Fungal toe nails infection

[Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain]

What’s best for this? Had gel toe nails for past 2 years and think they just ignored this and now it seems to be on odd nails. I did try to treat it a year ago but seemed to take ages to work. With tea tree oil and then Boots Advanced nail treatment liquid and filing toenails.

Want nice toe nails again!

It does take ages to work. You have to wait for it to grow up and out. If you give up, it spreads down to the newly growing nail, and along to other nails. Keep up the treatment until all the affected nail has been cut off.

Vicks vaporub on the nail(s) twice a day for as long as it takes.
Much cheaper and more effective than other remedies.

Thanks both! I think last summer I got fed up of waiting for it to grow out so just got gel toe nails again! Have seen there’s nail polish you can use on fungal nails so may get that.

Got some of that as I’m/was sick with nasty chest part.

Yep I think it did spread.

What should I do about summer nails just accept no nail polish on them? Can live with gel ones.

The only thing that got rid of mine was getting the tablets from the GP, I put off taking them for absolutely ages because I’d read about side effects but they were absolutely fine.

I had to have a blood test to check liver function before they’d prescribe them and had to take them daily for months but it was worth it.

I also got a medical pedicure to really file down the nails and that helped make them look a bit better while it grew out.

I’d be put off going back to a salon where they’ve given you a gel pedicure when you have a fungal infection, that’s probably where you’ve picked it up from and they’ve probably passed it on to other people by continuing to see you.

I've been painting my daughters weekly for over a year. Nearly sorted now. Just 2 to grow out. However we have had it on prescription otherwise it would have cost a fortune.

Is it fungal or an allergy to the gel? Have you had it tested?

If you are certain its fungal, soaking in diluted apple cider vinegar for 10 mins a day will help speed up the clearance and is cheap enough

Btw, nowhere should be applying gels where there is an obvious problem. If you become allergic to Gel formulations, you can become allergic to a whole host of things, including some dental treatments

I was wondering about tablets? Maybe I’ll ask the GP. Thanks!

i tried all sorts but ended up having to go to the GP like @Changingplace I've just finished 6 months and the difference is amazing. You do have to have blood tests for liver function but I can’t wait to actually have my toes out and painted this summer!

You know what? That’s probably the case, picked it up from the salon, which in that case I’m irritated about as most salons I use are professionals (sometimes the Vietnamese/chinese ran ones too, but my last pedicure from one was awful!). I tend to use a few salons not only for good value but also due to work sometimes I’m literally not in the same place much! Salons near my work (Victoria, London) are either cheap or eye wateringly expensive! There’s a very good one (small) I sometimes go to for a treat though. My fault though if I do use salons which aren’t the cleanest.

I think I might have to see GP. Luckily I don’t drink loads so hopefully liver should be fine.

Thanks for advice.

I’m sure it is fungal as not had gel pedicure since August/September. Thanks for apple cider vinegar tip.

See that’s the thing I asked one salon if my toenails were ok, eg surely they wouldn’t do it if there was a fungal nail infection right? A reputable salon too. They said no it’s fine. I think some places just lie and do the pedicure no matter what.

I’m sure looking at toenails and amount of time I’ve had it it is just fungal not allergy. Think originally made worse or started by just wearing slippers wfh most of the day with bad feet as I heard those conditions create an ideal breeding environment for fungus. So slippers have been hot washed and got another pair on order.

Same, isn’t it a relief not to feel like you’ve got to hide them all summer, I was so self conscious of mine!

I have been prescribed the pills but am a bit reluctant to take them! Have so much other health stuff going on. My gp did send nail clippings off to double check it was actually fungal, so you might want to do that.

I did for ages but honestly best thing I did, nothing else shifted it, give them a go.

Terbinafine from the GP

I have a (self diagnosed) fungal infection on one toenail. I used one of the expensive over the counter treatments diligently, and it made no difference. When my pharmacy had no other option but a different treatment which cost £30, I just bought a tub of Vaporub which has been more effective than the actual treatment.

I wonder what made you consider Vapour rub?

I was complaining to my parents that the treatment I was using was expensive and ineffective and my mother said that a podiatrist suggested it for her fungal nail infection some years ago. I already had Vaporub in so I figured it was worth a go.

Sudocrem worked for me, put it on twice a day.

Had a horrible fungal nail infection and my toenail crumbled and split half way down and fell off. Dr Google self dx it was from wearing nail polish and using acetone remover. I self treated it with tea tree & strong tiger balm plus the rest of my toenails that were also getting crumbly. All fine now but I put the tiger balm on every so often and gave up on painted toenails.

I had a fungal nail. Initially looked like my big toe nail was lifting but far down the nail iyswim. I too had been getting gel nail polish on my toenails. I initially cut the nail down as far as it would go without causing pain. Was absolutely diligent about foot hygiene....washed and dried well. Changed socks daily but the minute i was home from work i took my shoes and socks off to let the air get at my feet. As much as possible i wore my open toe Birkenstocks outside of this. Filed my nail continuously until I could no longer see the nail lifting from the nail bed. Cleaned my nail file meticulously and definitely didn't use it on other nails. I used Gehwol antifungal brilliant stuff. From start to finish about 3 to 4 months. That is my nail grew back with no further issues. It may seem long but i was kucky it was winter months and so i ddint have to have my nails on display. Watch out for cross contamination eg shoes you may have worn without socks, or utensils you use for cutting nails etc. Nylon is a fantastic breeding ground for fungus...warm and moist so try and avoid tights if you can.

Just my experience if it. I also recommended the Gehwol to my sister for the same reason and she thinks it is great too.

I bought this yesterday in Superdrug, not cheap and the only nail treatment they had. Let’s see if this works!