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Can you get your nails done with a fungal nail infection?

32 replies

Iamnotausername · 08/01/2023 14:20

Just that.

I'd like to get my nails done but I've had a fungal nail infection on my little finger for years. I cannot get rid of it. It isn't flaky or anything. It's just brittle and half my nail is white.

OP posts:
thunderstruckk · 08/01/2023 14:23

I think it will depend on your beautician - mine wouldn't, but I think that's just her policy.

Will nothing get rid at all? That's such a pain! I had it on my big toe but luckily one of those pill courses helped.

Newusernames · 08/01/2023 14:24

No! Of course not. It could easily spread to others via the nail varnish and other equipment!

MrsSkylerWhite · 08/01/2023 14:25

Is the condition contagious? No idea. If it is, could cause her big problems.

Iamnotausername · 08/01/2023 14:27

That's what I thought so I thought I'd ask on here before embarrassing myself. 🤣

@thunderstruckk which pill course? The only ones I've seen come with loads of warnings about side effects, especially with your liver (I think?).

OP posts:
MrsPicklesonSmythe · 08/01/2023 14:29

Please don't.

Just get it treated noone should have a fungal infection for years. Have you had it looked at?

Montague22 · 08/01/2023 14:47

No
But you could speak to a mobile beautician and buy your own kit for her to use.

BasiliskStare · 08/01/2023 14:51

@Iamnotausername - I cannot speak for this but if you are worried about side effects I did once read that rubbing Vicks menthol vapour rub in twice a day can help - Not sure if this is an urban myth but someone else might be able to say

mikado1 · 08/01/2023 14:53

No you can't. But you could put a plaster on the infected one, get the others done and buy a similar colour to paint the other one yourself once you've filed it down etc. I have fungal toe nails 😢 you're lucky it's just the one at least. I am getting proper clippers and electric file so mine can at least be 'at their best'. Such a pain.

Augend23 · 08/01/2023 14:54

But the warnings don't mean they can't be used, they just mean you need monitoring. The courses aren't busy causing liver damage in everyone who takes them out they'd be banned.

I think for fungal nails you'd usually be looking at turbinafine which would need a couple of blood tests but once it was gone it would be gone - you essentially can't treat fungal nails without a course of anti fungal tablets, except if you're very lucky I think.

thunderstruckk · 08/01/2023 15:47

@Iamnotausername I think the one I had was itraconazole, worked for me after nothing else did!

RobertaFirmino · 08/01/2023 20:08

BasiliskStare · 08/01/2023 14:51

@Iamnotausername - I cannot speak for this but if you are worried about side effects I did once read that rubbing Vicks menthol vapour rub in twice a day can help - Not sure if this is an urban myth but someone else might be able to say

A friend did this on a toenail and as a sporner, I was interested in the result. Definitely worked for her but it took a few months. During the 'treatment', she kept the nail as short as possible and regularly filed the nail surface to help the Vicks sink in.

helpfulperson · 08/01/2023 20:12

I had my toenails done. The only difference was that I had to buy the nail polish used. all other equipment can and will be sterilised.

minidancer · 08/01/2023 20:14

There is a laser treatment you can have done that should clear it after a few sessions. Don't get your nails done, just paint them

QueenMabs · 08/01/2023 20:17

I had terbanafine for my toe nails and it was the best thing after best part of 10 years of painting over it!

It went really quickly. Amazon to watch it grow out And a little finger will grow more quickly, in a few months. For a big toe it was 6 months.

Rachaelrachael · 08/01/2023 20:17

Have you tried tea tree oil? Took a few months on my dodgy toenail which had actually half crumbled away, but finally looking healthy again!

Bringonsummer19 · 08/01/2023 20:18

tgats A long time to have it, are you sure it’s fungal? I had a black tie nail from a long distance run and they were fine but very different. My friend thought she has a fungal toe infection for years turns out it was just distressed toe nail (too much running).

gave you had a bacteria swap down?

oviraptor21 · 08/01/2023 20:23

I'm intrigued by this. I've had what I assume is a fungal toe nail infection. The nail is mostly white though does seem to be growing out ... maybe. I paint over it all the time so it doesn't really show. I did try some kind of rub in cream but it was taking too long to work so I gave up as I prefer them painted.
Do you need a GP appt for the terbanafine or would a pharmacist do it?

QueenMabs · 08/01/2023 20:35

Podiatrist can do a private prescription. GP would do and NHS one but it was expensive when I had it to get a private prescription.

I should explain I tried about 10 other methods and none of the them worked into the terbanfine came in a one a day tablet, previously it was there a day and i think I forgot to take it.

Itraconzole pulse therapy didn't work neither did amorlofine or tea tree or Vicks or duct Tape

RaiseTheStakesAndMakeTheLastWordDuckhead · 08/01/2023 20:57

Is it a fungal nail infection or is it oncholysis?

www.healthline.com/health/onycholysis

Is the white part of the nail attached to the nail bed or not?

RaiseTheStakesAndMakeTheLastWordDuckhead · 08/01/2023 21:03

This is (my) onycholysis. It's not a fungal infection, had it 15 years, sometimes it almost looks healed then it comes off again, and yes you can get manicures over it. BUT they can make the nail dis-attach more. Don't let them use file on nail surface, make sure they are gentle and soak off nails, not file.

Can you get your nails done with a fungal nail infection?
RaiseTheStakesAndMakeTheLastWordDuckhead · 08/01/2023 21:05

Oh, and I've seen half a dozen GPs and 3 dermatologists for it. It's fine, just no nail extensions for me (pulls the nail off more) and it cannot now be re-attached.

Hereandgoneagain · 08/01/2023 21:09

I wasn’t able to get a pedicure due to nail fungus. I was really embarrassed, as I didn’t know what it was and thought the white patch was due to wearing too much nail varnish and not letting the nail breathe. I’ve been using nailner on my big toenail. It’s been a sloooow process (since June last year) but is working. Hoping to get a pedicure again by Easter!

Iamnotausername · 08/01/2023 21:44

@RaiseTheStakesAndMakeTheLastWordDuckhead
That's interesting. I can't upload a picture but half of my nail vertically from the top of my nail to the cuticle isn't attached. I can just peel if off which I have done previously when trying to treat an fungal nail. Not all the way to the cuticle though - ouch!

It has in the past appeared to grow out but then suddenly come back. It is quite brittle though and can powder.

I have nail infections on my toes and my finger is a bit different. I will look into that - thank you.

I have got some stuff to treat my toes with.

OP posts:
Iamnotausername · 08/01/2023 21:47

Hmm. I feel bad asking for a Dr's appointment over such a mild problem (which tbh does bother me) but I might ask for some tablets.

OP posts:
runo103 · 08/01/2023 21:50

Please don't get your nails done if you have a fungal infection, they are highly contagious! I got a fungal nail infection from a pedicure that took me 4 years, several courses of tablets and an expensive trip to a podiatrist to finally get rid of.