Home Remedy, OTC or Prescription?

My hubby has suffered from severe athletes foot, moms on this site suggested soaking his feet in apple cider vinegar. He did it every evening for 30 minutes. After a week his feet started healing. And this is after suffering for YEARs with athlete's foot. OTC stuff didn't work and neither did a prescription. Now he soaks his feet once a week or so just for maintenance and we haven't seen it reoccur in many months. My FIL has issues with toenail fungus. He was having a hard time scheduling an appointment to get his prescription, so he gave the vinegar a shot. He said it worked rather well and it has saved him some money on doctors and meds, Since you aren't sure what exactly is going on, a trip to the doctor to confirm your suspicions may not be totally out of line. GL!

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I'd do something a lot simpler than laser treatment especially given the cost. The problem with a nail fungus is that it's often under the nail, and creams don't get to it. You can try an OTC remedy - ask the pharmacist (make sure it's an experienced person and not an intern from the pharmacy school). But I'd watch it for a week and make sure it doesn't get worse. Otherwise, start with the doctor. You could start with your primary care, or you can go to a good podiatrist (you may need a referral, depending on your insurance) - a podiatrist can diagnoses, prescribe if necessary, and also trim that nail as needed, all in one visit.

This is a lot more common than you think so don't get grossed out and have trouble saying it!

You can also supplement nutritionally to help nails and skin, working from the inside out - remember that your skin is your largest organ. You want patented (so it's safe, effective and unique), and something made in the US (not made just anywhere and then a US company puts a label on it. If the label says "distributed by..." that's not enough. You need to know where the plant is located and what the FDA inspections showed. You want liquid nutrition (powder you mix in water, not something pre-mixed because the potency goes down), and not vitamin pills which are not absorbed more than about 25%, and therefore are a waste of money. They may seem cheaper, but if you're only getting 1/4 of it, multiply that cost times 4!! My nails are much healthier since I've been supplementing.

1 mom found this helpful

I don't have that issue, but my sister-in-law who grew up in Florida also drank the liquid supplement I am on. She called within the first month and told me that her toenails were turning normal again. Indeed, it is anti fungal, actually anti everything bad that you don't want. Allows your body to heal itself. She had trouble with toenail fungus for years and years. Instead of thick yellow, they started growing out normally. She was thrilled.

I had a white spot on my big toe several years ago. I let it go for so long that it had taken over half of my big toe nail and my nail was extremely brittle (which is bad considering i get ingrown toe nails on that toe regularly.) I went to CVS and got something called FUNGICURE. It was about 10 dollars for the bottle but i had to try something. I used it every day, twice a day and with in about 3-4 months, it has almost completely gone away. There is still some white spots but i am confident that continuing with that medicine will clear it up completely.

After many years with the same problem I finaly found a doctor who would treat it. I went with the prescription Lamisil and also a topical Lamisil that works like nail polish. It took about 3 months to go away and new nail to grow back but I can now wear sandles again with out being embarrased. The other doctors did not think I needed treatment because they thought I was to old at 45 to worry about wearing sandles so the problem only got worse. The earlier you start treatment the faster you will get rid of it although it will still take some time.

Sounds gross but pee on it. You can treat athletes foot (which is a fungus) with it, might give it a shot.

I've heard that tea tree oil works well. You can also try epsom salt soaks and rubbing minced garlic on the toe.

I would be careful with doing home remedies or even OTC medicine. My dad had a simple injury on his foot turn into a staph infection and almost lost his toe. I would go see a Dr and see what they say.

I second the vinegar. It doesn't have to be a specific kind. You can use white vinegar. It kills the fungus! Just soak in a 50/50 solution with water for 30 minutes at night.

GL!

Soak your nail in tea - the salycillic acid creates an environment that makes it difficult for the fungus to survive. Soak for about 15 min twice a day for one week, then once a day for one week, then every other day for one week, then every 2-3 days the last week. I had a wart on the bottom of my foot and this is what the podiatrist told me to do - I thought he was crazy but it actually worked and it is the same thing he told my husband to do for his nail fungus. My husband also had to take an oral prescription (his was pretty bad) so you may want to see a podiatrist to see how bad it is.

I second the Vick's Vapor rub...it worked great on my mom's nail fungus on her toe. Maybe keep a bandaid with it on it for a week or so and see what happens.

Thanks for asking this! I have had toenail fungus for years but I didn't know that I could do something about it except get a perscription, I don't have insurance so I couldnt afford to do that. I'm so excited to try the vinegar and Vicks remedy. I sure hope it works, thanks again!

My doctor told me to apply vingear twice a day to the affect nail - It worked wonders!!! My nail had actually started to lift off the nail bed. Another recommendation he made is to not wear nail polish for a while. The nail polish traps it on the nail if it is already present. I just applied it with a Q-tip after my morning shower and before I went to bed. I had also hear on Doc Oz that peeing in the shower (I know gross!!) kills fungus on the feet - your natural acid does wonders!!!!! It is the acid that kills the fungus. Good luck!!!

My FIL took the fungal oral med. It made everything taste terrible for the months he took it. On the up side he lost 20 lbs!

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My FIL took the fungal oral med. It made everything taste terrible for the months he took it. On the up side he lost 20 lbs!

One way to get rid of the fungus is to apply Vicks vaper rub all over the nail each night before bed then put a clean dry sock on. Repeat each night. The nail will fall off (time depends on thickness of nail and fungus) Then the new nail will grow back without the fungus. The Vicks smothers the fungus so it doesn't get any air to keep growing. It worked well for my sister and didn't cost much.

Good Luck
D.

Lotrumin (sp) foot spray works for my hubby as well as a foot lotion once the fungus is gone. Make sure your shoes fit properly and you may need to change your socks during the day to reapply the foot spray. Hope this helps Good Luck!

Some nail fungus can be treated with OTC treatments, but others need oral treatments or you can get very sick. I'm a licensed nail technician and I specialize in pedicures. If you were my client I would advise going to the doctor since the nail is splitting. He may still be able to treat it topically, but you need to know how bad it is to decide. Nail fungus thrives in a dark, moist environment. If you wear socks or pantyhose often it will grow faster. The nail needs to get air and it needs to stay dry. Tea Tree oil is a great antiseptic and you could try it or any of the OTC nail fungus treatments but I wouldn't sleep in socks since that keeps it warm, dark and moist. It may get better or at least stop growing, but if it may not completely cure it. Good luck!

Soak your feet in 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water every day for 30 minutes. Then put Vicks Vapo Rub under the toenail and on the toenail every night. It will take a few weeks but this really works and it will grow out clean and healthy. I know-I did it myself. A lot of people I talk to knew this remedy and said it also worked for them!