Really gross toenail problem ... gp? ignore? vomit?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I got some bad blisters about a month back, ended up putting my little toe in a plaster for ages. All was well, I thought, but this week I noticed the nail was yellow. No pain. Some redness around the nail, some peeling. Really quite gross-looking.

Looked into it online, looks like a fungal infection. Looks like I need some systemic meds to clear it.

I was planning to call the GP today, but decided to trim the toenail.

Ok, now it gets actually gross ... the nail is just hanging by a bit. Still, no pain.

Can I figure that the nail falling off will clear the infection? Or do I still have to go to the GP? (I'd really like to just ignore it, tbh.)

go to the GP. Fungal nail infection can be really difficult to clear - the fact that the nail is coming away might be a good sign cos the antifungal meds will be able to get to the nail bed. I don't think it will go away by itself, and you don't want it spreading to other nails

you could try pharmacist first, migth be able to get something over the counter. i saw some stuff yesterday in the chemist (not looking for myself of course)

Tea tree cream (or oil) will sort it out. DH tried all sorts of things for one of his gross nails but it was the tea tree that finally sorted it. It has to be applied a couple of times a day for ages (and for a while after you think it's gone because it's very sneaky!).

Thing is, I think I've had this infection for weeks, and it's really 100% only on one toe, so it's not very contagious. I'm not generally very susceptible to fungal stuff (ok, except when pregnant, which I'm not).

I'll maybe talk to the pharmacist, less work than the GP.

Tea tree - what sort? I have high concentration stuff, somewhere, I think ...

I'm trying basic hygiene to stop it (keeping toes cool + dry, mostly wearing crocs), but as I've only noticed it now when it's quite advanced, I'm not too optimistic about that sorting it.

neat tea tree oil with a cotton bud is worth a bash - I had one when pg so couldn't take drugs for it and it really worked (and I had cheap[y 2.99 stuf from sainsbury)

good to see you back btw

Oh, might try that. Had a chat with a pharmacist, he said I should use this nail coating stuff. But then when I pointed out that what nail there is, is falling off, he said to wait and see what grows in.

At least he's had a look at it, and confirmed what I thought.

It's strange to be back. What did I miss?

um
not much
[rummages]

lots of For Sale furores
and Class Wars
a select bunch of MNers have become a focus group for testdriving new Dysons
Franny's pg

think that's it...

Tea tree oil did the job for me after two different lots of ointment from GP.
Yes,you must persist though.

Well, the old nail fell off (ok, I tugged it off). Still no pain, which is a bit freaky. I'm quite sure I'm not (yet) diabetic, but it's all a bit weird. There's a new nail underneath, and maybe it's ok. If it looks dodgy I'll go get the treatment the pharmacist was recommending, maybe - something I paint on once a week for four weeks and it fixes it ...

Ok, the new nail is dodgy. I have tea tree oil, aromatherapy stuff I use to clear nits (very diluted), but it's pure, and says not to put it on your skin ...