Fungal toe nails - what to do?

[CleverCatty]

I've got a fungal toe nail infection on big toes of both feet - doesn't seem too big but it's there.

Have used tea tree oil for past two weeks - no change/cure to nails. Ordered a fungal nail kit from Boots and applying it now daily (and filing) but then from reading on here saw actually that's not great either at treating it successfully and antibiotics from doctor are better.

Anyone got any experience of this they'd care to share with me?

The only thing that cleared it up for me was going to the GP and getting a prescription of terbinafine. Stuff like tea tree and over the counter solutions don’t work in my experience.

@IDontLikeMondays88

The only thing that cleared it up for me was going to the GP and getting a prescription of terbinafine. Stuff like tea tree and over the counter solutions don’t work in my experience.

thanks! that's what I'm going to do.

I have a repeat prescription I need to pick up from chemist anyway so will just do a zoom call appointment with doctor.

Yep, Terbinafine was the only thing that worked for me.

My Doctor won't prescribe anything for it, I've asked three times, they just tell me to buy the otc stuff

My dh has just been prescribed terbinafine for his. He had to provide a toenail clipping sample first and will need blood tests during treatment as it can affect your liver

I'm currently on month 5 of a course of Terbinafine - doctor was very reluctant to prescribe but I insisted after having tried otc treatments for 6 months. Had to send clippings away to prove it was a fungal infection first though.
There has been a definite improvement but there is still a way to go, and last time I asked for a repeat they made me have a phone consultation. The doctor didn't want to give me any more, despite the leaflet saying it can take 6 months or more to treat. It's not as if I'm taking them for fun! I know the side effects can be harsh ( it definitely upsets my stomach) but I've put up with horrible nails for far too long And am determined to get more prescribed, it's counter-productive. O5 to give me the. If I end up back at square one again!

I used tea tree oil, but it took a long time, at least a year of applying twice a day.

Terbinafine here too. I needed a repeat prescription of it before it worked.

Whatever you use it is a slow job.

Tea Tree Oil works for me but you have to keep it up until the impacted part of the nail grow out - it doesn’t fix the existing nail. I clipped the infected nail as low as it could go and used a fresh cotton wool bud soaked in the Tea Tree Oil against it so that it dripped behind the remaining free edge plus on top, at least once a day, and it eventually grew out. Do it occasionally once it’s gone to keep it healthy.

Exlicor seems to be working for me... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5H1VGV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_RW0dGbB5TXE0N?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Did a course of terbinafine a few years ago, but the nails didn't stay healthy and I decided to try a few otc options before going back to the GP again. I have seen a huge improvement over the last 6 months with healthy nail growing, and reattaching to the nail bed

I’m having success with repeated blitzing with topical terbinafine (Lamisil) nightly for 7 days every few weeks - properly slathering it on and working it into the nail bed, combined with miconazole spray (Daktarin) every morning before putting socks on, after every shower/bath/swimming, and regularly inside shoes as well. These are both over the counter, just need to use them more often/longer than the labels say.

I’d much prefer to be persistent with topicals than take systemic tablets if at all possible.

Btw I keep tubes of the terbinafine cream in bedside table so handy to use every night, and spray cans of miconazole everywhere my feet are out (sock drawer, bathroom, swimming bag, shoe cupboard downstairs) so if they’re handy when my feet are out, I use them.

I had an awful looking fungal big toe nail for many years and after using expensive otc treatments that never worked I decided to see a chiropodist last January.
Best thirty pounds I spent I had a new nail under the brown fungal nail so he removed that and told me to buy tea tree oil from health shop and apply morning and night.
Also to bathe my feet in warm water with tea tree oil once or twice a week, to ditch slippers and wear open toed sandals instead and to let the air at my feet as much as possible.
A year on my toe nail is very nearly normal after about a good ten years of treating with expensive treatments !!
I also use a small bottle of tea tree oil especially for nails from Holland and Barrett daily along with using neat tea tree oil.
HTH

Just to add he also told me after bathing feet to file the nail surface once a week, good luck

@kissmelittleass

I had an awful looking fungal big toe nail for many years and after using expensive otc treatments that never worked I decided to see a chiropodist last January. Best thirty pounds I spent I had a new nail under the brown fungal nail so he removed that and told me to buy tea tree oil from health shop and apply morning and night. Also to bathe my feet in warm water with tea tree oil once or twice a week, to ditch slippers and wear open toed sandals instead and to let the air at my feet as much as possible. A year on my toe nail is very nearly normal after about a good ten years of treating with expensive treatments !! I also use a small bottle of tea tree oil especially for nails from Holland and Barrett daily along with using neat tea tree oil. HTH

This is really interesting thanks!

Basically I tend to wear slippers a lot now (WFH?!).

I will have a look at the tea tree oil especially for nails from H&B!

Pity I can't see a chiropodist!

Can you not see a chiropodist? It’s still a health need, I don’t think lockdown has stopped chiropodists? We can still go to dentist, optician etc.

@LemonViolet

Can you not see a chiropodist? It’s still a health need, I don’t think lockdown has stopped chiropodists? We can still go to dentist, optician etc.

oh ok, yes maybe I can see one then

Terbinafine worked for me too! Only problem was not being able to give blood for a while after.

Managed to persuade the doctor to give me another month of the terbinafine, but he will only give me one months worth & I have to have a further consultation if I want more. Told him I can send photos of my gnarled toenails or show they're improving but not quite there yet, but he wasn't interested .

What worked for me was cutting the nail regularly and filing the infected part down and then using viva vapour rub every morning and night. Took a couple of months but def worked.

Vics vapour rub!!

Prescription paint on fungal nail varnish treatment. Takes a year. But no damage to your internal organs.

I literally just got a prescription for terbinafine on Thursday. I have tried so much over the counter stuff and nothing works and has spread to 2 toe nails now and another one is starting to turn. I have put up with unsightly nails for about 4 summers now and really want nice toe nails this year.

Hi
What really worked for me was applying vicks vapour rub morning and evening. Cutting nail right back regularly and filing nail down from the top so the cream could be absorbed. Worked brilliantly.