My infection started when I stupped my big toe witch caused the nail to lift slightly. I ignored it as the bruse dissolved and my pedicures continued I assumed the discoloration was still brusing but realised the nail was still lifting My problem is I can uncomfortably fit a toothpick under te nail and stuff is there. My nail looks fine from cuticle to half way but then lifts the nail itself looks healthy just under it is bad I read all these treatments but how do you fix it when it is under the nail any one else have this type problem and if so what was your treatment By the way Vicks made my toe tingle for hours and I couldnt seem to stop it even with washing I cant see my self doing that for weeks and dealing with the tingle. Im not on the internet often so If you do have a comment relating to this please email me corrinekessler@gmail.com

Hi there. I don't think the problem you are having is a nail fungus, which is quite different from an infection. Frankly, I'd suggest you go to the doctor. I'll bet they can get it taken care of quickly. But I wouldn't mess around with it yourself. JMHO.

Good luck!

Amy

I'm wondering if anyone has tried the vinegar solution for fingernails or the Vicks? I was glueing artificial nails on my fingernails & got a dark discoloration on some of my nails under the artificail nails. My one nail looked green under the fake nail. I removed the fake nails & tried to file it off but it didn't help. I thought that since it looked green it might be mold so I put mildew spray on it but that didn't help.
I'm wondering if you use the vinegar on it, will it work because I wash my hands so many times a day. What do you do with the vicks?.... just spread it on & leave it? I tried putting it on before bed at night but it didn't change at all. During the day I would have the same hand washing issue. Any suggestions? Thanks

Several years ago I had acrylic nails, and once in a while I'd get a few green spots. The nail tech had me soak my fingers in bleach, which took care of it.

Amy

I just came across this site and since I too have a toenail fungal problem, I am glad to see there are some potential cures besides Lamisil which I do not want to take! I did go to the website w/ photo of the infected toenail and I have to say that case looks much better than mine. In fact, I'd never want to photo share these ugly piggies----I just want a solution.
I recently found out I have Candida in my system which is a fungal/yeast problem. I am seeing a naturopath who has me on several herbs/tonics which I must ingest for about 3 weeks. It is much like a detox of sorts because I cannot have sugar, coffee, tea, flour plus numerous other products. I wouldn't doubt that my toe fungus is a part of what is going on with my body.
I will keep you updated on my toe fungus as I progress w/ the Vicks and the vinegar. Wish me luck!!

I once had acrylic nails and underneath the acrylic my nail formed a serious huge green fungus all over my nail. I thought I was going to lose my nail, however after 45 minutes of soaking my nail in a half water half bleach solution, you would have never known I had a fungus. The bleach solution does wonders and you see results right away.

I ran across your website last night (thank goodness!). I used the vingegar last night & this morning. I also decided to get the tea tree oil as well. Interesting about using vicks, too.
Question: Does it hurt to use some or all of the above at the same time - alternating them during the day or just stick to one?
I hope that I can say I have found a cure at last.
Penlac worked for one fingernail - but my big toe nails (which have had this fungus infection for several years - probably caused by many years of having horses & getting wet/dirty boots), just won't clear up.
Thanks!

The only thing I can think of, is that if you use the tea tree oil or Vicks, the greasy or oiliness might not allow the vinegar to penetrate. But perhaps you could use the vinegar first, really let it soak in, then use the other remedies. But before you use the vinegar again, make sure your nails are clean.

Just my two cents :)

Goodl luck!

Hi,

Who knew there would be so much information about toes ;o)

I had a pedicure today and when the polish was removed 1/3 of my big toe nail was yellow and had lifted from the nail bed, almost to the cutical area. She cleaned out underneath - I was amazed she could use her tool so far under my nail. Nevertheless, will this vinegar treatment help me? Two times a day. Do I need to get it under the nail area where it's lifted. Thanks so much.

Hi! Gee, I don't know about a yellow and lifting nail. I'm not a doctor, and that may not be fungal issue. Not sure if these remedies would work or not. You might want to get a diagnosis from a doctor first.

Amy

Some background: I had a big-toe nail fungus when a teen; cured with the pill solution. Then I dropped a board on it and lost the nail (swelling, etc.). The replacement nail was consumed with The Fungus.

Good sites like this were not available then, so I just tried a Clorox soak 2x/daily. One thing I learned, that is really not discussed here, is the topical solutions work best when the nail is thoroughly filed down as much as possible to help the solution penetrate. I actually used a Dremel tool on low and carefully ground off the excess and used a good nail file to get it to a thin point. THIS I think is critical.

See if it makes the difference.

yes, i agree - filing it down seems to help it soak in.
I am glad, too, to have found this site - I was getting desperate, because my toe nails were starting to "crumble" & I couldn't hide it much longer.

Per previous reply I am using vinegar first (when nails are clean from any oil treatments), then applying either vicks or tea tree oil.

I will check this site alot, as it helps me feel better, knowing that I'm not alone.

thanks!

Kerosine is a carcinogen & You wouldn't want to ever put in on Your skin.

Having read with appreciation your thread on this unsightly plague, I am keen to try vinegar.

My nail issues were doubtless sourced in years of nylon stockings and closed heels all day, with a lot of walking. I tried systemic pills, which worked for the toenails, except my legs and then entire body broke out in brown spots the size of dimes. My liver was not handling this well - gee, which would I rather have? Good toenails? or a liver?

So next, I tried the Rx 'Penlac' (TM of the maker), which DOES work but IS pricey. About $800 for a very tiny bottle. What price beauty. I bellied up to 2 bottles, amortizing the cost mentally over 365 days to justify it, but am still choked by the price.

In addition to Penlac, an anti-fungal cream available at large pharmacies plus a Rx 10% urea cream which softens nails and skin to allow better penetration to kill the nasties help. Key to success is cutting off as much of the nail as possible, then filing the nail to be as thin as possible, so medicines can penetrate to the nail bed. Oddly, the physician who first prescribed the Penlac never mentioned filing the nails. This brilliant insight came from a first-rate podiatrist who has helped me greatly improve. I still can't and don't want to paint the toenails. If I do that for a party, the polish comes off right away.

CAE

4 years of serious fighting this thing on 6 of my toenails. Lamisil cleared 3. 2 out of 3 are not too bad. The big toe (as usual) is badly infected. I thought I had beaten it when last year the nail dropped and I bought some lamisil cream. I worked intially, although I probably should have been even more carful drying my nails (with toilet paper to get rif of all of the humidity). A few months after, as the nail was growing healthily, I wored tight shoes which probably heurt the nail (and with the humidity) allowed the fungus to live again.

I have read carefully the posts. I have started using the vinegar solution 2 times a day after cliping the nail back as much as I could, putting white vinegar and some lamisil cream (just for good measure). The exposed area started to hurt a little (tingle) and turn white. Is this a good reaction? I have also bought some Vicks cream that I rub after the vinegart has penetrated/evaporated? How am I doing?

I just found this site and am wondering if anyone else has had my problem. I have had toenail fungus on all 5 left foot nails for at least 20 years. I searched on the internet and found the natural remedies vinegar, tea tree, etc. I first tried vinegar. I faithfully used it twice a day for 6 months and had no luck. Then I tried both vinegar and tea tree oil. I first used vinegar then, when dry, used tea tree oil. That turned the edges of my nails an orange color, but didn't help the fungus. I then went to just tea tree twice a day. I filed the nails down as far as I could and didn't miss a day. In 4 months the only change is the white patches are mostly gone but the yellowing, thickness and rough, almost peeling are still there. I am at a loss. It's been over a year of these treatments with no success. Anyone have any other ideas? I want to wear sandals, too! Thanks!

I think all of you are laboring under a small misconception. Using the standard salad white vinegar from the store is quite useless as look at the % of acetic acid (i.e. AKA "vinegar") in it - hardly any! No don't go out and buy industrial strength restaurant white vinegar either.

The vinegar you should be using for ALL of your ailments (internally and topically) is the type that has been used for last 3,000 years even by ancient Egyptians, namely full strength "APPLE CIDER VINEGAR".

I learned of this catch-all cure-all from a professional chemist at Pfizer Pharmaceutical in Groton CT (i.e. makes Viagra, etc.). He did not want to go on record as "Big Pharma" doesn't want you to use it as stuff like Lamisil and other "wonder" side-affect ridden drugs make them more money!

It appears that doctors are now prescribing drugs based on the drug's advertised SIDE-AFFECTS! Now how irresponsible is that? They say "hey it it works..." JEEZ!

The last poster must have had a very strong fungal infection and was using a very weak version of grocery store vinegar. Go out to a local natural health food store and buy some full strength Apple Cider Vinegar. Apply it topically or soak whatever works. Also try a regular diet of drinking a diluted amount of it too. Not sure how much. You can GOOGLE +"Apple Cider Vinegar" +"Athlete's Foot" (use the plus signs and quote marks for a better search).

I assure you that if taken religiously you may even cure OTHER problems you may have. I hope this helps! (Shhhh keep this quite... you don't want the FDA ($$$) banning this too...).

And the guy/gal telling you to soak your feet in Guinness or beer??? Why not soak your feet in yeast (i.e. a fungus) then? Was that a joke or something?

Spooky

PS - Other natural wonder natural stuff:
1) Garlic - used by ancient Israelites from Bible! Try Japanese Garlique tablets - less smelly that regular garlic. This is viewed as a full-spectrum antibiotic in Russia.

2) Brewer's Yeast/Garlic for your pet's health. 1-pill a day in your pet's food and watch the difference in its hair and general health.

3) Salicylic acid can (common aspirin) - 1 a day will prevent a heart attack and has been known to stop one IN PROGRESS!

4) Hot black coffee - good for diabetics and can stop a asthma attack in progress if you forgot your inhaler.

5) "RED" Zinfandel Wine - ONLY wine great for diabetics who want to drink without endangering themselves. White Zinf not included - too many carbs. Diabetics stay away from Manishevitz- loaded deliberately with sugar!!!

6) Honey is better for a stomach ulcer than anything else. Ulcer's are NOT acid related. They are bacteria related. Honey is a good anti-bacterial.

7) Common Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) - better for indigestion and for brushing teeth. City tap water fluoride is a strong poison and is NOT good for teeth as it can cause fluorosis and all kinds of other health disorders.

8) SPRING WATER from a REAL spring not a bottled water distillery or processed city water. Fluoride is deliberately not filtered out of bottled water nor from those tap water faucet filters. Fluoride is dangerous and is now being denounced by the ADA. You are risking brain damage by continuing to drink city tap and most bottled water. Ever wonder why you can't remember why you walked into a room or forgot what you were just thinking about - and you're only 30~40 yrs old!

"A word to the wise is enough"-Titus M. Plautus 254-184BC

As my post described before, not knowing what was going to work, I tried vinegar, lamisil cream, (even hydrogen peroxide [the contact lend type]), and vicks cream.

I cut back my nail as far back as I could so that what I was putting there would work.

After a week or so, I was able to remove a small patch of whitish (skin and/or ??) from the bed area that was open. I stopped using vinegar as I thought things did not improve after that, as I could see my nail getting worst again at the edge. I am now applying vicks cream religiously to both toenails (with the other, the nail is fully formed, but it is slightly brown and bumpy). I have seen improvements in both. Colour is almost gone in the latter. And the one that's more infected does not seem to show any infection anymore.

Just to help others, when I used vinegar, it was regular white vinegar. I applied it to the open (clipped back) nailbed, then waited to penetrate, then applied the lamisil cream, and waited an hour or so, and then slashed some vinegar to help the lamisil penetrate. I did this for a week. And, as explained earlier, removed the whitish, skin-like part. I have kept my feet out in the open for all that time. I am minimizing any humidity to the nail by putting a bag over the nail (the one that's really infected). Fungus like humidity. Not convinced that vinegar by itself helps, as it is liquid, even though it is acidic. Maybe a stronger acidic solution might be better. I don't know.

I have stopped using the lamisil cream and I am know just using the vicks cream on all the infected nails, applying it a few times in the day. I am using sandals so that no socks can remove the vicks cream.

I've read all your comments and remedies about the green discolration under artificial nails. I'm anxious to try them. My question is do I have to remove my artificial nails before soaking?

In my unprofessional opinion, yes, you should probably remove the artificial nails.

Amy