18 Month Old Fungus in Toenails?

Updated on May 08, 2009
A.S. asks from Henderson, NV
19 answers

I noticed in the bath tonight that both my daughter's pinky toes are black in the outside corners. I actually noticed this on one side the other night and blew it off as dirt. I tried cleaning them out with no luck and one side even has small tentacle looking things (very small). Has anyone else experienced this? What could it be and what should I do? I feel like I'm at the doctor every other week with her for something (she just went this past week with the flu). If I can cure this at home, I'd like to do so, but if it something serious, then obviously I need to take her in. What your your thoughts?

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E.B.

answers from Las Vegas on

An old fashioned remedy-----Listerine. Yes, the mouthwash. You can apply it with a swab. Usually you would soak the foot in full strength regular (gold Color) Listerine, but you can just apply it with a swab two or three times a day. It really works and safer than an oral medication. My husband had a fungus on a toe nail and after about a week of soaking it disappeared, never to reappear. I recommended this to a friend that has alergies to everything and she got rid of a toe nail fungus too. Besides, it cheaper than an Dr.'s office visit!

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J.E.

answers from San Diego on

Someone already mentioned this, but, Listerine. My daughter had fungus on both her big toe nails (at 1 year) and I just swabbed her toes at night with Listerine and it disappeared. Amazing!

Good luck!

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V.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

http://askwaltstollmd.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html - the author is the MD with alternative twist. it was described on this board, and makes a lot of sense - apply several drops of vinigar every morging and night to the base of the nail, don't wash it off, let it dry. watch the fungus grow away and new one not forming. takes time, no harm to the baby. on the separate note - boost your baby's immunity, this is her body talking "cut down the drugs"
Good Luck
V.

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H.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Wildcrafted oregeno oil. It's pricey, about $25 for a little bottle and worth every single penney. There is a little dropper in it, put on her toe morning and night, make sure she wears socks. Doesn't hurt or anything.

This is the antibiotic doctors have always used until around the 1960s when pricier stuff came out.

I have had the same thing and the doctor wanted me to take prednisone and cortisone. I opted to doing a whole lot of research and have been extremely happy with how well everything cleared up. Toe infections take time to heal, so be patient. It could take several months but she is young so hopefully faster.

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E.B.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

A.,
You have some good advice here. But, I would suggest taking her to the doctor. My son got a fungus that we thought was just athlete's feet on his two big toes. Well, it wasn't, and we found out that humans have 27 possible fungus on their feet. They treated him for one, and he showed some improvement, but it didn't clear it up completely. We went back, he had a culture done and they found out he had two fungus thriving on his toes. Not only did he have to take a antibiotic, but some of his toenails needed to be removed. He was a very clean child, showered all the time, had a clear complexion, and healthy skin. The doctor said that being around other people, stepping where other people step with bare feet, etc. causes exposure. After having the very painful toenail removals, the doctor suggested that he wear sandals with or without socks for a while to let his feet get plenty of fresh air circulating around his toes.

He is fine now, and has never had another problem. But if they had done the culture sooner, he could have treated it differently. So, please have it checked out.

E.

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T.L.

answers from Reno on

I think my daughter at 16 had the same thing and it is a mold or fungus like a wart. The doctor burned it off but it came back again and just needs to grow out as her skin on her heel sluffs off but ask your doctor for sure.
T.
Fernley, NV

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D.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

i would take her to the doc...or skin doc..fungus can spread..u might have to clean your whole house...fungus are slow to grow and slow to go..but not attended to can spread and be bad.

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H.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

If it is a fungus (should be diagnosed by her doctor), you'll probably have to give her medication by mouth. If one has a fungus on their scalp or nails a topical medication will not cure it.

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M.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

My hubby has the same problem and was told by his general doctor that he could use VaporRub because it has eucalyptus and it kills the fungus.

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K.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

i am curious too - m

J.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus: Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine Mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

I had fungus on my feet for years until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Try tea tree oil.... research it online... you may or may not have to dilute it. Using it straight can be strong.
Apply it topically with a cotton ball.

Here's a link on it:
http://www.buyteatreeoil.com/toenail-fungus.html

Good luck,
Susan

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J.M.

answers from Phoenix on

You have some good advice here already, although I don't think I will ever use Listerine again in my mouth if it is so strong that it can remove fungus from tough nails - gross!
I agree with the others, tea tree oil is a natural anti fungal, anti septic remedy. But I would be cautious with it, because many products that you find may not be pure. I use Melaleuca Brand oil (the botanical name for tea tree oil) on my toddler. It is the purest form available.
(ps. Melaleuca also has a natural mouth rinse available if you are now as sick about that comment as I am!)
Contact me if you would like to learn more about where to find it!
Jenny
###-###-####
____@____.com

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C.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi A.,
Sounds like a fungus to me. This foot fungus is probably in the same family as athlete's foot, ring worm and even yeast infections. You can use athlete foot spray on it, yeast infection cream on it, or even a topical ring worm cream and it will work.
Additionally, most health food stores have a topical tea tree oil that you can pain on your nails like nail polish.

K.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would agree with the tea tree oil, it has anti-fungal/yeast/bacterial properties. My sister had fungus on her big toenail, and used a teatree oil spray and it knocked it out in a week. Are you sure it's not just imbedded dirt and dry skin? The dirt can really get hung up there. My son gets stubborn dirt in that area (one of the many) and I use a toe brush w/mild baby soap followed by lotion on the feet.

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J.L.

answers from San Diego on

Hi A., try Tea Tree Oil, or any type of fungus spray should work, unless you can't get to it, I would also let her feet air out, before putting shoes or socks back on her feet. J. L.

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B.B.

answers from San Diego on

Take her to the dermatologist. I'll bet it is not fungus at all. I thought I had it and spent countless hours worrying and $$ on treatments like teatree oil. After seeing a doctor and having it cultured it wasn't fungus and cleared up on it's own.

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D.B.

answers from Honolulu on

You might try applying tea tree oil nightly. db

R.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

My mother had fungus on her toe nail for over a year. That whole time she was using a couple different expensive medicines the doctor prescribed to get rid of it and the meds never worked. She heard about rubbing Vicks Vapor Rub on it and she tried that. The fungus was gone in less then a month and has never returned. It's been a couple of years now. She would rub the Vicks on every night before bed and 1 time during the day, wearing socks to protect.
Just a thought....you might want to take her to the doc just to make sure it is just fungus and not something else.

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