Trigger warning thick toenails

[pinenuts75]

I have attached a photo hope this is allowed, both my toenails fell off a while ago, has anyone else had this happen? They have regrown but really thick and look so ugly, I’ve booked to see a podiatrist but it’s quite expensive, just wondering if there’s anything I can buy to treat them? They are lifting away from the nail bed though.

Mine look similar. I do see a podiatrist to have them snipped because I just can’t do it myself (age related poor eyesight). I’d love to hear if there’s anything to help but I figured the podiatrist would have said something and he hasn’t yet.

I wasn’t aware you could cut them yourself I might look into that thank you

Could be fungal toe nails. Might need medication to sort it out

They don’t just look thick, they look fungally infected.

@pinenuts75 I’ve been cutting my nails all my life (with nail cutters?). Then I turned into an old lady who just lacked the dexterity and close vision that they needed 🤷🏻‍♀️. What do people usually do?? (I’m not meaning to be sarcastic or judgemental).

I meant because they are so thick normal nail cutters are too small, I thought there might be some special nail cutters for thick toe nails.

Amazon have clippers for thick toenails, you want the ones with handles like pliers rather than the small ones. They often say for men.

Podiatrist can thin the nails and improve the look. Assuming fungal infection, GP may be prepared to prescribe Terbinafine tablets (3-6 month course) which are anti-fungal; the only effective treatment for hugely colonised nails. Remove fungal infection and nails will be less thick and yellow, and combined with thinning and trimming by pod can have a huge benefit!

@pinenuts75 Ohhh!! I get it. I used scissors growing up (worked until about 20 years ago). I then had pedicures but usually ended up with ingrown nails, so then was referred to podiatrist. (I also bought the big clippers that the pedicurist used but had trouble with them too). It was a lot of work for those two little postage stamp sized nails 😝.

@Sbmpp could you have a chiropodist come to your home?? Sometimes they have a clinic at our local chemist too X it's a right pain getting older x

Are you an athlete/runner? I've heard of toe nails falling off from the repeated friction.

They do look to be from a fungal infection though. You can buy tinctures like daktarin etc from pharmacies, but I agree that seeing a podiatrist is a good idea. It can take months to clear.

I bought a treatment from the pharmacist which seems to be working. If over the counter doesn’t work, as above GP can prescribe terbinafine. Sorry not sure on the spelling. My husband had it for 6 months and it did make him feel awful though so perhaps try topical treatments first.

No but I do alot of walking, it could well be from constant friction.

My gp wouldn’t prescribe medication because it can affect your liver.

DH runs a lot and tends to get black toenails rather than thick ones

Oh yes I had forgotten this, he had to have a liver function test at the start and again after 3 months. I guess over the counter is!

@shellyleppard What a great idea but I’m in the US. We don’t have things like that.

My gp just refused completely.

One of 2 reasons for putright refusal to prescribe terbinafine tablets;

1. your medical history is too risky for terbinafine (conditions that may already compromise liver)
2. because it's very expensive, and is seen as a 'cosmetic' problem. GPs being keepers of the NHS purse 🙄

@Sbmpp apologies I thought you were in the UK

I have psoriasis in my toe nails but don’t have it anywhere else. A podiatrist suggested I might have and then it was confirmed by a consultant dermatologist I saw when I lived abroad. My toenails are yellowish with thick layers of skin beneath them but can look normal with regular treatment and nail varnish.

I was prescribed Itraconazole by my dr which is apparently a newer treatment for fungal infection, worked brilliantly after having the issue for 15 years - Good Luck! PS did not need a liver function test

I had an ingrowing toenail surgically removed by a doctor and my nail came back like that. I just cut it periodically after a bath (so it's softer) with normal scissors. It is growing up normally from the bottom now, but will not all be normal until the whole nail has renewed so to speak. (So if I never cut it, the bit beyond the end of my toe would be the same length as the bit on my toe.)

It must be because it’s too expensive, I have no medical conditions not what I know of anyway.

Have you tried emtrix?