Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Toenail fungus, please help me how can I get rid of it? Panicking

112 replies

disgustingandashamed · 29/06/2023 17:49

It is really distressing me today. I had it on 1 toe, tried over the counter blend thing of teatree oils with some other stuff, has not worked and now another toe has it.

I have a lot of autoimmune illnesses which are much more serious realistically but for some reason, the look of my two nails now has really upset me today.

It sounds stupid but I feel so panicky at the idea of it taking over all my nails. I currently have nice finger nails.

Today I can't stop thinking about contamination and how I will never be really sure if our apartment is properly clean now again? I feel like everything my foot touches is contaminated like the sheets and towels etc and I wash them on max temp to try to kill fungal spores but I feel so gross and filthy.

I can't take the oral medication that can affect liver and kidneys - what can I do instead that actually works? Or is the reality I will just have this for the rest of my life now?

Podiatrist was unhelpful as he didn't think it was that bad. But it looks awful and now spreading.

OP posts:
BeCruelToBeKind · 29/06/2023 17:51

How long did you try it for? You have to apply these things daily until the infected nail is grown completely out and all cut off or it just stays. You also have to not wear shoes without socks (or wash them frequently) or you are just constantly rubbing the fungal infection back on your toes.

Fightyouforthatpie · 29/06/2023 17:52

I don't have great news - I tried all sorts of paint-on stuff and someone even recommended vicks which I tried. None of it has worked and I've had to learn to live with my unsightly nails. My GP warned me against oral meds as he said they would cause liver damage.

Original poster
disgustingandashamed · 29/06/2023 17:53

I'm so exhausted by the ritual of dealing with it and honestly, with several chronic illnesses I just wish I didn't have this on top.

To trim the nail is a whole fucking age of soaking each foot for half an hour in a tea tree salt mix, then laying out a layer of cardboard in the bathroom, then trimming, then frantically cleaning the bathroom floor just in case any gross nail contaminated the floor, then cleaning the scissors in alcohol and then in hot soapy water.

My hands are fucking raw. I can't use the scissors properly with gloves on so have to wear no gloves and so stressed thinking it will spread to my hands.

OP posts:
dinmin · 29/06/2023 17:54

There are laser treatments but they aren’t cheap…

statetrooperstacey · 29/06/2023 17:56

White vinegar, not brown because it will stain them brown! I know people who wear by it, and when they mentioned it to chiropodist they agreed it works.

Original poster
disgustingandashamed · 29/06/2023 17:57

How long did you try it for?

I tried the over the counter stuff for over a year.

It's so frustrating because the new growing nail at the bottom looks clean and healthy, but once it gets to the top third it is ALWAYS bad. The infection must be rooted in along the side or something, I don't know anymore.

I never wear my shoes without socks. Well, apart from one pair for a wedding one day that I have never worn again!

OP posts:
RichardMarxisinnocent · 29/06/2023 17:59

I've had two fungal toenails for years. Currently trying tea tree oil on them. I do clean the clippers after using them the nails, but have never worried about immediately cleaning the floor - it just gets vacuumed and mopped the next time I was going to do it. The fungus hasn't spread to any other toenails, or to my fingernails - hopefully yours won't either.

JMSA · 29/06/2023 17:59

Watching this with interest, as my poor sister has the same Sad
I asked her about a holiday pedicure the other day, and she said she does her own, as no beautician would touch her nails with a barge pole!

Original poster
disgustingandashamed · 29/06/2023 17:59

It's the contamination aspect that is really getting to me today. I feel the whole flat is contaminated.

How can I ever invite any of my family and friends to visit (I live abroad) when our shower must be absolutely contaminated?

I feel fucking gross.

OP posts:
GreenMarigold · 29/06/2023 18:01

My podiatrist said white vinegar and canesten. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet!

funnelfan · 29/06/2023 18:02

The fungus lives on the nail bed on the underside of the nail, which is why it is so hard to get rid of. Many people have it silently and it becomes symptomatic when we're old or chronically ill as you are. The paint-on treatments can keep it under control but don't eliminate it, but they can be effective at control if used as per the label. I use the Scholl one on my mum's toes and it has improved them a lot.

It's one of those things that's honestly part of life - bit like nits when you're a kid. We're walking bags of meat and bones and host lots of bacteria and fungi, and sometimes the fungi get an upper hand, so to speak.

Poetnojo · 29/06/2023 18:03

I have been using a urea cream on my big toenail daily for a couple of weeks then I used a foot file not a nail file to file off all the infected nail. I thined it down as much as possible with the file and I have been using hypochlorous acid spray on my feet daily and its looking promising. Its the best my nail has looked in years and I'm hopefully that I will finally be rid of the fungal infection.
I make the hypochlorous acid myself with a little generator thing I bought on amazon years ago. You just put salt and water in the bottle and turn it on,bonly takes a few minutes to make and I swear it's like a miracle solution.
I just it to clean surfaces in my house, use it on all wounds.
My Mam has evenbused it to successfully treat a recent leg ulcer!

Original poster
disgustingandashamed · 29/06/2023 18:03

I currently have white vinegar here so might as well try it.

Canesten I'd have to buy - can you get that without a prescription?

OP posts:
statetrooperstacey · 29/06/2023 18:08

Yes you can

AnnaMagnani · 29/06/2023 18:10

Your flat is absolutely not contaminated. While we don't like having fungal nails (I hated mine) they are pretty normal.

When I had my ingrowing toenail removed it triggered a lot of toenail discussion in the office - loads of my colleagues either had fungal nails or ingrowing toenails or both. You'd be surprised.

I'm afraid I found all the topical treatments completely useless. Tea tree oil just left me with a stained nail.

There is laser treatment or a colleague of mine said she got fed up and just had the nail removed as she wanted nice feet for her wedding.

Poetnojo · 29/06/2023 18:10

The canesten toenail stuff is 40% urea and cost about £30 I believe, I used flexitol express heel balm @30% urea for about £8 and it has worked well for me

AuntieMarys · 29/06/2023 18:11

My podiatrist drilled tiny holes in toenail and I had to put lanasil on it every day. It worked

Original poster
disgustingandashamed · 29/06/2023 18:14

Thank you for all your replies, I know it is only a stupid toenail fungus and in the grand scheme of things it's nothing.

I have been chronically ill since childhood and never had this before so wonder why now?

Can stress make you more susceptible, is it an opportunistic thing?

My mum got very ill and died over the course of a couple of years and my immune system was more vulnerable for a time with the stress.

So I'm absolutely ripped apart in grief, with other serious health problems too - and yet this fucking toe thing is what's causing me so much distress today. I sound fucking ridiculous I know.

OP posts:
Knittedfairies · 29/06/2023 18:14

Find a different podiatrist, one that will take you seriously.

Leastsaidsoonestscrewed · 29/06/2023 18:14

disgustingandashamed · 29/06/2023 17:59

It's the contamination aspect that is really getting to me today. I feel the whole flat is contaminated.

How can I ever invite any of my family and friends to visit (I live abroad) when our shower must be absolutely contaminated?

I feel fucking gross.

This is not rational. I've had toenail fungus for years and no-one I've shared a bathroom with has ever had it, let alone 'a whole flat'.

AnnaMagnani · 29/06/2023 18:16

There is no particular reason people get toenail fungus, we just do. Feet are sweaty and a nice environment for fungus to live in!

I don't think it implies anything at all about your hygiene levels, immune system, stress levels or anything else. Fungus just loves feet.

BeCruelToBeKind · 29/06/2023 18:17

The fungus lives on the nail bed on the underside of the nail, which is why it is so hard to get rid of.

I’ve found this to be true, I am using a cream and scrape it underneath the nail each time I apply it. It’s now finally up at the top 1/3 of the nail after nearly 15 months. I recon it will be completely gone by Christmas 🎄

I have had terbinafine in the past for another nail a few years ago but just could not be doing with going to the Drs and repeat blood tests.

MadAboutCarbs · 29/06/2023 18:19

BeCruelToBeKind · 29/06/2023 18:17

The fungus lives on the nail bed on the underside of the nail, which is why it is so hard to get rid of.

I’ve found this to be true, I am using a cream and scrape it underneath the nail each time I apply it. It’s now finally up at the top 1/3 of the nail after nearly 15 months. I recon it will be completely gone by Christmas 🎄

I have had terbinafine in the past for another nail a few years ago but just could not be doing with going to the Drs and repeat blood tests.

@BeCruelToBeKind Can I ask which cream you use please? Thanks.

Thingsthatgo · 29/06/2023 18:19

I had fungal toenail for years and years, and it suddenly cleared up when I got my autoimmune condition under control.
I would recommend looking at all aspects of your physical and mental health. (I know it's easier said than done though).

Crimblecrumblerules · 29/06/2023 18:20

My very good pharmacist recommends vics vapour rub

https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-toenail-fungus