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Toe Fungus problems - Help!!

lucylocket61

lucylocket61

Expert
I know this is an icky subject but I have foot fungus. Specifically, white and yellow fungus on my toes. Not dreadful, but constant. I have had it for a couple of years now. :sick:

My Doctor has prescribed lamasil cream twice a day, but its not working after a month. Has anyone got any other, preferably non-medicine based, treatments please?

Also, is this part of being diabetic? I am worried about it today cos i stubbed my big toe and split part of my nail and it stings a bit. No bleeding, but should I keep an eye on it? How will I know if I am in trouble here?

Trying not to panic :(
 
Lucy,I would ask your gp to refer you to a Podiatrist to get your feet checked over, if the big toe gets worse then see your gp asap just to be sure.
 
I've used Daktarin powder for years, to keep the sweaty bits between my toes (and in other places :shock: ) dry and fungus-free.

They do a foot cream and a dry-powder spray, but I always use the ordinary talcum-powder-type foot powder 'cos I can see where I've put it. Most chemists can at least get it for you quickly, if they don't stock it. They are a respectable firm - they do other things that are only availabe on prescription.

This is not an advert - just my own experience! :wink: Other foot powders are available, but they don't work as well for me.

Viv 8)
 
Toe nails are particularly slow growing, you don't cut your toenails as often as fingernails. It will take about a year for you to notice any difference. And no its nothing to do with daibetes. Sportspeaople get them too, my partner has it from his ski boots.
However because you are diabetic you do need to keep an eye to make sure the cut doesn't get any worse.
 
I went to a podiatrist a few months ago to discover I had toe nail fungus. She recommended clear Zal lotion which is working already. Due to see her in a few weeks again but she did say it would take at least a year to completely clear up.
 
You need to see a podiatrist to get this problem resolved. You especially need to see a podiatrist if you have any loss of sensation in your feet.

Until I got my blood sugar back in the normal range I had persistent problems with athletes foot.

until you see a podiatrist there are lots of self help things you can do to manage the problem.

Washing and drying your feet thoroughly is one of them.

Wear natural rather than synthetic socks.

What are your shoes made of? Synthetic shoes will make your feet much more sweaty.

Try to give your feet as much fresh air as possible - but if you have any loss of sensation you need to be very careful about your footwear.

I used tea tree oil on my feet, which was helpful. Someone suggested that a cider vinegar foot soak might be helpful, although I never actually did that.

Problem is, it is in your nails and as others have said, it will take a very long time before you see any progress and treating a nail based fungal infection is a professional job rather than self help, but self help will support the professional treatment. Good luck!
 
See the podiatrist. As a diabetic, you should be able to self refer
Keep blood sugar DOWN, so as to "Starve" the fungus too.
Hana
 
Is it on your toe nail, or your toe? I'm assuming your nail. If so, it will take a long time to sort itself out. You can get over the counter stuff (scholl do one, curanail etc) which are specifically designed for toe nail infections. As the new nail grows through it should, if the treatment is working, be normal and healthy. You can so get these nail lacquers on prescription. If this doesn't work, your doctor will be able to prescribe tablets to help clear things up. Either way, it will take 9-12 months, so you'll need to be patient!

As a last resort, they can remove the toe nail.

Being diabetic increases the risk of developing fungal nail infections, as does spending a lot of time in trainers etc. They can spread to other toes, so make sure you get it treated.

I had one about a year any a half ago. Dropped a champagne bottle on my toe (don't know what was more upsetting - the pain or the fact that the champagne was wasted!). The nail went black and then turned quite brittle and yellow in colour. I had to use a nail treatment for 18 months. It's a bit like a nail varnish. You put it on your nail once a week. Mine cleared just after 10 months but my doctor advised me to keep using for 18 months to stop the infections recurring.

Hope this helps!

Em
 
Hope you can get this sorted. Like others mine took ages to clear up and it's even worse in summer when you want to wear sandals as it looks so yuck. I also tried the stuff you paint on ( I know it's been mentioned by name but it's slipped out of the mind) and also wiped tea tree oil around the nail and surrounding skin. The stuff you paint on has to be used even when you think the fungus has gone as if it comes back it comes back with a vengence. A friend got so fed up he just got the nail removed as it was always causing problems but it is a desperate measure as it takes so long to recover. Good luck :thumbup:
 
i have been prescribed terbinafine tablets, one a day and you can take them for up to 6months if you need. ive had them before i was diagnosed as type 2 and they cleared the problem, but it re-occurred when the gp said to wear a full shoe and i had always worn sandals or flip flops!(to air my feet).
 
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