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.

thats good to hear, I may go back to my gp.

My family member with bad eyesight went to a private chiropodist for nail cutting. She treated it like a pampering session!

No what’s that? Never heard of it.

They should run blood tests to check your liver function and decide if you’re ok to have the medication, did they offer you that?

No just refused completely.

I had fungal nail. Nail went hard and yellow, couldn’t even cut it. This stuff softens the nail to the point I basically cut the whole thing back and it was so much better afterwards. Have look at before and after on google.

Of course, depends on what is causing your nail issue and if this treatment is suitable for your individual needs.

Thank you I will take a look, problem is the nail is actually lifting off the nail bed, so I’m not sure fungal nail treatments would work.

Mine was similar by the sounds of it. The Emtrix can treat both fungal and psoriasis according to google. Do some research but it’s helped the appearance of mine a lot.

https://www.boots.com/tweezerman-extra-strength-toe-nail-clipper-10334032

Thank you I need to try something.

I have thickened toe nails in my right foot and I have been told it’s to do with walking and horse riding as well as trauma from said horses standing on my feet many times!!

My Dm had this a few years ago. She soaked her feet every night in a bowl of warm water with some dettol in and the thick yellow part eventually started to griow out and new nail began to form and grow at the base.

@shellyleppard No worries. I truly love learning about the UK:).

I got mine online years ago through one of those private doctors, really didn’t cost much at all. Had to send blood samples off for liver testing part way through and again at the end but I remember it costing about £60! Was about 15 years ago now though. Cleared it up absolutely beautifully and 15 years later my nails have remained clear and free of fungus!

@pinenuts75 I’ve managed to bang my big tie nails on the front of my walking boots a couple if times with the result they died and a new one kind of grew over the old. It takes ages for the double layer to grow out though so they were double thickness for months. However, yours also look fungal (have you had athlete’s foot/which has got into the nail perhaps if it was cracked. There are over the counter treatments which require you to file and paint every day (and not a quick fix as they take ages to grow). You can get heavy duty toe nail clippers or you can visit a podiatrist.

If its lifted off, the nail could be thinned and cut back severely, to where it is then attached. You could try an anti-fungal topical treatment at that point, and an antifungal skin treatment for the nail bed, to prevent reinfection as it grows out. The hope is that the trauma that caused the nail to thicken and lift isn't permanent, and that it re-attaches as it grows! Worth a go if you can't get / don't want oral medication. That said, topical treatments aren't great for very colonised nails, so take an absolute age, or re-occur. That's the main issue with Emtrix as well - it can improve the appearance but has a high rate of fungal nail re-occurrence. Itraconazole oral can have similar if not potentially worse side-effects than terbinafine oral, which is actually pretty well tolerated by most people. The former also has approx 2.5 times chance of the fungal infection re-occurring versus terbinafine (according to some studies)!
Either way, see a podiatrist. :)

Mine are like this OP and it's because of a damaged nail bed - not a fungal infection. There's no certain fix unfortunately. A podiatrist said I could have an operation to remove the whole nail & bed, but this has quite a long recovery time (weeks off your feet) and only has a 50% of success! (I.e. it could grow back just the same) so I decided it wasn't worth it

Absolutely, a thick yellow nail is not always fungal, but where there is a lift from the nail bed, there is a much higher likelihood of fungal infection. A total nail avulsion (removal) where it is chemically cauterised is effective in 90% (depending on the studies) of cases, so approx 10 % regrowth. You are advised to put your feet up on the day of the op; the next couple of days, you can work as normal, but with larger footwear eg crocs, then back to normal after that.
(Sorry to quibble with your assertion above Staringatthewater, but just in case anyone reads this, they need up-to-date information - you had been misinformed!).

Ahhh @StaringAtTheWater I've just realised that you said 'and nail bed' - yes, that op is far more involved. Easier way is via Podiatry Dept and Total Nail Avulsion with phenol - as above!

Unless you have a history of liver function issues I’d ask to see a different GP about this, some are very reluctant to prescribe this medication but I took it after having lots of blood tests to check it was ok and it’s the only thing that’s sorted my nails out.

It is a dangerous medication. Having worked in a ward with patients in liver failure I wouldn’t take terbinafine at all.
Just not worth the risk vs benefit so your gp is very sensible.

I have use Golden seal tincture applied on the nail with great success for a fungal infection.

I have awful thick toenails and I also do a lot of walking, so I think the constant friction is probably the cause.

Cream containing urea applied daily will soften it.

Are your walking boots/shoes long enough and do they fit properly?
I go half a size up in running shoes.

This looks like a fungal infection. You need terbinafine. It’s generic, so shouldn’t cost the earth. If your GP won’t prescribe, consult a different doctor.

Treatment lasts 3-6 months. You need a liver function test before and after. You are not allowed to drink alcohol whilst taking it.

Very effective, so do not let them fob you off.