Fingernail fungal nail infection

[Junipar]

I have what I guess must be a fungal nail infection in my index finger nail. No idea how i managed to get it in a fingernail, and never had one before. It started about three months ago, the nail was dark red to begin with, then yellow and white, it detached from the nail bed and now most of the nail has come off.

What's left looks like healthy nail, but I'm not sure if it'll get infected as it grows. I've read so much about different treatments but not sure if these can be used when there's barely any nail left. Does anyone have any advice? It sounds like it's just really difficult to get rid of. I'm also paranoid about other nails getting infected now too...

Dark red? That seems a bit odd. Did you take pictures at each stage?
I see a lot of yellow, thickened/flaking toenails (don’t ask) with fungal infections, but never had red or had them come away completely.

it might be worth doing an EConsult to your surgery and attaching photographs. They may ask for clippings (scrapings?!) to send to lab to confirm but they will be best to advise you. Or pop in and speak to an actual pharmacists, rather than someone on the counter. Lots of pharmacist can prescribe these days so they will be able to advise what to use too.

Thanks for replying. Yes, it started off as a dark red crescent at the base of my nail, gradually turned yellow/white (but not flakey or crumbling) and detached from the nail bed. Maybe it's something different. I did wonder about psoriatic nail to begin with as I have what I believe to be psoriatic arthritis in that finger.

Sadly my GP is pretty useless, it's really difficult to get an appointment for something like this at the moment. I will keep trying though.

If they offer EConsults they have to respond with a certain amount of time so definitely worth having a look if they do them. Good luck!

Was your nail painful before it went red? I have a similar thing except it really hurt for a day or two (for no apparent reason) before it went red, yellow, then white, and came off.

Its never been my whole nail, it seems to alternate between sides. It’s been on and off since February but my doctor is beyond useless and told me I must have banged it (I hadn’t) and just to let it grow out ‘without banging it again’.

Sorry, I don’t have any useful information, but a bit of solidarity.

Ah interesting. No the nail wasn't painful, but my finger was swollen and stiff, and it happened at the same time. It was only that finger which was swollen, and only that nail this has happened to, so I did think it must be a bit of a coincidence. Hope you manage to get yours sorted - it's annoying not knowing what it is.

Econsult - yes did that and got emailed a prescription for an over the counter fungal nail treatment without even speaking to the Dr and without them even lookingat it.🙄Maybe I need to be more persistent!

Just to add I have a swollen index finger since January. They prescribed antibiotics, took a nail sample and told me it's the equivalent of athletes foot and to use over the counter fungal stuff and to expect it to take 9 months to get better! My finger still swells up regularly and hurts or itches. I paint on the stuff every week but it's very frustrating

Golden seal tincture is what I used when my ds had a fungal infection on his toe nail when he was 18 months old. It is bright yellow which is alarming but you can always cover it. Works fast and really well.