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Shoes and fungal nails

4 replies

CountdownCat · 22/06/2024 14:50

Hoping anyone can offer some advice/experience.

Been treating two fungal toenails for over 12 months now, first with topical which did nothing then went to a podiatrist and am 6 weeks into a course of terbinafine tablets which seems to be working.

Prior to starting the tablets, I threw out all my socks, and the majority of my shoes. Couldn't bear to part with a few pairs of trainers which were expensive and I have only had a few years. Neither were heavily worn, maybe once or twice a week, but definitely while my nails had fungus. They can't be washed. Havent worn them since starting tablets and just got a few cheap pairs from primark which I intend to throw out as soon as my podiatrist says I'm fungus free.

I have sprayed the two remaining pairs of trainers inside to the point of saturation about 5 times now, so much that the liquid has saturated the upper and insole, exposed them open to direct sunlight as often as I can, and have heated them up inside with a hairdryer to get them as hot and dry as possible. Will this be enough or if I wear them again after I'm cured, will I just be back to square one and reinfect myself? They don't smell at all and generally look quite new. Can't replace as I can't find the same ones for sale anywhere online else I would just chuck and replace. I have also bought a UV shoe steriliser on Amazon but it didn't have many reviews so I can't be sure it'll work.

I have also tried to see if I can just quarantine them for a few years but again there is mixed advice online.

I'm prepared to keep spraying them, and also using the topical spray on my toes to stop them getting reinfected.

The main advice online is just throw them away, which I really don't want to do with these 2 pairs.

TL:DR - Has anyone cured their fungal toenails and NOT thrown all their shoes out and been absolutely fine?

OP posts:
mikado1 · 22/06/2024 14:54

I really don't think that you needed to throw them all out. Through socks and in sprayed and aired put shoes, the fungus is v v unlikely to survive more than a few weeks max.

CountdownCat · 22/06/2024 15:02

mikado1 · 22/06/2024 14:54

I really don't think that you needed to throw them all out. Through socks and in sprayed and aired put shoes, the fungus is v v unlikely to survive more than a few weeks max.

I've read online in a few places that the spores can live up to 20 months!

My podiatrist told me to throw all my socks and shoes away to prevent reinfection.

OP posts:
ForKeenLimeOtter · 22/06/2024 17:01

CountdownCat · 22/06/2024 15:02

I've read online in a few places that the spores can live up to 20 months!

My podiatrist told me to throw all my socks and shoes away to prevent reinfection.

I didn't realise that. I've tried lots of DIY treatments, some that seemed quite successful initially, but I carried on wearing the same trainers.. no wonder I've not had much success!

There are spores that can survive in space so I suppose it's not surprising they can live in trainers on earth for a long time.

VolvoFan · 22/06/2024 17:08

I've had fungal nail infections in both my big toes. Two courses of Scholl did the trick, just that the new nail, while it's there, has taken a good 6 months to grow. I haven't thrown any socks or shoes out. I can sympathise, though, because anything fungal can be a real bugger to deal with.

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