Why is my toenail like this? (Warning: photos. Though not particularly ewww.)

[TheyreMadITellYouMaaaad]

One of my big toe nails is getting thicker, narrower, and more curved. It's getting harder to trim it. Why? Is there anything I can do about it, or is this just another of the delights of ageing?

It might be a fungal infection?

Yup fungal nail infection.

Sorry, they can be a total arse to get rid of.

Terbinafine. See your GP.

Ewww.

Is it worth trying an OTC treatment first?

Vicks vapour rub is the preferred mumsnet treatment. Rub in twice a day.

My DF had this for years before he (finally) went to the dr about it. It was a fungal infection and cleared up pretty quickly with treatment.

I had this 2 years ago - got OTC treatment from Boots (cost about £20) & it cleared up. Took about 6 months though & I couldn't put nail varnish over it cos I had to use the stuff every day for 3 months. Thankfully it hasn't come back.

Don't leave it untreated, and I would go to the GP. Fungal infections can be very very nasty and it is not always easy to get rid of it. My father has had one for more than 5 years and he is now slowly losing all the nail. I wish he had gone to the GP when it could still be saved.

Does this mean I'm not going to able to get my toenails shellacked this summer?

Of course you can get them shellacked! It's one of the best ways of hiding fungal toe nails

You don't have to do anything about it if you don't want to.

I know the Vaporub thing is recommended here, but AFAIK the only thing that reliably works is oral medication (usually Terbinafine/Lamisil). See your GP, submit nail clippings and see what comes of it before you start treatment as it takes a few months.

I disagree, Shellac may well have been the cause of your fungal infection.

Start treating the nail and see how it goes in 3 months time.

I've only once done shellac, last year, and this started 2-3 years ago.