Get Rid of Toenail Fungus
My latest page is up, all about How to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus, a surpisingly common problem. For someone who loves feet, loves to be barefoot, and doesn’t mind a little dirt between her toes, writing about getting rid of toenail fungus was a little icky (to put it professionally). But, because I understand the importance of having healthy feet to proudly show the world, I perservered and now we have a page designed to help you understand the origins of, take preventative measures against, and ultimately get rid of toenail fungus.
February 26th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Two FDA Registered products manufacturered by Almell Products, Ltd. under the brand Poshe’ in Dallas, Texas.
One is a nail polish — it stays on the nail. The other is a cuticle oil which soothes the surrounding tissue which tends to become irritated. Effective in treating and preventing fungus, mold, yeast, and bacterial infections. These products are very popular professional products, are used extensively in Salons and Spas, and are also recommended and sold by Medical Professionals. They worked for me.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Getting rid of nail fungus is dependent upon the type of fungus, and whether it usually lives on an animal or plant. The two can cross (or at least the plant can cross to an animal, such as my case). When it is an animal-based fungus like athletes foot, over-the-counter medicines will kill it, if they can reach it. If it is a plant-based fungus, these treatments will not affect it. I jammed a splinter of a weed under my thumbnail, and fought the fungus for several years until I painted my house. What I found was that the paint thinner I used to clean my hands cleared the fungus faster than any medicine I tried. It also kills grass and weeds fairly effectively as well. Another thing I found is that if you use hydrogen peroxide as a treatment, it will kill the fungus, but it will also cause the nail to separate, almost like the fungus moves deeper to escape it.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Here’s some more info: I had better results when I just dipped the affected fingers in thinner and left them alone. I treated them about once a week after the paint job. Before that, with the peroxide treatments I was also cutting them way back (because after they separated pretty far, I could), but I think that was a mistake; it only made the problem worse, mis-shaped the nail and chased the fungus deeper inward. No matter what, it takes many weeks to kill the fungus, get the nail to grow out, then to cut the ‘dead’ part of the nail off. But overall, I think much better to dip and leave alone than digging around under it and daily treatments.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:53 am
I have been a sufferer of toenail fungus now for over 32 years. It started when I fell and damaged my big toe and did not get immediate treatment.
Over the next several decades, all toes eventually became infected. Back in the 70’s the only treatment was an oral medication called, “Grisiofulvin” taken daily for a year. My Dr. advised against it because of the liver damage potential.
Then along comes Lamisil in the late 80’s which I tried but the course of treatment wasn’t long enough to completely grow out the nails and physicians are reluctant to give consecutive Rx’s for this medication besides the outrageous cost. I tried it again about 6 years later with the same unsatisfactory results, in between the Lamisil I also tried Sporax which did little either.
I am now trying daily vinegar baths, tea-tree oil and lamisil cream. I agree with Goliad about just doing the treatment and leaving the nails alone to grow out and only clipping as needed. Excessive “digging” and clipping can force the fungus down to the new uninfected areas of the nail.
I understand that the vinegar treatment does work but takes commitment and time. I’m determined to see it through. I’m tired of living with this condition. It’s embarrassing and has interfered with my social life on numerous occasions.
I would caution anyone who goes to CVS or Walgreens and buys OTC fungus “treatments” in the foot care aisle. If you read these carefully they disclaim their own effectiveness on hair and nail infections. They are also fairly expensive. CVS markets one under their brand that cost $14.99! Also read the ingredient list. I found that the first ingredient is water! For that price you can buy a 1 oz bottle of pure tea-trea oil which is actually proven to be effective.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Update on on progress: The paint thinner (mineral spirits) treatment has worked well, but I had to move to daily treatments. Now the fungus is almost completely gone on all sites, and one finger has the nail almost back to the right shape with no sign of reinfection.
Before moving to daily treatments, the weekly interval was too long and the stuff would fight back. One time it made a end-around on both sides on one finger; like fighting an intelligent life form in slow motion. I then came across some treatments for onycholysis (nail separation), which some claim is the cause not the symptom. I think it’s the symptom, because the cause is definitely a pathogen, or this stuff wouldn’t spread thumb to forefinger at the contact point and nowhere else. Once it starts up somewhere, you are playing defense, not offense.
I followed the treatment for onycholysis, which advises to cut all of the dead part off the nail at all times, regardless of the mis-shape (or pain to cut that close in). That really helped, but it was literally an hour-by-hour battle on some days. As soon as you see a white dot on a nail you have to clip it.
The trick is this: Once you start the paint thinner treatment, you will notice the infected part of the nail become almost snow white an hour or so after the treatment, with a lot of white powder looking stuff around the sides and cuticle. You will also notice that if you treat non-infected fingers, there is much less or no white powder residue on them. Go buy new manicure files and cutters, and cut away or file this white part of the nail, all the way into the new nail if you can get there. You may notice a white, powdery area of skin that was under the dead nail. You need to remove this until you see new, pink skin. A cutter usually can get under it, filing it works as well. Elsewhere, file away as much of the white powder as you can reach, and dig it out of the sides of the nails if it is piling up there. Try to buff the nail down to the point you don’t see white powder or dead nail anywhere. This is everyday, and again, sometimes, hour-by-hour. If it sounds ridiculous, it is. But It’s the only way I’ve made progress.
Resist the temptation to give the nail multiple thinner treatments per day. This is too harsh and the nail bed needs some time to recover.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Thanks for the update, Goliad.