Nail fugus

[toequery]

I have a fungal nail. I've had it what 5+ years. I can sort of clear it up a bit every year with perseverance and that nail paint. But now it's got bad again.

1. What can I do?
2. Is there a risk to the rest of my health/toe if I don't get it sorted. Reluctant to use those tablets that you need blood tests for but might have to if it's that or lose my toe.

I am also struggling with this. I went to chiropodist last week who would have talked to me about laser treatment, however as I have other stuff going on she did not give me details, if I don’t get rid of it myself I will go back. Maybe someone can say if laser treatment has worked for them. She did say watch socks and towels at 60 degrees to kill the fungus. Plus I have bought a once weekly treatment, where you file the nail down and put treatment on it. I’m doing this, with a twice daily drop of tea tree oil. Maybe others will say this has worked for them 🤞https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083MD7M51?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Oregano oil did it for me. Some people use teatree oil. I mix either with coconut oil which is itself anti bacterial and anti fungal.

I have a gross toe nail so looking for effective treatment ideas.

Placemarking because I'm getting nowhere either... considering terbinafine but tbh I'm embarrassed to ask for something so major for a dodgy toenail. Using Lamisil cream at least seems to keep it contained.

I have had it previously. I use canesten which I find really effective. I wish I had used it years ago and not bothered with the nail paint. I also had two toe nails removed and I know I could have avoided that operation. I used it twice a day and packed it under my nails and around the edges where it just gets absorbed.

The nails used to be distorted by the fungus but they are back to normal and I put the canesten on about once a week now, after a shower when my nails are softer.

You buy it over the counter. I am not a Dr.

My sister tried a lot of stuff including the stronger OTC stuff you can buy in the US. Finally cured it with white vinegar!

DH and DS's is much worse than hers but intending to help DS persevere with something so his doesn't get to DH's levels!

Considering you’ve had it for so long now your only options are serious medication, nail removal, or leave it as it is (in which case it will probably spread to your other nails).

Topical treatments aren’t going to work once it is so set in.

People pissing about with topical treatments at the start and missing the key window to stop it spreading and doing integral damage are exactly why they end up so bad.

My DH has had jaundice in the past and was uncertain about the tablets but he decided to go on them because it was really bothering him. They worked like magic and it's never come back. No liver issues either.

Do you think I could get it removed on nhs? I've had ingrown toenails removed before so that doesn't bother me

Did he get side effects?

Absolutely. I had mine removed on the NHS.

I've been on terbinafine since May. Nail is almost fully grown back, it's been brilliant.
Doctor needed nail clippings to test and a blood test for my liver, then I got a month's worth at a time, with another blood test between each new prescription.
If your liver is fine, definitely use the tablets. The chiropodist and topical treatments didn't work.

I'm still using the Lamisil spray daily aswell, plus antifungal spray in my shoes.

Canespro completely cleared mine and mine was awful. You have to scrape or file the nail down as much as possible to make it work though. It took a few weeks of being very diligent with the treatment and it grew back completely normal.

Mine was under the nail - white fungus so anything I tried couldn't penetrate the nail so failed. It just got worse and spread and was so itchy. Also spread to another nail.

I very reluctantly went on the tablets and it's all clear now. They do frequent blood tests for your liver. I did read that the tablets can cause other issues so was worried but I just couldn't out u

... I just couldn't put up with it anymore.
I tried looking into getting the toenail removed but wasn't keen on that idea either!

Mine unexpectedly cleared up when I was prescribed fluconazole weekly for repeated thrush. Knowing what I now I would ask GP for this medication for a fungal toenail if I got it again.