Help - my toenails look horrible

[twosoups1972]

I've had a horrible life-long habit of picking my toenails In the last few years I've managed to have enough willpower to stop, at least during the summer. I go to a great beautician who does pedicures that last for ages.

But this year they look a mess. I've tried to stop picking but they grow so slowly and now the nice weather is here I want to wear sandals with polished toe-nails.

Is there anything I can do? I'm not that familiar with gel polish/shellac etc but can you have it on your toenails?

You can definitely have gel pedicures. Does your beautician not do them?

No she only does normal polish.

Get a gel pedi with a stronger builder gel on your big toes and have your other cut as short as poss. You could still pick a gel polish so you'll need another detterent.

Foot specialist here. If you are concerned about the look of your nails then you should consider visiting a foot health professional or podiatrist that is able to offer toenail reconstruction, they will make you a nail/nails that can be painted and should last you the summer season. Do not consider sticking a false toenail on as this will rip off your old nail with it and possibly cause infection. Gel polish won't cut it either. Depending on where you are based i may be able to refer you to someone.

To add if you need to increase the length of the nail then reconstruction is ideal for you too.

Mad... is it possible to replace a whole toe nail that needs to be taken off?! (By a professional!)

mad my toenails are currently VERY short. They do grow eventually as they have done in previous years but too slowly for my liking.

I presume you have to have decent length toenails even for gel polish?

Procesecco, you need a sliver of nail for longevity of any kind, so it sounds doable.

Twosoups, not a problem to extrnd the length at all with short nails, but you would need reconstruction to do a good job, you sound like a good candidate for it.However, gel polish is only longer lasting nail polish so not really suitable in this case.

I used to have the same problem as a habitual picker. But I managed to stop after discovering stick on full cover toenails! They sell them on Amazon and you can get all different colours and designs. I've worn them for the last few summers and everyone always commented on how nice my toenails looked! Now my real toenails have recovered enough strength and length that I can paint them and they look pretty good. And I'm no longer picking!

Lala, and trust me when they detach and rip off your toenails underneath, will be seeking the help of a foot specialist. I see the problems caused by these all the time, and the infections they cause too, not really a good idea!

Oh dear! I've never had any problems with them personally but that sounds unpleasant.

Mad...as a foot specialist, is there anything that can be done with fungal nail infection...only affects 3 toes on one foot but is spreading to the big toe. I've tried the file the nail and apply the liquid.... but that was months ago and now lost interest as it's made no difference...they are totally revolting!!!

Arty I went to the GP and was given tablets to take. It takes a long time though, 6 - 9 months to stop it spreading, and for the infected nail to grow out.

I'm diabetic and seem to really struggle with my toenails. This stuff is amazing, makes your nails grow really quickly and seems to put them into much better condition. Boots stock it but it's hard to find elsewhere.

www.boots.com/flexitol-nail-revitaliser-gel-15ml-10125627

Really Mary ?? I hate to think what's in the tablets!?! I seem to remember the doctor did say something about tablets... but l was very sceptical...can't imagine what's in them... did you have any side effects?
But ,a doctors visit maybe the answer.
Thanks

@Madbengalmum do you fancy opening an AMA thread? I bet you'd be in demand especially now the weather is nicer. I have s couple of questions but don't want to derail.

Arty no no side effects, just seemed to take forever. They also gave me some extra strong paint on stuff. The Dr told me that the over the counter paint on stuff only really works for very mild infection or at the very beginning. If you've had it a while you'll need the prescribed stuff.

Arty I had no side effects with the Terbinafine. I'd had horrific fungal toe nails for years and suffered so much in hot weather being too embarrassed to expose my feet. I had a foot injury and it was the shame of the doctor at A&E seeing my nails that made me seek help!
It took ages to grow new nails but only a couple of weeks to see healthy growth start which was encouraging.
The other thing my GP told me to do was soak my feet in Epsom Salt water.
I used to Dremmel my toe nails and then soak them.

Sally Hansen miracle grow nail varnish helps them grow faster (I’m the same as you - thus year I seem to have found it really hard to not pick so they are much shorter than the last few years. I’m also a stone heavier than ever before as I can’t seem to stop eating crap ☹️)

Unfortunately, oral terbinafine is something I would never recommend to any patient. It is particularly volatile and many people find it gives terrible side effects and poor results generally too. I treat quite a few doctors for fungal nails and not one of them will take oral terbinafine because they are aware of its ability to really mess with people's systems. Manydoctors are aware of how nasty the tablet can be and are now reluctant to prescribe it.

Artyfarty, lots can be done with fungal nails, but over the counter products alone will not solve the problem, you need a specialist who will put you on the right track. With most foot issues you need to get the the root cause and self treatment doesn't allow for this.

Peonies, as a diabetic, I would advise foot checks on at least a six monthly basis, as a matter of cause.

Motherofthree, pm me if you need any help x

@madbengalmum I have sent you a PM. Funnily enough dh has problems with fungal toenails.

Twosoups, i have replied to your question on recon this morning and pm'd you

Mad, on the subject of fungal toenails, a podiatrist told me that tes tree oil applied twice daily will do the trick but it will take around a year for the nail to grow out fully. Is this true? I've been doing it since Feb and filing my nails down weekly to keep a rough surface and keep them quite thin in the hope of siding absorption. Thanks.

The toenail picking is a symptom of something else. Go and see your GP and a good podiatrist- the GP can check fungal nails and talk to you about why you feel the urge to pick. The podiatrist can check fungal nails too and give you good advice about foot care.
If you are not happy with your feet can you do something else to make you feel better about yourself ?regular facial, good haircut, going for a walk regularly, yoga. Make a list and do something small each day to make you feel good about yourself.

Goldenoldie, sorry, but tea tree oil was a "remedy" for everything a few years back, and is anti bacteria not , you won't get rid of the fungus, but you'll have clean nails! Before the infection spreads to other nails visit someone who deals with fungal nails properly, Preferably not the podiatrist who advised tea tree!

Lunathecat, GP will do nothing unfortunately that you can't do yourself. They often take clippings which 90% of the time come back inconclusive. Gp will either prescribe terbinafine tablets, (which are not only dreadful for the body,but very mixed in results or prescribe amrilofine lacquer, which is in all anti fungal products. However, the key is that applying at home ontop of dead nail will never resolve the problem, the nails need work to remove the dead nail, they can then be treated with lacquer.