Toenail fungal infection

I saw and advert on TV about a cure for fungal infection. I am sorry I cant remember what the name was try a search in google I am sure there is a cure. I wouldnt believe what the chiropist says

There are treatments for this but they take up to a year to work - basically you are treating the existing visible nail, but have to do this continuously while the nail grows out.

I use nail varnish to cover up; but this makes it difficult to also treat it as you have to keep taking the nail varnish off to put the gunk on.

One problem is that the fungal infection encourages the nail to become thicker and mis-shapen and this tends towards ingrowing toenail.

All further joys of growing older!

My friend was recommended by the podiatrist to massage the affected nails with T-tree oil. She hasn't yet told me if it's been successful. Worth a try, I should think.

I've been using Vicks and it really does seem to work!

I found that if you use a metal file and file the top surface of the nail it helps with any cure. I tried the tea tree oil and it improved but did not go away. We bought some curanail at the end of last summer and for several weeks I put it around the quick/ growing part of the nail bed frequently. Now some six months later the new parts of the nails ( both big ones) are looking much healthier and I think it has been cured.
Good luck - for years I tried to improve things and used copious amounts of nail varnish.

Bez I've found that too (filing top surface). I've used one of those paint-on things from the chemist - it was quite expensive but seemed to work if applied regularly as instructed.

Paint stuff (Phytex?) from the chemist worked for me too. I used to disguise my toe nails with varnish during the summer but I had to do something when my big toe nail started to come off. It did take several weeks to cure and apparently filing the nail surface (suggested by chemist) speeded things up and now the nail is reattaching itself.

Can you put nail varnish on top of these applications? I wouldn't want to inflict my grim toenails on the GBP!

DH's chiropodist told him to use surgical spirit. You paint it on the nail and between/under the toes using a fresh cotton bud for each nail and each toe. It's taking a long time but it's definitely beginning to work. Also you can put nail varnish on the nails when they're dry.

I went to a chiropodist, I have it in one big toe, she cut it right back and applied heat (cauterise), but it still came back just as bad.

I would love to get it cured.

You used to be able to get oral tablets from the doctor, they were large horse tablets, am sorry but cannot recall the name. Took them for a few months and it went.

I think I'll give Vicks a go. I usually rely on nail polish because my big toes are not a pretty sight.

Three years ago I was in hospital for a hernia op. A doctor brought some students round to look at my toes . I was bloody annoyed when one of them made some rather unkind remarks about my toenails. I gave him 0/10 for bedside manner.

Hi - This is my first post. I had the same problem, thick, ugly toenails. After trying everything I went to my doctors and got prescribed tablets, I think they were called Lamisil. The doctor was reluctant to prescribe them as they are expensive. I had to threaten to go over his head but he eventually apologised and wrote a prescription. They worked perfectly and now I have perfect toenails. I had to wait for them to grow out though. Hope this is helpful.

I went to the chemist initially to get the over the counter treatment that is advertised on the TV, but he wouldn't sell it to me, when he asked if I had the infection on more than one toe and I said I had. He told me I would have to go my GP. But they are reluctant to prescribe tablets because they can affect your kidneys.

I am using Vick at the moment, but I guess I want quick results which 'aint going to happen'! The chiropodist also suggested using surgical spirit in between the toes to keep that area dry and free from infection, she didn't mention it for the nails, but I will give that a try too.

As you say Mishap, all part of the joys of growing old!

Morning everyone..a beautiful morning it is too...Fungi or (funky) toe nail subject...if it is any help at all to anyone...I have had both of my big toe-nails with that problem. Cure..I don`t believe there is one ..however using a file,large or small on the top and end does have an effect as during growth time you are essentially cutting away the growth of the fungi.I have HAD 2 nails affected and by the method described 1 has cured itself and the other is still being treated and is diminishing slowly,so there is a `cure` as such.I contracted mine through having an office chair with roller feet and during one of my rolls along the office wooden floor I crushed one big toe,not severely but enough,and that was enough to create a fungal growth and then it spread to the other foot.Hope this helps in some way.

Thank you Messenger I will give your method a try too.....got to get rid of this somehow it is SO unsightly.......never thought I would get old

You can get Curanail from an online chemist. I did and I paid £14 for it was which was quite a bit cheaper than the local chemist. BUT I have been using it regularly and as instructed since August and I really don't think that there has been much improvement.

You can have laser treatment for fungal nail infections. Expensive, but it's a "one off" session. I'm tempted to give it a go but haven't been able to find anyone who has had it done to get feedback from them.

Why don't you just go to the doc and get a prescription? its easy and works.Job done. My cousin is a podiatrist and she recommends this.Ask your doc if you have any questions?

I found tea tree oil applied daily with a cotton bud sorted the problem. also a lot cheaper than the stuff advertised on TV with small print that say can take 12 months to cure.

I am 63 years old. I have had this on my right big toe and a bit on my left for many many years, since my late 40s. FINALLY I found Dr. Scholls brand topical treatment (they keep it behind the counter at Boots with the Curanail). For some reason they only put their own Boots brand out on the aisle display. It's not cheap but it does last if you use it properly.

It's the only topical one that has worked for me.I tried Vicks, Tea Tree Oil, Listerine, Oregano and Wild Thyme oil. Nothing! Dr Scholls comes with a set of rough nail files that are disposable so you can grind down the surface as you apply the clear liquid with a brush (like nail varnish bottle). Those pesky pen jobs are rubbish as you can't really get under the nail!

After a few weeks of following those instructions about filing the nailbed, you just keep applying the clear liquid daily which dries in 5 mins before putting on footwear. PERSONALLY, I am doing it twice a day, morning and night. Also change your socks/tights EVERY DAY. Don't wear the same shoes every single day. I also use Dr S's athletes' foot powder spray inside my shoes and I use their cracked heel balm. All of these have made a big difference.

It's been 5 months for the toenaisl and after that first month I noticed that when I would clean under the nail of the worst one, that nasty white gunk became powdery and now I don't get any stuff when I scrap under the nails. The toe that wasn't very bad had almost grown out, but because my feet are always next to each other, eg under bedclothes, etc. I am continuing to treat both toes.

I don't grind the tops down now as I don't want to lose the top nailbed (eg have it crumble off from being too thin) and have only a fresh tender first layer underneath...am afraid of getting ingrown nails as the new ones grow out which would hurt when it's still boot and trainer weather. So I just keep trimming straight across the top with clippers, then file the edge smooth with a regular nail file. When it goes, it goes. I might consider those gel nail tubes when that happens.

Hope this helps. I signed on today because it's been so frustrating. My sis in law who has diabetes had this a few years back and her chirod just yanked the nail off! It didn't hurt, but it was summer and she could wear sandals till her new nail grew out. It's too cold for that for me!

PS if your bedmate has it, you both have to be treated. My husband got rid of his first. He'd had it since rugby playing days where toenails got trod and stomped on. Our doctor was going to give us the pills, but we decided to try this insteat. So far...so good. I think in another 3 months the worst toe, the right one, will be finally grown out!

Cheers, Lew

I had this problem with both my large toenails for a long time. I kept it reasonably at bay with tea tree oil, so it was only on part of the nail and covered it with nail varnish. When I asked the doctor, as yummygran said, he warned me that the stuff they prescribe is not good for the kidneys.

Two years ago, I had both my feet operated on for bunions. The fungus has completely disappeared! I have beautiful pink toe nails which I look on with affection every morning. I can't explain it, and I know it's a bit drastic but...

Try Googling for 'onychomycosis' - lots of info there.

I had a bout of it years ago - big toe, left foot. Eventually I asked a pharmacist about it, and he supplied an anti-athlete's foot preparation.

It took some months to do the job, but it never came back again.

Naturally I didn't - ahem - use nail varnish on it...

You surprise me feetle. I thought you were pretty good at expressing the feminine side of your nature...

Interesting info for treatment for fungal nail infection, will investigate further and tell my other-half,who has had this problem for ages and won't go to Drs or Chiropodist!!! Typical man!