Fungal toenails

[Bezalelle]

I've tried EVERYTHING.

Scholl "paint-on" varnish. Athletes foot cream. Terabinide cream. Filing them down.

Nothing works. It's the little toe and the one beside it on each foot.

Does anyone have any foolproof cures? I'm pregnant so probably can't take any medicine for it.

Argh.

Have you been to a chiropodist?

I got through 2 x the Scholl paint on and filing. I googled and read about using Vicks, then someone I know mentioned their Chiropodist had recommended same. I have been using it for about three months and I think it’s working/worked. Considering I used Scholl for 9 months with no benefit, I’m quite pleased with the result!

Vicks vaporub worked to hold it at bay for me but didn't quite get rid of it. Nailner did the trick.

Tea tree oil

When you say you probably can't take medicine, have you actually asked? Thats my mum's style, to put obstacles there in her imagination, without checking.

Terbinafine tablets worked great for me, but I think you have to be careful as they can affect your ?liver?

Organic apple cider vinegar in a foot tub with water.

Or put acv on cotton wool pads and put on your toes.

Or tea tree oil.

Just makesure tea tree is safe whilst pregnant.

Scholl is useless. I hadn't heard of Vicks.

Terbinafine tablets got rid of mine. Tried other stuff for 10+ years, then paid for a private prescription. Took 6 months to go, but not come back several years on. You'll probably have to wait until after the baby is born though.

I had horrendous fungal toe nails on 8 of my toes. Tried all the home remedies and the OTC applications.
I had a course of terbinafine and it cleared it up fine. It may be worth checking to see if you can take it?
But my GP also advised me to soak my feet in Epsom Salt water.
I used an electric nail file, ground down my nails then soaked them, that might be worth a try?

I use tea tree oil and attrition - cut the toenail as short as you dare. Every time you have a shower, dry your feet and apply tea tree to the toes. Keep the nail short. I have watched my toenail produce new un-fungused nail and just kept cutting the yellow bit out and doing the tea tree oil. Took a while but it worked and hasn't come back.

I had a horrible fungal nail infection on my hands. I didn’t see it at first as it was covered with gel manicures. By the time I realised what it was every nail was affected. It was truly hideous and very embarrassing.

I applied both nailner and vicks morning and night but it didn’t seem to be helping. In desperation I started applying neat hydrogen peroxide to every nail with a small brush 3/4 times a day ( I reasoned if it could get rid of shower mould it might work on my mouldy fingernails). I kept the nails short and buffed. I bleached the nail clippers after every use and used disposable buffers.
It took 5 months but my nails are clean and pink and fungus free now. They are also incredibly strong, much better than they have ever been before. I am able to have manicures again now but I am going to keep using the vicks and the peroxide every night in the hope they will prevent any reinfection.

I haven't checked with my GP about Terabinifide tablets, but my gut tells me they won't be good for the baby.

I will check though, and just keep filing them down in the meantime.

Thanks all!

I used nailner, religiously painted on morning and night, and underneath the top of the nail too, and it cleared mine up in about 4 weeks. No filing either.

Like previous poster said the only thing that worked for me was neat hydrogen peroxide. I tried everything else and terbinafine didn't work for me

File the nail down and then apply a few drops, best it nail is wet after a bath or shower.

Do twice a day and you will see results

I’ve been using an off the shelf Fungal nail ‘cure’ for 2 months with no sign of improvement. It doesn’t say anything about filing. Half of a damaged big toe nail has now fallen off leaving quite tender, exposed skin so I’m not keen to put anything on that might irritate that.

Is Terabinifide only available on prescription?

I've had the Lacuna treatment....tiny holes drilled in toenail and then daily application of lamisil spray for 20 weeks. Slow process but it's working.

Must try the Vicks recommendation

I'm currently using the Lamasil paint on liquid twice a day. Started in October and it's just started to work now as I can see a tiny bit of new pink nail growing out of the cuticle. The pharmacist said it could take up to a year.

It’s not just one fungus, so you have to use a combination of everything - tea tree, camphor (which is the key ingredient in Vick’s) and Lamisil used in rotation.

You’re also going to need to throw away your socks, and probably your shoes (especially if you’re wearing them without socks, such as Uggs or trainers or trendy loafers) because otherwise you’ll keep re-infecting yourself.

Googling suggests terbinafide isn’t ok in pregnancy.
I’ve filed away (flat, so making the nail thinner rather than shorter) and applied tea tree oil twice a day for a couple of months and they look better.

@myheartskipsskipsabeat - where do you get neat hydrogen peroxide from?

Tea tree oil and aggressive filing has made a big difference to mine.

I went to a chiropodist last August and she cut the infected nails (both big toes and majority of the rest!) right down as short as they would go.
The infection was in the matrix of the nail and she explained that topical treatments would not work on their own once it had got to that stage
So I've been on terbafine tablets for 6 months (have to have a blood test every 2 months as it can affect your liver),tea tree oil applied twice a day, a trip to the chiropodist every 3 months to cut away more nail and this foot spray which creates a barrier between my foot and my shoes.
It's been quite a job but I'll probably need another 2 months of tablets and then it's gone.
I really do recommend you go to a chiropodist for an assessment.
I should be able to wear my open toed sandals this summer. Can't wait!

A fairly unpleasant - though only short - surgical procedure to remove the nail, followed by topical application of an anti-fungal on a weekly basis. Not loving not having a nail (turns out they are useful protection for the toe) but it does seem to be growing back fungus free.

I’ve been on prescription tioconazole nail polish for nearly six months. It is working as my mail has nearly grown out all the infected bit and the stuff has stopped it spreading right down the mail again. All good. Just takes time.