Fungal toenail cure for stubborn case - not the tablets!

[chr1stmastree]

For various reasons I can't use the tablets which they prescribe and can cause liver issues. Are there ANY over the counter things which actually work?? I've tried some to no avail. This toenail has been like this in and off for nearly a decade! I also have to go swimming each week with my young child for their lesson which probably isn't helping!

Please, any real life remedies which actually worked?? Anyone ever had this for years and years and finally got rid?

My husband has been using a light treatment that he got on amazon. We were sceptical that it would work, but he showed me recently that it has virtually all gone.

My friend applied Vick's vapour rub twice daily and said that it worked.

Buy some sterilising tablets from Boots. Make up the solution for bottles, using a washing up bowl big enough to soak your feet in. Soak your feet for 10 minutes twice a day.
Leave socks and shoes off as much as possible to let air circulate.
Wear clean socks in bed at night. I used to cover my feet with tiger balm before putting the socks on. Some people suggest Vicks, the ingredients are similar.
Scrub your nail clippers after use. Don't use nail varnish. It took me a few months but mine got better after this routine. (I picked up my infection from a salon where I had a pedicure).

Thanks. Would never have thought of sterilising tablets! It's all so time consuming

Neat tea tree oil dabbed on worked for DH, and quickly. Cannot tell you how many otc pens and paints he had wasted beforehand.

To be fair, tea tree is my go to for any strange looking skin things .

No idea sadly but sympathies, it’s so gross.

I was determined to tackle mine over winter after 6 or 7 years of this. I had been using the Boots paint on stuff to no avail, but couldn't get it one day, so went to Superdrug instead and got an alternative. Its in a blue box and blow me, its actually bloody working. I've been at it a year now and only my big nail still looks a bit thick, but white rather than yellow.

This stuff:

Excilor Nail Fungus Treatment Solution, Fungal Nail Treatment and Repair for Fingernails and Toenails, 3.3ml : Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

It was cheaper in Superdrug, but I can't find it on their website. I think I paid about £6 and it was buy 2 get 2nd half price.

@thenightsky thank you. Is it time consuming?

What I did to sort my nail out was I filed the nail to try and thin it. It split vertically over the infection in the middle of the nail, the smell was really quite strong.
I then just left it, carried on as normal, showering, not putting anything on it.
I would go back occasionally to file thin the thick parts of the nail to make it easier to cut.
It took a while to grow out but you would never know it had been there it's a totally normal nail again. I had had it for a lot of years as well.

In short- no, not really. OTC remedies don't work particularly well IME (Chiropodist).
If you can't take Terbinafine, I've seen some great results with laser treatment (although V. Painful), might be worth a try.

I had lacuna treatment at podiatrist. Worked and never reoccured

Laser treatment

Miaderma Fungal Nail Pen | Holland & Barrett (hollandandbarrett.com)
out of stock though.

Well, I've been at it year, so yeah. Otherwise its just painting it on after each shower, so no hassle really.

I came on to say Vick's Vapour Rub, as suggested up thread. Much cheaper and far quicker than the standard treatments. Honestly, I saw a difference within a week. Just smooth some on the affected toenail after bathing. Works a treat.

Get the Poderm brand from Amazon. It's the only one that worked. Miracle stuff. Tried so many other things.

I can tell you a cure but it’s costly. I zapped mine with my Phillips lumea and it’s gone. Done it to two nails, takes maybe three zaps once a week.

Tea tree oil has worked great for me.

Thinning the nail helps then apply some alcohol based hand sanitiser regularly

Tea tree and lavender also worked but are not really recommended for neat application to the skin so the labels say, so high strength alcohol gel seemed a better option

Following for ideas…

Tea tree oil is my go-to for all skin things. I read somewhere that it has the most powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties found in any natural substance.

Lemon Myrtle essential oil. Cleared up mine in a few applications after years of trying OTC treatments.

Try asking your doctor to prescribe fluconazole tablets taken once a week. The ones you take for thrush.

I’ve tried Vicks and tea tree oil on my resistant athletes foot. They didn’t work, although they calmed it. But it’s spread now.

watching with interest.