with GP about it 2 months ago but ONLY because I'm pregnant and the pharmacists won't sell me any OTC treatments. I could get a treatment online but don't know if they'd be safe to use in pregnancy. The GP asked me to take in a toenail clipping which I did the following day but the results still aren't back and this 'thing' is getting worse and worse.

No pain, no other toes affected (yet).

I did warn you about the pic and I'm sorry.

Op just a wee heads up re; the vicks. I got it on my toes while doing my nails and just rubbed it in thinking it would be fine,ended up at doctors with large painfull blisters which took weeks to heal .Maybe I just had sensitive skin.Who knows.

Thank you everyone! I don't have psoriasis but do get eczema from time to time. I have to say though, the growth(s) on the skin does look very wart-like, but I thought some warts were a type of fungus (what do I know?). It's probably obvious by now that I'm not a medical professional 🤣 Going to look for a local podiatrist now.

Good luck!

Make sure it's someone qualified, and not just someone who 'does feet'.

In terms of breastfeeding and medication the best source of knowledge is the Breastfeeding network website, it’s run by a pharmacist who has a PhD into which medication enter breast milk.

My GP prescribed Amoralfine on the NHS and it's working. It's a kit with nail files, sterilising wipes and Amoralfine lacquer. Better than any over the counter expensive remedies. I've been rigorous, applying it on the whole nail twice a week. Also filing down the front of nail. Cutting the nail. Sterilising everything. I can't believe it's going!!

Hi, glad you've found a treatment which is working for you! Do you have a diagnosis and are you pregnant or breastfeeding?

The toenail clipping sample came back normal (apparently) and nobody could ID the growth. In the end it was bugging me so much I took some sharp cuticle trimmers, made sure they were clean and literally cut the growth off. It hurt a bit and bled slightly but it never came back. My baby was born healthy and he's now 6 months old. I'm still breastfeeding and never needed to worry about treatments affecting him before birth or through breast milk.

I realise this might not be advisable for everyone - at all - and I would always recommend seeking medical advice for unusual skin growths. I had sought advice a number of times and nobody knew what it was. I believe to this day it was some kind of wart rather than a fungal infection but unless I get it again and find somebody who can diagnose it properly then I might never know.

I took matters into my own hands as I felt cutting the growth off at that point was much more preferable to risking my unborn/newborn baby's health.