Hi,
I ran the San Diego Marathon 8 weeks ago for the second time in a row. My big toenails turned purple for the second time. This year I decided to remove 1 big toenail myself since after 8 weeks the nail was growing outward, and debris was under the nail. Beneath the nail was a black/purple hard tough substance. I have been religously dousing it with tea tree oil, and today some of the purple stuff lifted right off. I cut more of the nail, and poured tea tree oil on it. I have kept my feet for the most part out in the open. I will try apple vinegar, I don't mind not having a toenail, but how long will I have to wait to get rid of this fungus?
C

I finally figured out about 6 weeks ago that I have a toenail fungus in both of my big toes. In the beginning I thought they were just bruised so I covered them up with polish. Big mistake! This only made the fungus even worse. I've been soaking in acv and peroxide and alternating between tea tree oil and vicks. I've been scouring the internet trying to find out anything and everything I can about toenail fungus. I have to admit alot of what I've read can be pretty depressing.

Anyway I was wondering what you would advise that I do with the parts of my toenails that have been damaged by the fungus? Should I just wait till they grow out or go ahead and trim what I can?

Hi there,

My unprofessional suggestion would be to just keep the nails trimmed very short. As the nail grows out, hopefully with treatment you will have healthy nail coming in, and the damaged part can be trimmed off.

Just my two cents :)

Amy

Update on my fungus
After removing most of my big toenail with clippers, I was left with a black blob. After 3 days of applying tea tree oil to the black nail bed most of the blackness fell off.
I started soaking my feet in apple vinegar twice a day. The yellow, crusty debris is gone, but the dried blood from my "runner's toe" stubbornly remains on my nail bed. I'm tempted to scrape it off. I think the fungus came from wearing wet socks, or the swimming pool at my gym.
I highly recommend apple vinegar. In just 3 days I see a visible difference. I read that you need to do the vinegar treatment for 2 months, or the fungus will grow back.
I also read about hydrogen peroxide, another alternative with rapid results. Wish me luck, I'm going away for my summer beach vaction, and I don't want to have to stick my feet in the sand.
C

I have been using the distilled white vinegar - I read this morning that I should be using apple cidar vinegar - which is best?

I honestly don't know. My husband used the white distilled, and it worked. My pesonal thought is that it probably doesn't make that much difference.

I never thought I would post to on this topic! I went 49 years without ever polishing my toenails. I gave in to the urgings of a friend and had a pedicure 9 weeks ago. After 3 treatments including polish, I now have a green spot under my left big toenail. The nail tech said it's fungus. She was able to dig some of the fuzzy stuff out. I didn't see any descriptions of fungus that match what I have, and since I just discovered this yesterday (Saturday) I haven't been to a doc yet. However, I am trying the vinegar in hopes it will work! Has anyone seen green under the toe?

No more pedicures for me!

I haven't seen this, but it does just sound like fungus. If you can't get rid of it, or it if seems infected, you might want to see a Podiatrist. But if it's not bothering you, I would try the vinegar treatment first!

Stacey

I remember many years ago when I used to have acrylic nails, occasionally I would get "greenies" underneath the nails. My nail tech had me soak my nails in bleach, and that always took care of it.

Amy

Type this in http://www.GOOGLE.com "apple cider vinegar" toenail fungus

You will be surprised how much regular vinegar and ACG differ in medicinal potentcy.

Having read all the information about vinegar I decided on something that incorporates two methods. Some say 30 minute soaks 3 times a day with 50% water. Others a few drops on the nail twice a day.

I filed the top of my nail to thin it and have been saturating a small piece of gause, the size of my big toenail, in vinegar and holding it in place with adheshive tape or a bandaid. I keep this on for anywhere from 30 minutes to all day, making sure I allow the nail to dry out each day, of course. 2 drops twice a day just did not seem like enough saturation, especially if you have to put on socks and shoes.

The idea is to keep the nail in an acid environment to inhibit the growth of fungus. Closed shoes are a breeding ground.

So far I have been doing this for 3 weeks and see a difference. I will continue for 6 months.

i'm not sure how to start. does anyone have experience with the two options with the vicks treatment? the traditional ointment or the vicks vapo steam which is 78% alcohol. it seems like the alcohol solution will enable you to reach the parts way under the nail and assure that it will dry out. but maybe the oinment is a stronger solution.

thanks for your response.

guy

When I do a search for remedies for nail fungus, I get 2 makers:

1)Fonoil.com - Forces of Nature
2)Leucatin
3)Lamisil Cream

Yet, I have not found one person give any reviews on either of these 2 products IN THE ENTIRE WORLD even though the makers of it claim to have been around for a "whole 10 years". Has anyone tried these products with any long-term success? I have looked around the Net all day for some reviews, and I'm stumped.

Also, I have read all the posts here on Nail Fungus Remedies, and I have not seen much on Time-Frames of their so-called success. I have ALSO read alot statements from Podiatrists who claim that none of these HomeRemedies actually work at all, and that they prescribe the painful Lamisil and Sporanox with great success (if you can actually stand the drug for longer than 6-8 months). I too had limited success but only could afford about 4 months of Sporanox, and really didn't follow up with Creams or better diets at that time, 7 years ago.

Last week, I got so impatient, I might have torn out too much of my nail root on my big toe while removing my BigToe Nail and one of my Pinky Nails. I have been using Vinegar and Creams for the last week and every other day, scraping off excess yellow skin on the bed. Last question, does cutting this yellow-looking skin (flaky skin) help the situation if I accidentally KNICK the skin, causing it to bleed. Am I opening a wound where fungus can excape to, only later come back?

Anyway, as far as diet goes, I see herbalists recommending Citricidex (Grapefruit Seed Extract) and even better, and twice as expensive, Flora and other Probiotics.

All I know so far is, I have had fungus on 4 of my Toenails, 1 BigToe, 2nd Toe, and both Pinky Toes for over 10 years (ever since I use to clean carpets).

So far, I am not convinced by one single person's so-called remedies ON ANY WEBSITE, and if anyone could give some help on the first 2 products I listed above, that would be great, I know I will be checking back here often.

Hi. I have only just recently realized (or, more accurately, admitted to myself) that I have a toenail fungus. So I have only just recently started to research products. I haven't seen any reviews of those products either. However, I just ordered some Tetrasil cream. I ordered it because it is all natural and supposedly has no side effects and because I live overseas and they ship internationally. I'll post again when I've used it for a couple of weeks. Sorry I can't be more hepful until then. Maybe someone has already tried Tetrasil and can let us know how it works.

ON VICKS RUB:
Does anyone have advice for how to apply it? I have seen that some people rub it all over their feet and then put thin socks on. But some people say socks are bad since they keep your feet warm and moist. Any advice here would be great.

ON FILING NAILS DOWN:
Is this really totally safe to do? I just use a nail file on top of the nail and try to make it as think as possible?

Well, I thought that I would try to keep a little blog going here about how my treatment is going in case it helps anyone.
I have what I think is a minor case of toenail fungus in all of the toes on my left foot and the big toe of the right foot. My skin around the toes is fine.

SYMPTOMS: yellowish color on part of the nail (mostly end and sides), whitish coloring in corner (where injury was) and a little bit of thickening, ridging, and crumbling. Sexy, no?

WHAT I HAVE TRIED: I just started treament last night, but I've seen results already.

1. Clip nails short and reduce thickness of affected nails by filing (to let treatment soak in easier).

2. Clean out gunk from under nails as much as possible.

3. Wash feet and nails, using nail brush, in LOW pH SOAP (less than or equal to 5.5). The pharmacist recommended this. I am not sure what brand would make this in the States but somebody like Phisoderm probably does. I would also recommend using low pH hand soap to avoid infection in those nails. Fungi like a high (basic) pH, so lowering the pH (to acidic) helps prevent new infection and makes it unpleasant for the fungi already there.

4. Dab APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (just called apple vinegar in Europe) all around and under end of nail with q-tip twice per day. Let dry thoroughly (doesn't take long). This, like the soap, lowers the pH. This is supposed to help stop the fungus from spreading and allow new nail to grow out un-infected.

5. I'm trying an OTC TOPICAL OINTMENT that you paint on like nail polish twice per day and remove with nail polish remover twice per week. Let dry thoroughly (again, doesn't take long). This is supposed to actually kill the fungus. But I will have to let the nails grow out, clipping the infected parts along the way, before the fungus is gone.

6. Rub VICKS VAPORUB (called Viks VapoRubN in Europe) all over your feet, especially concentrating around the affected nails. Cover with breathable cotton socks until Vicks is absorbed. Then take socks off for sleeping (to get oxygen to them -- again, fungus hates that). No one is really quite sure why this stuff works, but apparently it does.

7. Wash your hands in low pH soap. Clean under nails with brush (not the same brush you used on your toenails).

8. Use separate clippers, files and brushes for toe and finger nails.

9. Go barefoot or wear sandals as much as possible. By the way, do not put foot powder in your Teva flipflops as I found out this morning. It makes them squeak like crazy!

THE RESULTS: Well, like I said, I have only started this treatment yesterday. But my feet and nails looked noticably better this morning. The affected nails looked cleaner, with fewer white streaks and smaller ridges. And my usually calloused feet were noticably softer. I will write again after a week or so and let you know how it's all working out and if I notice any side affects from the OTC topical ointment.

I have no spleen and cannot take meds that tax my liver so I started searching for alternatives. My case wasn't too bad compared to some but it was upsetting enough that I would not go without socks on to cover my feet. I even slept in socks. Not good for foot health. So I went out and tried several things. First, get a NEW metal nail file that only you will be using. Share with no one. File the top of the affected nails as far as you comfortably can. Second, the white distilled vinegar. WORKS! What I do is put a few drops on a cotton ball, sit the cotton ball on the nail and do whatever you were doing. You start seeing results almost immediately. I did on day #2! Third, go find anti fungal liquid - the one I use has a brush applicator and is called Fungicure. Fourth - I also use Kukui Nut Oil (is easy for me to get since I am in Hawaii but it can be found online, just google it). I put a few drops on AFTER I use the vinegar and a swab of the anti fungal liquid. I usually let the vinegar soak in for a good half hour and the anti fungal as well. Then a couple drops of Kukui Nut oil. I imagine Emu oil would work as well. Or Tea Tree oil. SOME sort of highly absorbant oil at least.
Keep your nails trimmed as short as you can, cut straight across to avoid hangnails and ingrown nails. Keep feet clean. DO NOT USE NAIL POLISH - it just traps the fungi in and keeps them happy! DO NOT cover nails with acrylic ones unless you want added fungus troubles! You very well may end up with double trouble going on that way.
I am no expert, just following some common sense. I stay barefoot as much as possible now, only wearing socks and shoes for work. When at home, its off with the stuff and I will tell you, the results are amazing.

I have had toenail fungus for 14years. The seam of my socks rubbed a sore spot on my cuticle and it grew black. I thought I was looseing my nail, nope the fungus was growing instead. Since then, I've tried everything trying to get rid of it. I have used penlac, lamisil tablets, vinegar, bleach and water, tea tree oil, and many others that I can't think of right now. For the last 18 months I have been on a vinegar regime. It has worked better than anything else. As soon as I started wearing shoes again last winter,however, it all started again. So, I kept using to no avail. Then in June someone told me to use an over the counter athletes foot cream. Any of them would work I was told. So, I bought the lamasil cream. I now use a 50/50 vinegar and peroxide solution, then a 50/50 water and bleach solution, putting them both on, letting it dry then putting as much cream under my nail as possible. I was amazed at what happened. My toenail was thick and raised. Now I have an empty crater under the nail. A good thing as the fungus is dead, I'm assuming. I'm now waiting for the nail to grow out. I was so excited until last week. All of a sudden, I noticed a small spot of white right at the cuticle. Now, I don't know what's going on. Has it started all over again from the cuticle? It was about a half of an inch from growing out. What I don't know, though is how to tell if it is cured? I've never felt what was growing out was really healthy tissue. It sometimes looks, yellowish, others white. Anyone know? I'm committed to curing this horrible menace.

I was reading this line.. "and debris was under the nail. Beneath the nail was a black/purple hard tough substance. I have been religiously dousing it with tea tree oil, and today some of the purple stuff lifted right off. I cut more of the nail, and poured tea tree oil on it." I've been here. From the start it was a fungal itch in the web of my toes. I tried Tea Tree oil on it for months with no change. Then I tried some generic foot cream and it did help. It would come back time and time again. Finally it spread to my... ummm (place where the sun does not shine) and used more cream. Never really getting rid of it for long. Then one week it turned into jock itch gone-wild! Had to call a Doc because I was in extreme pain. He had me use some drugs unknown to me. But they where out at my store. I called again and the Nurse said to use Lamisil and blow-dry the area after washing. In fact it helped! The blow-drying felt so good that I was getting pleasure from the pain... Don't take me wrong; I'm not one of those S&M people. After a few weeks that was gone and life was good. I used the Lamisil on my foot and it never came back. I also used it for weeks. A year later I had an itching issue again on my leg and used Lamisil and it was gone again. Then one day one of my toe nails turned purple and fell off! It's been a 1-year battle trying everything. I did the vinegar, no results on the nail, but did help with the skin. The one thing that works is the Tea Tree oil. I use one drop each morning. At night I trim my nails back as far as I can. Trimming is vital! You must remove the old skin and nails. Wash that toenail with Bleach! Bleach kills everything! Too bad it can hurt the skin if left on for hours. Then bleach the clippers! Bleach those socks! Get new shoes! After that bleach scrubbing and clipping use Lamisil foot cream. It feels to me that we are dealing with the same types of fungus here. It adapts to the groin, foot, nails and even your head and eyes. It lives all over the body. Even something like Dandruff can in some cases be linked to poor nutrition, particularly deficiencies in the mineral zinc. Zinc can be found in food like shellfish (especially oysters), and in turkey, pork, and some nuts. I go walking at nights for 50min and I've lost weight. Try all of that and use that blow dryer after washing should help but be ready to try it all and it might take a year or more to win the battle.

I have a remedy that has worked well. Let me first mention that I did have some luck with vinegar, using it faithfully for over one year. Despite much improvement, it would not fully resolve. I tried tea tree oil with little change. After much research and trying different things here are two things you can do that made a huge difference for me.
1. ALWAYS blow dry your feet WELL immediately after showering or bathing. Apparently, that starves the fungus of necessary moisture. This alone may work for some people.
2. Before bed time apply a salve made of vaseline and tea tree oil liberally to the toes and feet. Then wrap the feet in saran wrap. I use one long piece that I step on lengthwise and pull up and over the foot from all sides. I then take a shorter piece from behind the foot and wrap to the front and top of the foot. (This solved the problem of the wrap falling off at night despite wearing a sock over the wrap). Finally, put a sock on over the wrap and walk CAREFULLY to bed. I remove the sock and wrap in the morning and wipe my feet with baby wipes to remove the vaseline. You will not believe how soft and nice your feet will be. Good luck! Note: I got a huge box of plastic wrap from Costco that was more stable to use than a typical small one. Also, I just added several drops of tea tree oil to a half-full large vaseline jar and mixed it up a bit.

Dear DeborahWilson2 who wrote: toenail fungus - vaporub, may I THANK YOU, for saying that using the vaporub would work within hours. I have been struggling with 2 stupid nail funguses for since my freshman year in high school, I am
currently 23yrs old. I didn't take GYM class to avoid anyone see that, even though I could of covered that with nail polish. You have saved me! How bad has this problem been that I haven't even had sex. One night, frustrated with this problem I decided to search on-line and I wrote "cure: nail fungus". and I ran into this forum. Even though I read the other reviews, and I was about to go for the vinegar option, I was convinced with what DeborahWilson2 wrote, because she said that "literally within hours the nasty crusty whiteness had gone!!!" I was shocked to see how almost cured my nail is!! I am still applying the vaporub in the morning and at night. I applyed the vaporub Friday October 6 and my nail is 80% cured as of today October 8.