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General health

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Original poster

Yellow toenails

24 replies

horridtoes · 14/04/2008 20:32

Woe is me.

I have horrid, yellow manky toenails and I am too embarrassed for words. One of them is even to thick to cut.

What is it and how can I get rid of it? Why meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?!

OP posts:

Original poster

horridtoes · 14/04/2008 20:32

Have name changed, obviously.

OP posts:

pinkteddy · 14/04/2008 20:32

is it fungal infection of nails? Think that looks yellow.

chonky · 14/04/2008 20:33

hmmm...a fungus me thinks. Go to the GPS - I think they will need to take a nail clippng to send for lab analysis, and then if comes bacl +ve can prescribe you some ant-fungal medication.

Jazzicatz · 14/04/2008 20:33

I have those too - dp says it is a fungal infection - nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

whomovedmychocolate · 14/04/2008 20:33

Stop smoking fags with your feet

Only kidding, it's probably a fungal infection - go wiggle your toes at your GP or your pharmacist - it's probably athletes foot. If they are really horrid go to the GP and ask for some strong prescription antifungicide. Then go pay a chiropodist £30 to get your feet treated. They will cut the nails and turn them back into proper feet.

Milliways · 14/04/2008 20:33

curanail??

chonky · 14/04/2008 20:33

I think you can also buy a product called 'Curanail' (catchy title!) at Boots for fungal infections.

kerala · 14/04/2008 20:34

Sounds like a fungal infection. Had a similar thing years ago, and when I finally went to the nurse her comment was "nobody should have to put up with feet like that". I was mortified.

I was given some pills, told to keep feet aerated (sandals as soon as its warm though ones that cover up the vile toe nails!) and dry them properly. Mine went eventually but not for ages. Oh I was also given stuff to paint them with and my aunt gave me some aromotherapy stuff for them but think it was the tablets that worked

whomovedmychocolate · 14/04/2008 20:34

BTW one in seven people in Britain has Athlete's foot apparently (nice). So don't be embarrassed.

pinkteddy · 14/04/2008 20:34

fungal nail infection

maidamess · 14/04/2008 20:38

Sounds like you need at least a trip to the chiropodist. You might have a yeast infection in your nails. yucky, but treatable.

maidamess · 14/04/2008 20:38

Ooh I took too long with that one! I answered the phone half way through typing it!

Original poster

horridtoes · 14/04/2008 20:40

Ewww.

I was hoping an off the shelf treatment would be the solution. I turned down a free pedicure because it would be unfair for the poor therapist to be subjected to my nails.

So. Chiropodists. Where would I find one of those?

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 14/04/2008 20:41

Yellow pages. Or your local hospital will probably have one who does private practice as well as NHS work.

MaureenMLove · 14/04/2008 20:44

Just checking, but do you always have your toes painted? If so, that can cause them to have a yellow colour too. (Ever the optimist!)

theangelshavethephonebox · 14/04/2008 20:45

I have one toenail like this - or rather I did, as it just fell off one day (completely painlessly!). I asked the pharmacist about over the counter treatments but he said that if it's the whole of the nail that's affected you need a GP prescribed treatment. I am taking the medication now but apparently it takes months to work .

lizandlulu · 14/04/2008 20:46

check if you have a moblie chiropodist in your area, we do and she is lovely. i had this and she treats it for me, it does go then come back though. apparently you should put your shoes in the freezer to kill the fungus so it doesnt keep returning

MinkyBorage · 14/04/2008 20:46

keep awy from painted toes until the yellow nails hve completely grown out, your nails need to breath

pinkteddy · 14/04/2008 20:46

GP will point you in the right direction.

Original poster

horridtoes · 14/04/2008 21:00

So much advice here, thank you very much.

I am pretty sure the nail is yellow from an infection rather than my nail varnish. I cna't believe it will take 12 months to clear. Where on earth did it come from?

OP posts:

MinkyBorage · 14/04/2008 21:03

I got it from using the same bath as someone who had it, could have come from swimming pool, gym, anywhere, I'm still nervous about wearing nail polish now because for some reason after I had it, my nails seem more porous, and if I leave colour on for more than a couple of days my nails feel all funny and get stained.

I had it about 6 years ago btw

pinkteddy · 14/04/2008 22:47

Can get it from feet being hot in trainers/shoes or nylon socks or if you are in poor health or also from smoking apparently. I had it towards the end of pregnancy, I think cos my feet were very swollen and got hot!

theangelshavethephonebox · 15/04/2008 19:48

I have my suspicions that mine was originally a case of athlete's foot that I didn't kill off properly with the cream. yuk

whoopsfallenoveragainandithurt · 15/04/2008 19:57

I've had this on both toenails and fingernails, ad mentioned it several times to a gp who said it was nothing and would grow out which never happened
Once she was on maternity leave I saw the locum who prescribed anti fungal tablets which I have to be on for 6 months the fingernail cleared up a lot quicker than the toenail though

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