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?

This is what I had! They called it clearanail

Like others here, I love tea tree oil, but be careful when applying it straight from the bottle, it can make your skin very itchy (at least it did me)

I would apply Vicks on the skin around the toenail just to protect it from tea tree touching the skin directly.

I’ve been using Curanail for over a month now, but I’m not sure I can see a difference since it takes weeks for the new nail to grow.

I’m surprised when some people claim to see improvement within a Week.

When other treatments failed, my podiatrist said the only realistic options were terbinafine tablets or surgically removing the nail. I opted for the tablets as I thought I might have more than a couple of affected toes, so I can't comment on nail removal. Apparently it's an instant fix as the fungus attaches to the underside of the nail.

Thin it with file/ trim off the edges as much as possible to expose the nail bed

Then use lamasil athlete foot cream. Repeat and repeat til it's gone

Physically removing the nail as much as possible is key

(Not a professional this just worked for me)

I developed an allergy to tea tree this way. TBF it did help before the hives started!

@hedgehoglurker Link please!

I went to see a podiatrist and they cut off most of the bad toenail and then I used the liquid you buy from the chemist to heal it. They kept cutting it back and I kept applying it, this did work but took months. My toenail fell off which is why I had to go

The thing is, when you think it has finally gone by growing out, it often comes back. Fungus is so tenacious. There was a fungus growing in the street where I live. Someone would come along, scoop it all out and throw fungicide on it, cover it in asphalt. Job done. Then a few weeks later the asphalt would crack and there was the fungus again. The cycle would start again. This is our feet. 🥴

Tea tree oil shouldn't be used undiluted. It's tempting to do so to get the maximum benefit, but it has side effects. Lavender is the only essential oil that can be used undiluted.

Vick- do you think that it appears to help because it's oily and that makes the nail look less dry and creamy?

I tried Vick for some time and thought it was working, but in fact it was just changing the colour because the oil was absorbed by the nail.

I have one nail that's infected. I've tried the paint -on stuff- no success.

The problem is whatever you use it's got to penetrate the nail to get to the skin underneath.

Tea tree might work but it takes months and months.

I did try cider vinegar and tea tree as a foot bath but the faff of finding a container, keeping it, soaking my foot every day just became impossible.

Tea tree oil shouldn't be used undiluted.

I think that only applies when it's used on skin ie as a massage, not when you apply it to a toe nail.

You really do have to cut the infected part off. The nail will be too thick to really absorb any of the liquids to heal

Mine seems to grow in bands across the nail. You think it's growing out, the nail gets 50/50 top half bad, lower half good and then you get a dodgy band appearing again. More like the nail has got damaged in the nail bed.

I am not a chiropodist but I would think that transferring fungal spores into your bottle of nail varnish then back onto your nails would be counterproductive.

I've been using Excilor daily since April on my big toe nail and can see finally see clear new nail growing. (Excilor also do a treatment called Excilor Ultra which is stronger than regular Excilor). I also cut the nail as short as possible and thinned it with a nail file. When the nail looked dry I moisturised it with tea tree oil. I applied lamisil cream on the skin at the top of the nail. I use fungal spray in my shoes. In short I threw everything I could think of at it and it seems to be working!

Are you absolutely certain you have a nail fungus? I thought so for years and tried various things but to no avail. When my nail got so bad and ugly and it started to curl over the top of my toe I went to see a podiatrist. She cut it, filed it and said I may have to repeat if it stared to thicken again. It was completely painless and cost me £45. The relief was great, I really thought I was stuck with it for ever. Worth a visit anyway

I showed my toes to the GP today after about 4 years of trying various ‘paints’. She’s asked me to give a toenail clipping sample to test for the type(?) of fungus. Said only the pills work, but I’m scared of them as my system (stomach) is not good (reflux/mild ibs) so I’m gonna try some of these less invasive techniques.
I went in for something else and asked her to look at my big toe at the end cos it’s been painful past two days and I haven’t done anything bad to it! She was ‘did you know you had fungal toes!’ 😆

@Goatymum go to see a podiatrist, they can treat the nail without tablets. I had mine slowly removed bit by bit and it grew back with no fungus

Try using an electric toenail grinder and reduce nail volume and apply Curanail every two weeks. repeat for six months.