Listerine for Toenail Fungus

Tonenail Fungus

Listerine and vinegar,is it the white or apple cider vineger?
Thank you for People's Pharmacy Pharmacy.

I am a dietbetic and I have a crack under my little toe and I would like to know what I could use to cure it up. I have tried almost everything I can think of.

I am about to start the Listerine soak for my toemails with long-standing fungus plus a recent involvement of three fingernails...not sure it's truly fungus there; could be just old age. I am also troubled by bunionesque calluses on my great toes. Doc gave me samples of Carmol40 which is an excellent softener, but available only through script. Any OTC suggestions? Thank you very much and I will let you know how the Listerine does for my fungi. C. Wise

I read, somewhere on the inernet, about Tree Tee Oil. I have been using this on toe fungus and it is working. Whereever I read it, said that it usually takes 3 months. It has been about one month for me and it is working.

I had problems with cracked, caloused soles and toenail fungus. I had medicine but it did not go very far....one of the items in the medicine was Urea which I believe is a by-product of urine.

SO..........I started soaking my feet in my own urine and WOW!, IT CLEARED UP THE CALOUS, THICK SOLES AND THE TOE NAIL FUNGUS.

I've had great success with tea tree oil on toe nail fungus. Like all treatments, it takes a couple of months (at least) depending how extensive the fungus is. The tea tree oil seems to stop the fungus from growing, then you have to wait for the nail to grow out. I use a q-tip and put the oil all over the affected nail and under the nail. Once or twice a day (and especially after a shower or when feet are wet)The fungus starts to dry out and flakes and falls out. I also cut the nail back into the area the fungus has been removed from. Then you just let the nail grow out (while continuing the treatment).

Editor's Note: Some people are allergic to tea tree oil. Please be cautious when applying to skin!

I had toenail fungus, and the nail was about to come off. My doctor referred me to a podiatrist, but commented that if it weren't so far gone, he would recommend putting Vick's VapoRub on it. Well, I tried it anyhow. Got results within days. Saved a trip to a podiatrist, and three years later the nail is perfect.

I have had a darkish, reddish, yellowish fungus on my big toe for several years (no cracking or pain). It seemed to get worse if I had toenail polish on, or if I would leave the polish on for a long time.

I started putting Vicks VapoRub on it, trying to remember to use it day and night, but sometimes forgetting. I got rid of almost all of the fungus after many months, maybe a year.

Unfortunately, when I used toenail polish again, the fungus returned. I'm trying over-the-counter fungus remover, but without much luck. Maybe I'll try the Listerine and vinegar.

I have been using Vick's VapoRub and hydrogen peroxide for three weeks. My nails look better than I'd ever dreamed!

I discovered I had some toenail fungus on one nail, and wanted to clear it up fast in time for a pedicure appointment at a fancy spa. After reading all the suggestions here, I decided to try the Vick's VapoRub. After just one night, the nail looked almost completely cured!

THIS POST IS A REPLY TO KAEZI posted on Aug 7, 2007......................

Hi Kaezi, I am a licensed nail technician, and what you are explaining doesn't sound like a fungus, it sounds more like just stains from the polish. Reds and darker color polishes especially tend to do that. They usually leave a light-colored tint on the nail plate (usually yellowish/reddish).

Fungus USUALLY (but not always) will have some kind of chalky-looking marks on the nail plate, as well as some sort of lifted area somewhere around the side walls.

I would suggest getting your nail nice and clear again (you could even try buffing it with a medium/fine grit buffing block) and then whenever you paint your nails, always use a base coat polish before the actual colored polish. This creates a barrier between the nail plate and the polish. See if that helps clear up the discoloration.

Also try to change the polish about every 2 weeks or so, as the longer you leave on a polish, the more likely it is to stain, with or without a base coat.

Hope this helps clear things up. :) :)

I was told by a NHS direct nurse that she used Tea Tree Oil (100%, not the mixed) and got good results. So I tried it, and it's working. I'm now taking oral meds too, because I've got two nails with it, but it's keeping it dry but supple...

I like what I see!!! GO TEA TREE!

I caught a fungus from a nail salon! I used topical presription medication for my toenail fungus for 2 years. I started using Listerine about 6 months ago, and after awhile, also hydrogen peroxide. My nails are clear but I have to keep using it. I plan to try Vick's Vaporub as a preventative. Best regards.

Ooil of oregano works great for toenail fungus and a whole slew of others ailments. Used it on infected toenails and the next day noticed a difference.

I picked up toenail fungus after a professional pedicure, and I started treating it with topical fungicides as soon as I noticed symptoms. Lucky for me, things hadn't deteriorated too much. After a few months with no improvement, I started applying Vicks VapoRub twice a day in addition to a once-daily fungicide treatment. There's been a vast improvement within two months, and my nail is close to normal again. So go Vicks!! Why don't doctors tell you this stuff?

I have had good results with wild oregano oil which I've read has good anti-fungal properties. Anyone else using this?

My husband's toenail fungus was terrible. I read your article about using vinegar and water to heal the fungus. My husband started this treatment a few months ago, soaking his feet almost every night. The toenails on one foot are completely healed and the other foot only has one toe left. We are believers in this remedy and love your column. Thanks for giving such good advice.

I had toenail fungus and I put virgin coconut oil on my feet. It is great for the skin and an anti-fungal. It cleared up my fungus! You can buy it at any organic food store. Great for all of your skin and face! Test it to make sure you are not allergic!

I was interested in the commercial for "Lamisil" and asked my doctor if I could try it. (I have classic high blood pressure/diabetes/obesity approx 70 lbs over...) My pharmacist filled the script with generic "Terninafine" 250 mgs--28 tablets per month--which I took whole for 4 months and noticed a marked change in the health of my toe nails. I reduced the dose 1/2 pill per day for the remaining year (8 months) and the fungus in my toes totally disappeared.

I now use 1/4 tablet per day as maintenance, and a side bonus is that my feet no longer have an offensive odor even if I wear shoes in sweaty situations. And a plus is I don't have any side effects with my other meds...

ps. Love your show JaroP

Nothing works for me. My primary MD prescribed Nizoral, and I was extremely allergic to it. Use tea tree oil, oregano, alcohol, nothing works to rid me of the scourge. Now that urine treatment sounds like a winner. Piss on it!
Michael

No one has said whether it's best to use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar for toenail fungus. Would someone please help me with that?

I have had very thick toenails for several years now and had one podiatrist tell me it was a fungus and then another tell me it wasn't, just trauma to my nails. I had a lab test and it came back negative for fungus. So what is causing this thickness of my toenails?

Vinegar: either white or cider. I also found that getting full strength vinegar under the nail got quicker results.

Urine: I have had dry, cracked, patchy dry spells on my hands all of my life and nothing helped long-term. Someone mentioned using my own urine, and I started peeing on the patches out of desperation--IT WORKED! The episodes are far and few between now (mostly happens in winter), and urine did it.

I've been doing the 50/50 Listerine and vinegar for about 2 months, and it is definitely working. The nails on both big toes are 1/2 perfect! Since it is/was an infection, has it been taken care of (and I just have to wait for it to grow out)? Do I have to keep doing the treatment every day?

I tried the listerine treatment a couple times, not long enough to get results. However, I just want to warn people not to use the blue listerine--it turned my feet blue, and it took over a week for the stain to go away!

I developed what I thought was a toenail fungus on my left big toe. It was flaking and calcified. I used Vicks Vaporub on it applied with a Q tip every morning after showering. It started improving after several weeks and after about 4 months it had grown out perfect. It happened again and I used Listerine in same way. The improvement was immediate and it has not returned after more than 12 months.

Once the nail starts growing in nicely, does the treatment need to be continued? Is the infection gone?

I went to the doctor today about my thick yellow pinky toenail and the one next to it on my right foot. He told me I had one of three options. I could use Penlac which is a prescription liquid you apply to the toenail directly, Lamasil, which we've all seen the commercials for but requires a liver test first! or.... VICKS VAPORUB! Yes, the doctor said Vicks! So, I'm starting the remedy today and hopefully this works! He said any of the above-mentioned methods would take about 3 months to see real results. So, I hope this helps someone from a doctor visit or expensive prescription meds!

When I needed treatment for toenail fungus, my doctor suggested I soak my toes in Listerine for 30 minutes a night for thirty days. I sent my husband to Costco for a giant jug of Listerine. He returned with the minty one. It is blue. I figured it would not really make a difference. It did. My feet turned blue and no amount of scrubbing could take the color off. My husband laughed until he cried.

After switching to the regular one, my toenail fungus did clear up, but the nails themselves were very dry.

I've been doing the 50/50 (vinegar & listerine) soak for only 60 seconds per day. It's working. You don't have to soak for 30 minutes. Maybe the vinegar is keeping the nail from being too dry. It's growing in nicely.

Thanks for the tip! I haven't tried using vinegar/listerine yet but it sounds promising. I've been using Tee Tree Oil and that's more expensive to use on toenail fungus.

I tried Crest mouthwash, and the stuff under the nail got weak and soft, so I used a steel nail filer to remove it, and then I soaked them in alcohol.

That was just today and my nails looks better than before. It's not completely cured, but it's a start.

I have a fungus on the left big toenail and tried tea tree oil on 2 separate occasions. Both times, the skin along one side of the toenail opened into a deep fissure -- about 1/4 of an inch deep!! It was not painful but definitely scary. The fissure closed within a day or so after stopping this treatment. I'm glad it works for some, but it certainly didn't work for me. Vick's salve also did not work and I tried it for about 2 months.
I will try the listerine and vinegar mixture next.

The problem with all this info is it doesn't really address the extent of fungus in the nail(s). Is this a superficial infection? Distal involvement? Total involvement? One nail? Multiple?

This is an infection. It's contagious. It has to be treated asap. By a doctor, not your nail tech.

Vicks worked for my toenail fungus, but now I have a black toenail, not the same toe. Can you give me a remedy please? Enjoy your column each week.

I am interested in the details of the listerine cure. The fungus is unsightly, so I like to keep my toenails polished. Will this cure be able to penetrate if my nails are polished!?

Thanks,

Allyson

After 4 months of applying Vicks every night before bedtime, nothing has changed except the color of the nails is no longer yellow but gray with a black outline. And the nails have begun to split on some toes. will wait two more months and then try somethng else... has anyone stated they used the Listerine and Vicks or Listerine/Vinegar and Vicks? Just curiouse since Vicks leaves nail moist.

This is all great to read, thought I was the only one with this. Was shocked to see my big toenails (after having polish removed) had lifted and yellowed. Since then have heard using Horticultural Oatmeal in a soak will cure toenail fungus, also smearing over-the-counter vaginal yeast infection medication on feet/toes daily helps to cure this too. Haven't tried either one yet. Anyone know where to find horticultural oatmeal? Thanks!

Thanks for the tip on using Scope! I had three toes with fungus. Began dabbing with Scope on a kleenex 4 days ago -- it is remarkedly better. Will report back after a few weeks. I can tell it is improving. and also thanks for mentioning about washing your nail clippers after each use. Appreciate all the tips. from: healing.....

I had four very infected nails, Penlac is a prescription that works well. It is like nail polish, trim the affected nail back as far as possible (mine were half gone) then thin the nail bed down using a small nail sanding block( this gets the medication through the nail bed), paint the nail one coat daily, on the 6th day remove it with polish remover. It is tough to get out of the edges, use a tool from the beauty supply store that has a scraping end, continue daily, and it's important to paint the nail bed where the nail used to be attached, it will grow back but can take 6 months.

My Dr said Penlac doesn't have a high success rate, but I think that's because the directions are poor. By thinning the nail, using it daily and removing it thoroughly, plus trimming growth back so it can grow in properly - makes all the difference.

Why all the comments about toenails?

The fingernails on my right hand seem to have some kind of fungus. Should what may help for toes apply to fingernails?

AH

this column recommends Listerine for just about everything under the sun. It really appears that there is some ad placement dollars at work. Isn't Listerine just alcohol menthol and eucalyptus?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE:
THE PEOPLE'S PHARMACY ACCEPTS NO FUNDS FROM ANY PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, INCLUDING THE MAKERS OF LISTERINE. THE SUGGESTIONS FOR USE COME FROM READERS.

I've had fungus on my toenail for as long as i can remember. I've tried many treatments but nothing seems to help. Now that I'm getting older I'm embarrassed to show my feet i usually cover them up with nail polish but now it has infected all my other nails. I been using Tea Tree Oil and I'm not seeing any results. :[

I tried Vicks for a month and things only got worse. I'm trying to halt this toenail fungus' progression, and I think Vicks kept the nails too moist, encouraging fungal growth and not preventing it.

I've now switched to methods which allow the nail to be dry most of the time. A 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide/white vinegar for 30 mintes (sometimes twice a day) seems to be doing something good, but I'm also using 100% tea tree oil. Since hydrgoen peroxide and Listerine are both antiseptics (Listerine having more umph, I believe), I may switch to half Listerine as suggested here.

It seems to come down to:
- Some sort of antiseptic / antifungal agent (hydrogen peroxide or Listerin are the two options mention so far in this post)
- pH changing agent (vinegar to increase the acidity of your nailbed to at least hinder further growth of fungus) (On that note, it shouldn't matter what kind of vinegar you apply externally, but consuming apple cidar vinegar is an age-old remedy for lots of things - including nail fungus)

For those interested in oils, I've been reading a lot about it. Tea tree oil is a great antifungal, but apparently it isn't readily absorbed by keratin or living tissue, so it works best on surfaces like the top layer of your skin. Since we're trying reach our nailbed beneath our keratin nail, a 'carrier' oil should be mixed that is readily absorbed and that will carry the tea tree oil with it. I'm going to try dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Also, lavender oil apparently encourages healing of skin tissue, so I'm going to add that as well. Apparently tea tree oil + lavendar is a common mixture, so all I'm really doing is adding a carrier. There many, many oils to choose from, some mentioned in this forum, but these are the ones I most commonly read about.

I'm also drinking two tablespoons of apple cidar vinegar in a glass of water per day, and eating as much garlic as I can (I'm considering garlic tablets). I feel like a hippie, but if all this solves my problem of toenail fungus... then I can deal with it. :)

I feel cheated for having contracted this. Is it a crime for wearing shoes to school, to work, at school, at work, home again, and then to slip into slippers during a cold Canadian winter? Apparently.

Thanks for this info, I have tried Tea Tree oil, oregeno oil, lamisil, rubbing alc.,files, grinders, creams,chlorine, amonnia have started listerine treatments. looking for positive results. Thanks

I've tried several home remedies over several years, including Vicks, vaginal creams, listerine solo. Nothing has worked. I'm now trying the listerine and vinegar bath several times a day along with mostly going barefoot/sandles(around the house) as often as possible.

I've read several post that say the fungus turns black when it is dead.

How do you know if what you are doing is effective? I see that the yellowish tint of the nail is now gone, and the nails look clear, but I've not seen any signs of black, or any signs of the fungus disappearing, other than the yellow is gone. Are there any other signs of progress?

If the nail grows from the cuticle up, then should you be looking for the new nail at the cuticle to be clear non ridged? Does this mean the new growth is fungus free?

As for filing the nails, is this necessary? Do you spread any fungus by filing them down? Does anyone think this works?

I feel I don't have near the fungus problem that I've seen and read about, but still having trouble determining if I am making any progress with my new regiment(1 week now).

I had a small patch of fungus on my chest. I've tried a few ointments from the dermatologist, but it continued. I recently have been applying a small amount of white vinegar to the area and there is no more red scaling spot any longer.

WOuld love to ready responses to my questions.

I have had fungus on my nails for years, it hasn't been noticible till recently and feel i need to nip it in the bud before things get worse,so I will try GOLD listerine and vicks both to see if it helps.Thanks for the warning about the blue listering,lolol.

Margaret,

On the topic of filing: I think many people who file have much worse fungus than yourself, to the point that their nail is thick and white/yellow, and anything they put on the surface doesn't stand a chance of getting to the nail bed (hence they file to make it thinner). Don’t file your nail so short that the fleshy tip gets red and agitated, because then you could (as I did) mistake it for more fungus and get into a viscous circle of filing. Your nails are allowed to have a bit of white at the tip (so I read; it's natural).

To avoid the fungus spreading due to filing, I try to keep the filing residue off of any other toes, use disposable files and ALWAYS dowse ALL my toes in isopropyl alcohol afterwards. Regular soap is NOT antifungal, it is only antibacterial! Read the fine print of anti-fungal sulphur soap before using it. I did, and now I won’t use it.

It's tough to tell what works for you and what doesn't, but a week isn't enough time. The yellow tint on my nails never turned black either, it just returned to white after a couple weeks. My one nail which is clearly very infected (thick and yellow) has never turned black, but has improved at least superficially. From what I read, you should probably keep doing what you're doing for a few weeks after everything looks normal, then do it once a week or something for prevention's sake. You can be sure that if I’m ever clear of toenail fungus, I’ll be soaking my feet in vinegar a couple times a month!

Are you fair skinned (very white)? I am, and my doctor says that we're prone to fungal infections for some reason (you mentioned fungus on your chest). My guess is a lack of sunshine, since we avoid it because we burn so easily. That would also explain why vitamin E reportedly helps against toenail fungus. Recurring fungal issues are probably a sign of an internal issue, not just an external one (straight from the mouths of an ND I’ve seen, a podiatrist and my GP). Perhaps you should read into an anti-candida dietary ‘cleans’, or just changes in your diet in general.

I think a fail-proof solution to toenail fungus is good foot hygiene. Wear sandals outside (expose your toes to sunlight!), go barefoot when you can, use a vitamin E or A cream on your feet to keep them healthy, don’t let your nails get too long (and on that note, only wear shoes that really fit), wash the insoles of your shoes at least once a month (my podiatrist says once a week!), avoid synthetic footwear... the list goes on.

G'luck!

I went to my regular spa for my 6 weekly pedi only to discover that once the polish was removed one of my big toe nails was lifting. The nail tech suggested Vicks, I have been plastering it on like crazy - only been two days but the idea of loosing a big toe nail just in time for summer sandals freaks me out. I am pleased to see that others have had results with Vicks - I am not off to the pharmacy to get Listerine - the brown one. I will keep you posted

can u reuse your vinegar and listerine mix or make a fresh batch every time?!?!?!

I have had fungus on a big toe for at least 10 years. The podiatrist I went to three different times insisted it was not fungus. The nail stopped growing out and grew in thickness instead. I never have to trim the length. Finally I went to a podiatrist who said it was fungus and I took Lamisil for the required time. It did nothing. My family doctor just says I'm basically stuck with it. I will try some of these remedies and see if it helps. Has anyone had the same luck with Lamisil that I did? It is so expensive, I feel that I was taken.

I took Lamisil several years ago, for about 3 times longer than recommended, under my internist's supervision. It did NOTHING. Recently, I saw one podiatrist who sent a piece of the nail to a lab and told me they reported "no evidence of fungus." I am now seeing a different podiatrist. He said that many of the labs simply do a microscopic examination of the nail sample. However, in order to really check for fungus, they need to do a culture. This takes a couple of weeks. I am still waiting for my results and then we will formulate a plan of action. The new podiatrist says he prefers something else to Lamisil, but I don't remember the name of it.

I have used tea tree oil with very good success, though. I think it may have cleared up the fungus, but I still have very thick nails, which are a problem in themselves. Get it at a health food store and get a dropper to apply it with. It's cheap and easy to use, the only drawback is smelling like turpentine. Try to dig out all the soft fungus stuff from under the nail - be gentle! - so the tea tree oil can get to the problem area.

Got "Colorado River Fungus" on toe nails in 1954 Yuma, AZ in Air Force. Used every medical prescription/over the counter, including internal tablets twice. For six weeks I poured Listerine on my toes (athletic socks) every morning. I stopped for a month to see what happened. FOR THE FIRST TIME great improvement. No more painful condition nor bloody toes in a trim. Have returned to the practice and now confident that I will finally succeed in a cure!

I am so glad i found this site. I am also I read all of it to be sure and not get the blue Listerine! So glad you told me about the blue feet although the way mine look it might be an improvement. i am going to get Listerine tomorrow. Will keep you posted on how it works.

Well, girls, I have tried it all. But the best solution is soaking your toenails in a mixture of hazelnut oil, lemon rind, a little vinegar and olive oil. Then, after a few minutes, rinse and wash off. Afterwards, give your toes a little whippin' and make sure the little toe doesn't sneak away and hide. Give that big toe a stern look and tell it to behave. Then take a couple of swigs of Jim Beam and remember the Alamo. Sing the Yellow Rose of Texas and salute the good 'ol flag of the USA. Tell your toe jam to split and that, my dear ladies, will cure your fungus toes for good. If for any reason you doubt this, then ask my dear friend Iris and she will tell you to add one more thing: a vacation to Hawaii and walk on the sands of Maui for a month and a half. That is all I know. God Bless.

You should always use the apple cider vinegar.

For my toenail fungus, I used CAN-SOL (CAN.-SOL) made by PURE HERBS LTD, 48312, sold by herbal practitioners. 30 drops 3x/day in water. It kills the candida which is the root cause of nail fungus. I could see a difference in 2 wks, cleared up in 3-4 months.

To Pat (4/26): I have taken Lamisil for 2 separate 3-month courses and am now trying it for 6 months. I take methotrexate for arthritis, which slows my healing a lot, so I'm sure that's not helping--but my rheumatologist said he's only seen Lamisil work on 2 of his patients (out of more than 20 who tried it). I have been using Fungoid (miconazole) tincture and have also tried VapoRub--over 1 month and still no change. Will try Listerine and vinegar.

My doctor told me I had a bad case of toe nail fungus. I got a small bowl and a bottle of listerine. I soaked my toes in the listerine every morning while doing my hair. (Approx. 5 minutes) My nails cleared up in 3 months.
My husband also used it. He soaked his nails while watching T.V. This has been a great cure and does not cost a lot. I have told a lot of my friends about this and they have also had great results.

I don't believe you should use home remedies for nail fungus. The right thing to do is go to your doc for some Terbisil, Lamisil and Batrafen.

I have what looks like a black spot under my big toenail and my nail feels just a tiny bit loose. Is this fungus?

I don't recall my toenail getting thicker or halving or cracking. It looks just like all the others.

THANK YOU!

I have had good results using the Listerine treatment... but instead of the more expensive Listerine, use the store brand equivelent. It cleared up last summer, and after using nail polish, it popped up again on the same toe. I did some research when it came back, and read that because nail polish can hold the moisture in it, it can create a good growing ground for fungus. In reading about fungus, also most sites recommend thinning the nail a bit, and keeping it trimmed short so that medication can better penetrate. I put the mouthwash in a Tupperware type container with a lid, and reuse it. Because of an immune system problem & all the other meds I take, my dr. was reluctant to put me on meds for the fungus... sure glad I read about the Listerine!

When you do the 50/50 solution of listerine (gold) and vinager, what kind of vinegar do you use? Apple cider, red, white? I'd appreciate knowing. Thanks, Sharon

I'm going to try the Listerine soak. Both of my big toes are lifting... should I cut them off as much as possible and stay away from polish for the duration?
Thanks

I was prescribed Lamisil, which I took religiously for a year. It did not work... not even a little bit. I have heard about the Listerine treatment before. I'm going to give it a try.

I have had this foot fungus for about a year. Because I have suffered from a chronic illness, the lamisil medication will be more of a problem for my internal organs. My doctor will not prescribe it to me. Since reading all of the entries today, I will begin the vinegar and listerine and see where this goes. I'm so embarrassed about my toes that I don't wear any open toe shoes. Hopefully this remedy will work so I can wear my open toes for my college graduation by 2010.

I've had the fungus on the big toe and little toe of my right foot for 15 years. Odd it hasn't spread to other toes. After over-the-counter stuff didn't work, I tried Vicks, and it worked like a champ! But once my toes looked healthy, the fungus came back, and this time Vicks wouldn't work. I tried Listerine and vinegar too, and it had no effect. Neither did hydrogen peroxide. I guess I'll shoot for tree tea oil.

Check the wiki for info on thymol and camphor and turpentine oil. What fungi can possibly survive that chemical onslaught? I would imagine the oils soften the nails and allow the thymol to go about its business.. by the way, that's what's in vicks vaporub.. trying it out now!

Beware of using the oil of oregano---it makes you and your house smell like the inside of the Subway Restaurant. The odor is ridiculous, and it did not clear up the toe fungus.

I have toenail fungus after I dropped a desk on my toes and broke four of them. I tried all the remedies and none of them worked, so I cut off my toenails, but I still have the fungus! Anyone else experience fungus after toenails removed? I live in Florida and would love to wear sandals again!

I'VE BEEN READING THE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THIS SITE FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS NOW. I HAVE HAD THE FUNGUS FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS AND WAS TOO SCARED TO TRY LAMISIL BECAUSE OF THE LIVER. I RECENTLY STARTED USING THE HOME REMEDIES SUCH AS THE WHITE VINEGAR, VICKS VAPORUB, LISTERINE, PEROXIDE AND THE TINEACIDE CREAM. I SWITCH ON AND OFF WITH WHAT I USE I.E IN THE A.M. I USE THE VINEGAR SPRAY, AND NIGHT THE CREAM, TWICE A WEEK I USE THE PER.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY IMPROVEMENT YET, AND I'M FEELING KINDA OVERWHEMLED BY ALL OF IT. I HAVE BEEN FILING AND CLIPPING EVERY OTHER DAY, BUT MY QUESTION IS HOW LONG SHOULD IT TAKE BEFORE I SEE ANY KIND OF IMPROVEMENT, AND WHAT DO I LOOK FOR? ALL I'VE SEE SO FAR WAS BLACK UNDER MY TOENAIL. WHAT IS THIS, AND WHAT MADE IT SUDDENLY SURFACE??ANY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE SO HELPFUL AND ENCOURAGING :)

I have tried soaking my foot in apple cider vinegar but actually lost my big toenail from it,tried terbinafine 250 for 2 differant 3 month sessions and nothing seems to work.My big toe nail still hasn't grown back.HELP!!!

i had a friend with toenail fungus that used Vick's vapor rub. he just put it all over his toes and then socks at night to protect the bed and keep the rub on. it took a few months but it worked!

I am so glad to find this website! I tried tea tree oil all winter and it did nothing (one toenail is very bad). My doctor prescribed the generic lamisil and it did nothing. I have a couple more weeks of pills but I thought I should see an improvement by now. This "bad" toenail still hasn't grown and looks just as ugly. I will go to the grocery store today and buy listerine & apple cider vinegar. I'm now noticing more toenails that are starting with the fungus. It's as if the lamisil actually spread it (?)

re Carol Wise's query about an OTC softener, I have had fairly good success with CalleX in softening up thickened and hard skin on the tips of my toes, especially my great toes. This product is labeled for "dry, cracked feet". It is available at regular drugstores in the foot care section.

Have cleared toenail fungus with Antibiotic Ointment in days. This also works great for cuts and pimples.

My brother (64 years old) and I (65) both have toenail fungus and have for years. My wife, with whom I live, does not have fungus and we share the shower without any disinfectant between showers.

Could predisposition to fungal infection be genetic ala what I've read about cancer? I've not seen this addressed anywhere else but seems to make sense to me.

I read somewhere that high pH is toxic to fungus/molds. Is it possible that the ammonia in urine is what's killing the fungus? I wonder if a bit of windex on the toes, or baking soda will help. I'll try it and let you know. I'll start with some baking soda paste.

**VINEGAR BEWARE**Well, I DID NOT have a good result with pure apple cider vinegar. In fact it spread from one big toe nail to the other one. GRRRR! the infected nail looks worse than ever. Is pure vinegar TOO strong? It might break down the protiens 2 much thereby enabling the fungus to go CRAZY . VINEGAR BEWARE

I have a fungus under my big toenails. I started using Listerine, White Vinegar and warm water to soak my feet in. i just started tonight, and soaked them for 1/2 hour. they are very clean and feel great, and sort of tingly. I hope this works! I really hate the look of my toenails and miss wearing sandals.

The nail on my little toe came off while I was giving myself a pedicure. I didn't think much of it until a week later I noticed that another nail was cracked and peeling off. Then I did a search on the web and learned that nail fungus is the culprit.

I have been soaking my toes in apple cider vinegar twice a day for 20 minutes each time for the past 10 days. After the soak, I rinse thoroughly, towel dry and apply hydrogen peroxide allowing it to air dry. I have noticed a great improvement. Another website recommends that this be continued until the new nail grows back and I intend to do this as a precaution. Thanks to everyone for your comments it has been of great help!

This is for Eloise Slaughter: I worked in an E.R. for many years and suffered from really cracked, dry fingers, especially in the winter. One of the docs suggested superglue and told me that's what rock climbers use for their chalk-dried hands. It worked! It covered my cuts and gave the skin time to heal.

Later, doctors started using a professionally made glue for minor facial cuts.

I've also used a combination of liquid bandages and steri strips for facial cuts when my father refused to go to the E.R. after a fall.

Hope this helps.

Consider Manuka oil. It is stronger than Tea Tree oil. If I diligently use it neat two times a day, I start to see my toe nails grow out clear. Due to my own lack of discipline in applying it every day for the full 3 months, I haven't cleared all my toe nails up yet, but I have had two (out of five) nails clear up. In the past I tried the Nizoral tablets and they just stressed my liver and didn't clear up the fungus from my toe nails.

I have fungus on one-third of my finger nail. OTC medicine is not working.
I will try the Tea tree oil.

I file down my infected toe nails to flatten them since they grow very thick. I only file them down once in a while. After I shower I dry my feet and apply a product called Blue Goo Nail Fungus Triple Relief (purchased from Wal-Mart) to my nails. It's active ingredients are Tea Tree Oil and Clotrimazole. I've been doing this for a couple of weeks and only one nail (my pinky toenail) has shown any result. It has turned a dark brown color. Anyone know if that's a good result or a bad result?

I have had toenail fungus for at least 6 years and it has stayed in just one of my big toenails, never spread to the others or to my family. Vicks is very effective to a point. I can get most of the nail off (when couples with weekly filing) and get it looking good but it stops there, before it is completely gone and a new nail can begin. So I will go tonight and buy what I need for the Listerine/Vinegar bath. Wish me luck.

BTW While an avid filer, the dust has never infected another nail. It seems the fungus is not as contagious as they all say. Just tough to get rid of. Also, it seems that athletes foot always accompanies the toenail problem.

Just love the site. Thanks to you people supporting this great project.

RE: Nail Fungus Treatments

I read every blogger's response to this condition, with interest, since I too tried to eradicate what I imagined to be a nail fungus—without success. While I'm an advocate of homeopathic treatments, I feel it's important to note that the condition of one's nails is an important indicator of one's overall health - dermatologists know this to be true. Not all hardened, discolored and/or nail detachments are the result of a fungus. About three years ago I noticed my fingernails and toenails becoming thicker, pitted, chalky and even experienced the beginnings of toenail detachment. I tried many anti-fungal solutions and none resolved these issues. In the last two years my finger joints had become red and inflamed, and the ends of my fingers grew progressively more crooked. After visiting several doctors and finally, a knowledgeable rheumatologist, I was sorry to learn my condition is the result of psoriatic arthritis - an autoimmune disease, most often genetically inherited. Fortunately, I now benefit from a new kind of pharmaceutical, (the only one known to slow the progression of this chronic disease, and possibly halt joint degeneration). I'm grateful it was diagnosed before more and irrevocable damage occurred. Be certain what you are treating is truly fungus, and not symptoms of a serious ailment. BTW - People's Pharmacy is a top-flight source for discovering helpful alternative healing solutions, thank you People's Pharmacy.

After working at a Greenhouse/Nursey I have toenail fugus on all 10 nails. Big toe is the worse! Only have half a nail there. It burns and hurts..I have been rubbing Vick's twice a day. But NO IMPROVEMENT! I have been scrubbing toenails with a old tooth brush with listerine also. Guess vinegar is my last hope. I did go to the doctor but he more or less said i will have to live with it...Errrrr

I used prescribed meds from the podiatrist for 6 years and had no success. I started using tea tree oil 2 times daily and soaked my foot nightly in listerine and vinegar. One nail is excellent now and am still working on the big toenail.
I put about 2-3 oz. each of listerine and vinegar in a gallon ziplock bag, have a towel handy and soak my foot while watching t.v. I just rezip and reuse several times.
You can also use this option while traveling.

I discovered that applying a listerine soaked cottonball or gauze directly onto the nail for 10-15mins twice a day and applying tee tree oil (the nail saver solution) directly onto and around the nail after the listerine treatment cured my toenail infection in 3 weeks. The infected nail sloughed off and new growth had already begun during the treatment. (The toenail had just started with the yellowish discoloration halfway up the nail.)

I took Lamisil for months and the fungus cleared. But after a while the fungus returned much worse than before. I am now trying full strength Listerine.

A Doctor told me today that the fungus will not enter the body and is basically a cosmetic problem, He also said watch out for Lamisil; it will have an affect on the liver. He also claimed that all of the over the counter remedies do not work. I know, conundrum city. I will keep trying, the nails are unsightly.

Guess I caught the toe-nail infection at a 'gym-spa' in Europe... After reading on the web about Listerine and vinegar, I started using the solution on a 4 to 1 parts. Overnight, the white on the toe nail almost disappeared yet, not completely. It has been two weeks and still, I cannot seem to get rid of it.

So...I've started using Camphor-Phenique since it is a fungus combative solution (of sorts!) It appeared to work splendidly on the first day. But not much progress after that. I am still using it.
Thanks to all the suggestions and input from everyone on this subject and to the Web for making it available to everyone!
THANKS!
jay

After suffering from the nail fungus for about 10 years off and on I have tried just about every prescription and home remedy. I find that lamisil is very hard on my body and causes me extreme neck and back pain and overall lethargy through the day and with all this I found it gave me only limited results.

Sporanox which I believe is stronger and taken for only a short one week duration and then repeated in month intervals for 3 months seemed to work better without the horrible painful side effects. As for topical solutions I found that the Tea Tree Oil to be too strong and actually may cause the problem to get worse.

Some people say to dilute with water and soak in the solution. The Vicks seemed to give only limited results and because it changes the color of the nails it is hard to measure any improvement. The best solution I have found and have used to clear and clean up the fungus is to soak the feet in urine. The urea in the urine seems to offer great improvement to the condition.

There is an immediate improvement in the appearance of the nails because the urine seems to eat off all the "dead" parts of the infected nails. The other noninfected nails seem to strengthen from this and the skin on both the tops and bottoms of the feet softens and becomes callus free. I have read other sites that say to soak twice a day for 15 min but I tend to soak for about 30min when I can and have been pleased with the results. I would be careful not to soak too long and let the nails become too soft. Also it is a urea solution that doctors have you use to soften a very infected nail for nonsurgical removal.

I have also suffered from toenail fungus for many years since I had a toenail procedure for chronic ingrown toenails. I have lost toenails on both big toes due to accidents - one recently.

I am wondering if any of these remedies work best or are recommended soon after a toenail is removed?

The podiatrist who removed my toenail recommended Vicks Vaporub or tea tree oil after the nail begins to grow out. The nail is just beginning to grow and I do not want to do anything that will prevent growth.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I read about the Vicks Vapo-Rub treatment and applied it every morning and night for 3 years. All it did was soften my toenails. Now I'm going to try a mixture of Vicks, Listerine, Coconut Oil, & Tea Tree Oil, and, of course, prayer...

I've been suffering from nail fungus for 30+ years and have tried all the prescription treatments out there---Sporanox, Lamisil, Penlac to name a the most popular.

I have almost 100% involvement of all toes so Penlac proved very expensive for me to use and the others weren't effective once the medication was stopped.

Like many others I haven't received much understanding or help from the medical profession who's attitude has been that I should learn to live with the fungus and paint my toenails.

At one point I had write to my insurance company because they had denied my claim because the condition is considered a "vanity" issue. Just thinking about that response angers me. My nails were so thick and painful that I had to use a dremel tool to file them down.

This summer, after a vacation on cape cod where I spent the week digging my toes in the sand to hide them, I debated trying another go of Lamisil but then decided that I was first going to look for alternative treatments and home remedies. That's when I found this website.

I initially started with white vinegar soak because that's what I had on hand. To that I added two applications a day with a Q-tip of Tea Tree oil. Since starting, I have also tried separate soaks of peroxide and pinesol

I have not tried using Vicks or Listerine. I'm wary abuot using Vicks because it's greasy and may actually hold moisture in, creating the beneficial conditions that the fungus needs to grow.

Before I begin to soak, I file the nail to increase the ability of the vinegar to penetrate and I clip the nails as they grow out, trying to get as much of the fungus growth as I can and then swabbing the freshly cut nail with 91% rubbing alcohol.

It has been just about a month since I started this regimen and already the smaller toenails are growing out without any fungus. All of the nails have lost the foul smell that they had from the debris which accumulates underneath and now smell like tea tree oil, so I think that's a good sign.

I would recommend that anyone starting this routine make sure that they practice very good foot hygeine which includes rotating shoes so they can air out between wearings; sprinkling antifungal foot powder in shoes after taking them off and changing socks or hosiery everyday. Use paper towels for each foot and toss them, rather than terry towels which can stay damp.

I'm waging war on this fungus and I'm optimistic about the outcome. I know it will take many months before the last big toe is completely grown out and it may never look "pedi-pefect" again, but I can live with that.

I've had a toenail fungus on my big toe for years due to an accident that caused me to lose my nail. It's been thick and yellow ever since. I have been using Tea Tree Oil for a few weeks now, I brush it on my toenail when I get home from work every night. I also apply Vicks Vapor Rub to the nail every morning after I shower. It's only been a month but I already see a difference. The nail isn't as yellow as it used to be. I can't wait until it's 100% cleared up, then I can finally wear sandals again in the summer!

Hi, I am a 21-year-old college student, and I have not had a "normal" big toenail on my left foot since I was 14. It came off when I was a freshman in high school as I was removing nail polish. Since then, the toenail has grown back (with fungus) over and over and then repeatedly fallen back off.

I went to a podiatrist once, who prescribed me paint-on medication that did not make any difference at all. The toenail continued to grow back rough and a yellow-brown color. It was unsightly and embarrassing, especially in high school.

In the summers I kept it covered with a bandaid. As I got older I discovered that I could buy fake nails from Wal-mart and glue them over my ugly toenail. To say the least, my toenail was annoying and bothersome. I often said if I could change anything, I would just want pretty feet.

About a year ago, a friend's mom told me that she had heard of someone using tea tree oil on fungus. I tried this for a few months. Again, I thought the toenail was growing in clear but then it would just fall off again. I gave up on the tea tree oil.

However, I thought maybe there were other suggestions that might really work, so I got online and found many websites like this one. I was skeptical, but I thought anything was worth a try. I went out the next day and bought Listerine, Vicks VapoRub, and white vinegar (the off-brand of all 3). This was at the beginning of June (4 months ago). Since then, I have soaked my toenails for thirty minutes a day in a mixture of equal amounts of Listerine and vinegar.

I use the same mixture for several nights before discarding. At night I put the Vicks on my toenails and put socks on to sleep (the Vicks does stain your socks!). Because I have been using the Vicks and the Listerine, I don't know which is actually curing my toenail, but something is working!

My big toenail is almost completely grown out and it is completely healthy. (Although it did take a while for it to start growing in like that.) I cannot believe that it has worked so well. I honestly thought that I would never have a pretty toenail again. Thank you to the ones who have posted about this. I hope this post will help someone. Feel free to ask me questions, and I'll tell you what I know from my experience.

Because fungus is stimulated by warm, moist environments, I got to thinking that maybe cold would have the opposite effect. I have been soaking my hand in ice water, and I have found it to provide immediate relief.

i have been using listerine and alcohol 50/50 soak at night..what i do is soak a cotton ball in the solution then tape to my toe with electrical tape at night and during the day use vicks vapo rub on my toes with a bandaide to make sure the rub stays on...been a month seeing great results the key to it is not to miss a day of treatment...

Toenail Fungus

I put Vick's Vapo Rub on my toenails each night for a month, and all my toenails softened and grew in a distorted way.

I now have ingrown toenails and I still have toenail fungus. JAW

For those of you that are soaking your feet in the Listerine/Vinegar mixture, do you discard or save the solution after each soaking? Listerine is pretty pricey.

There is a new product called "Listerine Whitening" that has Oxigen Peroxide - H2O2, in its formula. So if you were gonna use this mix with vinegar, maybe this peroxide would act even better.

Answer for : Michael Fay |

>No one has said whether it's best to use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar...

I guess it is the acetic acid from the vinegar that makes the difference.

Remember that no treatment will endure if you do not adopt the correct preventive measures, as drying your toes after shower, throwing away old socks, avoid humidity and confination on your toe nails, etc.. maybe if the treatment goes well but the fungus recurred, it could be a NEW infection, from old habits...

I've had a toe nail fungus on my right big toe and the next toe as well as my left big toe for years although I never realized it was a fungus until just recently - I thought it was b/c I wear closed toe shoes most of the time. I keep my toes polished and never noticed any lifting around the edge nearest the fungus, nor had there been any thickening until just recently.

Over the last couple of years I began working at a hospital as an RT and I'm on my feet for 12 hour shifts 3-4 nights a week. Since that time, the fungus and subsequent thickening of the toe nails has increased substantially. Podiatrist prescribed Lamasil which isn't working very well, but more importantly, he DID NOT check liver function, nor did he tell me to have a test done at my PCP! Needless to say, I'm stopping the lamasil and trying the listerine, vicks vapor rub and tea tree oil!!

I have had the toenail fungus in one of my big toes for years. A couple of years ago I went to the foot doctor and he prescribed an ointment that I tried until it ran out. No effect. I was reluctant to use the drugs because of the potentially serious side effects. I read about the listerine treatment, and about three months ago I began soaking my toe in store brand generic listerine. I soak it once a day for 20 minutes. In a few days the area under my nail turned a deep green. Then as my nail has grown out, the green patch has followed it, and healthy looking nail is coming in behind it. The green patch is almost all grown out, and the rest of my nail looks normal. The listerine treatment worked for me. I'm now working on my own theory to see if Scotch will take care of my gout.

I contracted a fungus in my left thumb nail 4 yrs ago.I took Lamisil for a while. I used OTC nail medications. I have soaked it in peroxide.The nail would improve, grow back, and then the infection would start all over. I suppose I just learned to live with it, and stopped treating it altogether.This has been going on for 4 years. Over the last 6 months, the nail has shrunk to the size of the nail on the small finger, is growing in a V, and over to one side of my thumb.

Once a month, the skin turns white on one side, and if punctured, pus comes out. Has anyone had this problem, and if so, will the nail ever recover and grow back as a normal size nail? I wish I had not given up on the condition. The nail really looks sad.

I had bad toenail fungus for several years on both great toes and pinky toes. This was so embarrassing for me as I was only 33 or so when it started. My doctor finally ordered the Lamasil for me after years of trying to get it through V.A. The doctor told me it had to be hurting me and I said it does get infected and have a hang nail ever so often. Well, after risking my liver because I have Gilbert's Syndrome which effects the liver, I took the pills and three months later they look a little better but not quite healed. I am trying listerine, vinegar soak, and then Vick's vapo rub. Make sure you dry between your toes good! I will keep you posted as to rather or not the nails grow out to normal.

It's Horticultural Corn meal (or Corn Meal Gluten)

I've heard of this, but I'm not sure of the application. I think it's mixed with water and used as a soak.

I'd google it to be sure.

As far as i know there is no horticultural application for oatmeal. But CMG is a -big- one.

I have had toenail fungus for 2 years and decided to try the Listerine treatment. I have wrapped my toenail with cotton wool soaked in Listerine and then taped to my nail for the past 8 weeks. The results are fantastic....The new growth is now halfway up my nail and is perfectly clean. I did not mix anything with the Listerine and I have only treated the fungus every other night. Fully recommend anyone with a fungal problem to try it...it really works

I have been using vicks with no luck. tried vinegar (white) with no luck. took lamisil no luck and now i will try the listerine. My fingers are crossed!

This is my first time visiting your website. I truly enjoyed your site and also, became excited after reading the various comments. I wonder is there anyone that might have this problem. I clean my feet daily, morning and at night; however, my problem is my skin color turns "white" between each of my end toes. I have no idea what is causing this. Is there anyone else experiencing this problem? If so, what's good to use for treatment? Anxious to hear!

I had fungus in several toenails, and have had great success with tea tree oil. I've been applying it morning and night for several months. The fungus is gone except for one big toenail, and I'm still working on that. Thanks for the suggestion!

Dr permanently removed my toe nail against my direction. I learned that he used phenol on the nail. I went to a nail specialist to see if he knew of any way to help my nail regrow. He said that phenol is not always effective and to wait 5 -6 months and see what happens.
Has anyone had nail regrowth after phenol? I am very upset about this.

Had fungus for several years, tried Vicks, then quit when it looked like the fungus was over, (it wasn't) Got the Lamisil, for three weeks my stomach killed me, couldn't eat a thing, just wanted to sit and sleep, no energy, Now I am doing the Listerine, seems to be working great, Of course if you don't throw away all your shoes and slippers that you wear bare-footed, you are just reinfecting. And I caught if from a friend who used my shower, so I chlorox that before and after. LYNN

I took Terbinafine 250 MG (generic $4. Walmart) 3months. Started on April 15. It had all my toes. Big toes were bad then babes. middle toes just starting. After 3 months I could see the pink half moon coming in. I called my doctor and asked about my shoes and socks. Because they are now carriers. She said I could bleach the soxs. I threw them out. Now the tough part this hurt. She said throw out all shoes I have worn without soxs. That was like a thousands pairs. I'm trying to see if I soak them in bleach will they be ok. I soaked them in rubbing alcohol, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide. Does anyone know if it works and kills the fungus for good in your shoes? I can't bring myself to do it. Yet I know I will. Does any one know if something works?

Thanks for the feed back. great place to learn.

Had athlete's foot for several years. Nothing worked, including Lamasil pill prescriptions and OTC medicines. As nail fungus and Athletes foot are the same fungus, I soaked in Listerine for 20 minutes every nite for a month. The athlete's foot is gone. I still soak for 20 minutes 3x per week, and so far, no recurrences, and no foot odor. Also wiping the underarm and crotch area with Listerine after a shower eliminates odor from sweat better than deodorant.

I have had a white growth on one large toe since about age 14 (38 years). It's slowly taken over more of the nail. A dermatologist told me to apply Lamisil cream to my toenail. I tried that for a few months and noticed some reduction in the white part, but then started have severe pain - it would hurt when the sheet touched my toe nail. So I stopped and the white area got bigger. Has anyone else experienced pain with the infection? I guess I'll try Listerine and/or vinegar.

Listerine works! Put my mom's feet in plastic bag with 50/50 listerine and water and soaked for 15 minutes daily. Her feet began to look better than my face.
Baby Oil in bath water does works,no soap.

I developed a fungus on 4 of my fingernails after having acrylic nails. I tried the Nonyx gel and soaking with vinegar/peroxide solution. Then I read about Tea Tree oil. You have to use the "pure" Tea Tree oil, applying it with a Q-tip 2 times a day. At night, I added Vick's Vaporub on a bandaid and left it on all night. It takes about 2 weeks to see progress. An entire nail takes 6 months to grow out, so depending on how far the fungus has gone down, you may clear it up quickly. You do have to be religious about the routine, however. That's the only way it will work!

I have had fungus in my right big toe for several years. The doctor put me on oral Lamasil for 3 months, but that did not work. After that he prescribed Penlac or ciclopirox 8% and I have applied that to the nail daily for almost 2 years. The new nail has come back about half way but now my prescription service is refusing to refill my ciclopirox until a new lab test shows the fungus is still there.

The lab test would cost me over $200, so I'll try other remedies. So I have just ordered ZetaClear on the web and will try that for 4 months, since it is at least less expensive than another lab test. If that doesn't work I'll try Vicks VapoRub, Listerine, urine soaks, or the other things mentioned on the web site. My question is whether taking so long to get rid of the fungus is a danger sign perhaps of poor immunity?

I have dealt with this problem once before, when my partner developed it, and recognized the odor immediately and took action by using miconazole, fungal foot powder, bleaching shower and spraying EVERYTHING with Lysol, as often as possible...seems like the candida albicannus yeast organism is affected by what destroys it; never had to use it, but wouldn't the pure aloe plant work?

I use it for everything from burns to infections and swear by it. The leaf should be clean, split, and the gel scraped out & applied has no known adverse reactions, stems pain, promotes healing of skin cells and penetrates. I would suggest wearing socks to bed, as it can stain some fabric, also, plain yogurt works for yeast bacteria as well...this stuff does spread and the odor will attach to anywhere you put your feet.

Catching it early, prompt and constant disinfecting, as well as conditioning seems like it will keep it from propagating and I still stay vigilant about any sign of return, which, after a year has not. Washing sheets, towels, and sneakers in bleach is a must and although tedious...it's worth it. Hope this helps.

I have had a fungus for a few years on my big toenail. I am pretty sure I got it in Yoga class. That's when I noticed my toenail was yellowing/lifting. Anyway, I tried Penlac for 7 months. I cut away all of the dead toenail and put that stuff on religiously. My toenail hasn't reattached. I was prescribed an oral anti fungal but I chickened out b/c I was worried about side effects and that monthly liver check really made me feel uneasy about what it could do to my body.

After that, I tried Nail RX from native remedies (tea tree oil/lemongrass). I put it on for 2 months, but when I ran out I didn't get anymore. I did notice that everyday I would pull out lots of dead gunk. I'm hoping that's the fungus and that my toenail just needs to grow out again. It's not reattached yet, but does that take up to a year as the new toenail comes in? The toenail itself is obviously damaged and must grow out. I'm hoping that it reattaches b/c I honestly don't know if it's cured or not until that happens.

I can say that I noticed a little lifting on my other big toe, which I attribute to the fungus spreading to that foot. I put the Nail Rx on that side and it is no longer lifting and nothing is there. It was just a little yellowing/lifting in the corner. So apparently it worked for that mild case. It's been 6 months since I've stopped the herbal remedy...I will try listerine/vicks now and just wait and see I guess. I wish toenails didn't grow so darn slow! Thanks for the advice!

I am laughing so hard. i wish i would of read this more before soaking my feet in GREEN listerene. oh my goodness my feet are green, now I have to explain this to my husband.. oh jeez

NAIL FUNGUS CURED: When my toenails began showing signs of toe fungus. It was about 2 years before I started doing anything about it. When they started really turning yellow and getting thick, I began keeping my toenails painted with clear toenail polish. As my nails grew, I would use nail polish remover (with acetone) and re apply the clear polish. After about 4 months I noticed considerable improvement in my nails. I then went and had a pedicure and the woman did them the same way a woman has her fake nails done. By the time I had taken the fake nails off, the fungus was completely gone. i have been fungus free now for 7 years.

My REAL experience and thoughts on toenail fungus. 1-23-2009

I have had fungus on my right big toenail for over 13 years. It started with an accident where I lost my toenail. I never gave it much thought as I was healthy and my nail did not bother me. Two years ago I decided to try to CURE my nail problem. I didn't even know what it was at first. My Dr. stated the pill would be the only effective means to cure the fungus. Liver risk and cost. No thanks.

I have tried many of the nonsense "home remedies" listed. Maybe some will work with minor or just starting out fungus.???

Some of these remedies did improve the physical look of the nail and one seemed like it may actually work ( I do not want to advertise the brand because it did not cure), but when it all boiled down to a CURE, nothing worked! I file my nail, soaked it and applied topical medications consistently! No CURE!

The fungus is in the nail bed too, deep under where topical medications cannot get to it. The only way to get to it is through the blood stream which means the pill. Maybe if you sat around for a year with no footwear and soaked in one of these "home remedies" for 45 minute, three times a day, it might work. Most people I know do not have time for this. There is no quick cure either. It takes months with the best treatment process out there.

Do not waste your time or money on these home remedies or bought gimmicks cures. They do NOT work!

I'm going to live with the fungus, and if it ever starts to really bother me, I'll use the pills.

I'm having problems in getting any good results. Could it be because I wear the same house slippers everyday? Could my slippers carry the fungus? They are the only things my feet go into without good socks.

Okay, working on fingernail fungus for about a year. Started with the vinegar soak, vinegar, an acid, kills fungus. Sounded reasonable, but no difference. Then tried the Vicks routine. Sleeping with Vicks on your hand is a riot. Wore a sock over my hand, my husband said it was like sleeping with a sock puppet, then I started making it talk, etc. No difference.

Then tried the lotrimin, lamisil routine with no difference. Read somewhere it could be a yeast fungus infection so started using the stuff for yeast infections and the sock puppet routine again. Nothing. Broke down and ordered the tea tree oil, again the sock puppet and this stuff smells. No difference.

Lo and behold I wind up with ringworm. I'm a teacher and it is easy to get from kids. When I googled ringworm it mentioned ringworm of the nails, hmm, nail fungus, so I put the cream the doctor gave me on my fingers and wow, improvement. It is called clotrimazole and betamethasone dipropionate. After a few weeks my three finger nails look almost normal.

I have had toenail fungus for years and by far the best treatment I have ever done is the beer/vinegar/acidophilus soak and then afterwards apply tea tree oil. The one big problem with this type of treatment is that it is extremely time-consuming so it's tough to keep up with.

I have never head of Listerine as a treatment so I might check into that.

I refuse to take the pills. First of all the success rate of the pills is poor at best and is NOT a cure. Success rates aren't very high for the pills. Often times the fungus will return. And to have your liver monitored while you take a pill for toenail fungus? Uh, not thanks. Beware of drug companies who fashion these types of designer drugs.

I just discovered this site, and I am going to try the vinegar listerine combo. I have been trying applying diluted bleach. No one mentions using bleach. Any comments why? JMB

I have gone through this for years and I'm just a child....for years i been thinking what's wrong with me??? Well i went to the doctor and she recommended lamisil... I haven't finished my month yet and have seen no result yet but hopefully it works!!! I'm supposed to take it for 3 months and good luck to me... i want to try the Listerine remedy too. Do you think I should or would it effect me???

I wouldn't recommend taking Lamisil it is hard on the liver and it's too expensive. There are many good home remedies that will work just as well without hurting your liver or your wallet.

One remedy that's worked for me is using Tea Tree Nail Saver. I've been putting it on my nails every other day for several weeks now and it's definitely working. I see a huge improvement in the color of the nails, they are no longer bright yellow! And they're not as brittle and thick anymore.

By summertime I will be able to go barefoot without having to paint my nails to hide the fungus, hurray!

I need to know if the nails need to be filed down, clipped away as much as possible or what, before using the Listerine, Vicks, Tee Tree Oil or Oregano or anything else recommended here. I'm thinking the results might be quicker if there is not much left there to begin with and the new nail can come out or through with no impediments or obstacles, but then again, what do I know?

Yes you will want to clip and file as much of the nail as possible. This way the stuff you put on the nail will go in deeper into the nail. I will be starting Listerine/vinegar, and applying tea tree oil, and another otc medicine to see if I can finally get rid of this. I will post up here with my results.

Most comments I have read here -and haven't read all of them... seem to deal with toenails so I'm wondering do fingernails of a young child get fungus or is this possibly something else? He has had these rough scaly nails for months now and his parents don't seem concerned! The big toe is also this way, I didn't look really closely, so maybe all the toes are affected.

My husband has tried a variety of home cures for nail fungus including Listerne and Vinegar. After a while the nail would look better and he would quit doctoring it. This last time I gave him a bottle of Oil of Oregano (with a dropper)and he started applying on the end of the toenail (not the bed). Finally with this treatment the nail came off so hopefully when the nail grows out again it will be free of fungus.

i have a fungul infection that started from trauma to left big toe and spread over the years to all other toenails. Tea tree oil,vicks and listerine didnt work but white vinegar 5% acidity worked! I filed my nails twice a day and applied vinegar with a q tip to each toenail untill saturated once in morning and once at night, fast results! Make sure you use clean nail file time..

Hi all,
I have had a really bad infection on both feet for about 10-12 years. So ugly. I have tried various topical remedies and took oral drugs too.

I had some success with an Australian product Loceryl, got clear of it on one nail. I also used orange oil for a while a few years ago given to me by a naturopath. It did seem to work in the same way that vinegar does- drying out the fungus.

Now I am trying the vinegar solution. I have been doing it about 6 weeks, trying to soak my feet as much as possible on days I am working at home, and trying to get some vinegar on them other days. I must admit, some days I don't get the vinegar onto them.

I have also been filing them and cutting them down like crazy, trying to remove as much of the fungus as possible physically. I think the vinegar is soaking into my skin really well, but it still seems that the nail bed- the bit under the skin at the start of the nail, is sill infiltrated with fungus. On the plus side, I feel like the Vinegar causes the fungus to swell and dry out to a whitish crust rather than a thick yellow chunk under the nail, which I guess looks likes it is dying. Could someone who has successfully used vinegar advise me as to whether this whitening and drying is a sign of progress?
Thanks

I have been using a daily 15 minute fingernail soak using 1:1 vinegar and the Wal Mart Equate version of Listerine followed by an application of Equate brand medicated chest rub. It is working. I have been making pictures to show the progress:

http://www.geocities.com/kewl022/27_days.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/kewl022/62_days.jpg

do i have to take the nail polish off my nails to use any of these remedys?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: YES.

Had toenail fungus on one big toe for many years. Had tried Lamisil and other medicines to no avail, and resigned myself to just living with it. After such years, a friend told me about the Vicks Vapor Rub cure that he read about on peoples pharmacy. I applied it every evening for less than a week, and the fungus has amazingly totally disappeared.

I asked my gyn about a white toenail I have. (1 nail) She confirmed it was fungus and referred my to a podiatrist. I called the podiatrist. I was told that the treatment took 6 months to work, that all 10 toes had to be treated with a laser...and cost would be $750!!! I'm trying vicks tonite and buying listerine and vinegar tomorrow!

I've had thickening and yellowing big toenails for a couple of years now, and one of them started to shear in half across the nail. As far as nails go, they are not the worst I've seen, but I decided to do something about it. The skin around and between my toes has also become very dry and flaky lately.

It's interesting reading about the different remedies on here, but being a pessimist I figured that the only way anything is really going to work is if it has antifungal properties. While I can't speak for Vicks or Listerine in that regard, I do know that cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil is packed with Lauric Acid - a well known gentle giant in terms of its antifungal (and other anti-) properties.

After clipping and thinning my nails, I applied some directly to the nails and as far underneath the nail as I could with a cotton swab. I also rubbed some oil into my feet to try and moisturize the skin.

After the first application, I was sold and ordered a large jar. It doesn't smell strong at all, practically melts into the skin, and you can eat it - 1 tablespoon per day for me!

After a couple of weeks, I can tell you now - the flaky skin is no more, and I can already see a difference in the appearance of the nail.

I used hydrogen peroxide for 4 months and it made my toenails look good but my doctor said I was just bleaching it out and the fungus was still there. So I tried tree oil for 4 months and it did nothing at all. I just started using Vicks and OMG it is working already!

OTC Creams
Listerine
Vicks
Tea Tree Oil
Coconut Oil
Vinegar
Bleach
Peroxide (H2O2)

Rub it, wrap it, soak it…what the heck do you do? Well, sites like this are great, but also confusing. Sure, some people will have more success with one treatment over another, but more to personal circumstances than the "infection" and "treatment" combo. The facts are pretty simple:

1. Toenail fungus can be cured by compounds with "anti-" properties (Creams, Listerine, Vicks, Tea Tree Oil, Coconut Oil)
2. Fungus does not like rapid and extended changes in pH (Vinegar, Bleach, Peroxide)
3. The fungus (if that is what it is) can only be cured IF the treatment gets to it

Some people with toenail toenail fungus are the innocent victim having contracted it from somebody else. However, the majority of people with fungal or yellowing, thickening, smelly nails have them simply because they do not look after their feet and nails at all. I certainly didn’t.

I had thickening and yellowing big toe nails, which I thought might be a fungus. I'd had it for over 2 years, but it hadn't got any worse, nor had it got any better. I did the usual Vicks treatment with a combo of Tea Trea Oil on the nail, along with soaks. However, prior to all that I thoroughly washed, exfoliated, dried, and then moisturised my feet with Coconut Oil. I then trimmed my nails back as much as possible, cleaned under the nails, and filed away the rough surfaces. This attention alone made a HUGE difference to the appearance of my nails.

I continued a bit with the usual remedies, but what I also did was spend 5 or 10 minutes every day ensuring my feet were clean, moisturised, with clean trimmed nails. I have now stopped the mythical treatments and simply do what everybody should:

- Wash and scrub your feet every single day, get rid of thick hard skin
- Ensure your feet are thoroughly dry after washing, especially between the toes (I use Cuticura medicated talc)
- Clip and clean under the nails
- Moisturize your feet daily with something like Coconut Oil (cold pressed virgin, not the refined stuff)
- Consider a foot soak two or three times a week (tub of hot water, 20 drops of Tea Tree Oil, cup of white vinegar, other essential oil of your choice for scent)
- Let your feet breathe as much as possible when indoors (bare foot, cotton socks, sandals etc.)
- If your footwear smells offensive (there is a difference between sweaty trainers and infected trainers), either wash them, spray with a treatment, or ideally throw them away and buy new ones.
- Try not to wear the same footwear two days in a row to give it time to dry out
- Change your socks at least daily, ideally after you get home from work/school

I guess for me, I was lucky in that I maybe didn't have a fungal infection, or if I did, it was mild. I appreciate that some people will have a very obvious infection, and if so, you need to do the above good practice as well as religiously follow a topical treatment regime of your choice until the infection has grown out (a year or more for some people). If one thing doesn’t appear to work after a few weeks, try something else. Whatever you do, make sure you understand the methods and the risks for each, and if you are unsure, speak to a medical professional.

Remember, prevention is always better than the cure, but often takes the most amount of work in the long-term. It's easy to leave things to rot and fester ;o)

Good Luck!

All my toes have a fungus. I file the tops down
so my shoes don't hurt my toes. I started using
Blue goo nail fungus triple relief. How long should
I use it and do the nails fall off or turn brown?
Then what do I do if that happens?

LR, depending on how bad your nails are, they may or may not come away from the base. If they do, that's good, because you can really get the to problem area then, and treat it well.

Reducing the effects of the fungus can happen in a matter of days or weeks if you use some of the remedies that have been mentioned already (vicks, listerine, vinegar, tea tree oil etc.). All or part of the nail may turn brown/black as the fungus dies, and you should see new clean growth from the root.

Be patient though - a bad fungus infection can take many months to grow out (basically, however long it takes your new nail to grow). But, don't just stop there. Continue treatment for a few weeks after you think it has all gone, and then continue a reduced regime as a preventative measure.

You would be well advised to throw away all of your old socks and footwear once you have got rid of the fungus to further minimize the chance of recurrence.

Lots of people make the mistake of just returning back to their old ways once things look better. It's like people who yo-yo diet - it never works. You need to stick at it and make it part of your lifestyle regime.

Good luck!

I'm curious about nail polish worsening a toenail fungal condition. Can anyone clarify the connection here? Thank you.

Epsom Salts

I tried Listerine and White Vinegar for the first time this past Saturday. I wasn't sure about the correct amounts, so I ran a basin of hot water (enough to cover up to my ankles) and used a cup of both. Well, after about twenty minutes of soaking, my toe nails were incredibly easy to trim, for the first time in years. I was so happy, I wanted to tell all of the people in church (many of whom I know suffer with foot fungus). But, I want to try this a few more times before I am truly sold. My feet haven't felt this good in years though. To think, after all of the over-the-counter solutions for so many years, I knock the problem out with Listerine and Vinegar! Amazing!

TEA TREE OIL is the answer!!! I cured about 5 of my nails by just applying tea tree oil every night. Thanks to this website!!

I successfully used 25% oregano oil, 50% tea tree oil & 25% neutral oil.

Painted it on twice a day for 6 months and was cured, after having tried many other things for years. Periodically dead skin would shed from toe, as oils are drying, but the new skin was soft and nice underneath.
I now use a mix of vinegar & alcohol daily to prevent recurrence.
BUT- do I dare go back to toenail polish????

I have had the fungus on my nails for over ten years now. They are on every nail on my left foot. The podiatrist suggested I soak in Pau D'arco tea twice a day for twenty minutes and add tea tree oil on top of it. I am trying this out!

I've been dealing with infections on both my big toes for months now. I never thought to do anything about it until I saw cracks across both nails. For three months I have been filing my nails, soaking them at least once daily in Listerine, applying Vicks whenever I need to put socks on (and when I go to bed), and spraying my shoes with antifungal/anti-odor powder spray. I didn't see any improvement until recently, and I am thrilled!

My nails had stopped growing before I started treatment, and now they are finally growing out again. Right near the nail bed I can see new nail growth - pink, shiny, and clear. Keep in mind that there are different types of infections, and the amount of infection is different for each person. Therefore, if your nails don't clear up right away, don't be impatient because you may have a more involved infection. Keep with it; these treatments work and are way cheaper than prescription stuff!

Hate those pesky mosquitos? They always seem to be a pain when your trying to have a good time. I put Listerine, any kind, in a squirt bottle and squirted it all around the table and chairs where we were sitting outside. It worked! Those little buggers stoped biting!
Thanks Listerine,
Kelly

I had the same problem and happened to be at Target in the diabetic section and picked up Neutrogena Norwegian Formula foot cream. It cost about $3.00 and my toe felt better after one application.

I read that apple cider vinegar was better.

I'm conducting the apple vinegar experiment as we speak. I'm four weeks into it. I'll see how it goes.

Has anyone tried the laser treatment? It is a new procedure and sounds exciting. I am going to look into it and would like to hear from anyone who has experienced the treatment. Thanks

Do you need to treat all your toenails (just in case) or only the thick ones with vinegar? How often?

No one is ever clear about how to apply the vinegar or Listerine. Is a soak best? Can you just use an eyedropper twice a day? The Vicks did not work and turned my nails dark.

I have been using Tea Tree Oil to kill off the fungus. I put this on my nails at night time and in the morning. On top of the Tea Tree Oil I put Vicks VapoRub to seal the Oil in. It is important to trim the infected nails back regularly as far as possible with nail clippers. Keep doing this as the nail grows out. Use a nail abrasive file as well. It is important to dry all your nails after a shower or bath... use a hair drier if necessary. You do not want to seal any moisture below the treatment.
I'm going to try the Listerine and vinegar. Best wishes.

Most people say that it does not really matter which kind of vinegar you decide to try. Notice the word try because there is no guarantees that it works especially if the fungus is not a surface fungus. However, apple cider vinegar is more commonly recommended.

I tried a lot of the suggested treatments for a big toenail fungus...Listerine, Vicks, vinegar as well as come OTC products and nothing worked. When I started spritzing the nail 2-3 times a day with a 50/50 solution of chlorine bleach/water, the fungus began to to disappear and the nail got soft and puffy. I made the mistake of trying to lift the soft part off and put a couple of gouges into the nail. At this point all signs of fungus are gone, but the nail appears to have stopped growing. Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions?

I had a nail fungus on two toes. I went to a dermatologist who told me that it can't be cured, and I'd have it for my lifetime. She suggested soaking my toes in black tea daily and then applying thymol which smells awful!! This treatment stained the nail and cuticle; therefore, my toes always looked dirty. After using a solution of 50/50 original Listerine and apple cider vinegar, the fungus was gone in about two/three months and has not reappeared for over a year! On my next trip to this dermatologist, I plan to share this home remedy with her!

Have tried all doctors' medications at different times. All were expensive and none worked on my toe nail fungus, even after a year of taking each of them. My doctors said that prescription medications for toe nail fungus do not work for everyone.

I recently noticed that my toes and the back of my feet nearest to my toes started to peal. I washed my feet and scrubbed so it would go away and it hasn't. I now think that I might have fungus because my nails have turned yellow. What should I do? Do I have fungus? what do I apply to the skin on my feet and my nails?

Does it matter what kind of vinegar and is it really true that it works with half vinegar and half listerine? How long does it take??

I think it is nail fungi. I've had this for some time and don't worry, try the cures it will be fine.

Have had fungus for at least 30 years now and plan to try Listerine/Vinegar or others suggested here.

Had laser treatment on my big toe 10 years ago and it cleared up the fungus with one treatment. Fungus has not come back.

I have had the infected toenail for over 10 years now. It grew back this way after a complete removal of it due to an ingrown. (I did not want this but I was young and my mom overruled me on it). I will try some of the suggestions listed here. I just wished someone would keep up with their progress with pics. My nail is horrible. I will post later and provide before during and after pics during the course of different home remedies.

My second toe on each foot has ultra thick nails and seems quite strange - I will use some of these remedies on that. But what I am concerned about is my finger nails. Every time I wear nail polish and get manicures for a couple of months, my index and middle fingernails start peeling, breaking, becoming weak... I guess I just can't seem to tolerate nail polish. I wonder if this isn't a fungus - and am looking for suggestions?

Well, I tried everything I read on here and toe nail is only getting worse. I finally went to Dr., it was too painful. I was prescribed keflex. I had been to other Dr.s and was told nothing I could do about it. Geez, you would think with so many afflicted with this there would be a treatment by now..

Have had toenail fungus over the years. About 10 years ago I was prescribed Lamisil and had to take it for 3 months and had to have tests to check for liver damage. It worked but it eventually came back. I let it go for a number of years and then heard about the 50/50 Listerine and vinegar mixture. I have been using it for about 2 months and it seems to be helping. Looking forward to the next month or so. I will give you updates as I progress, but it is looking much better.

Toenail fungus for about 6 years. I've gone to podiatrist every 3 months for cleaning. I went to the dermatologists and she told me to use Lamisil Cream on and in between toes, and on the bottom of the foot down the middle. Then use Vicks on the toenails because the Lamisil will not help the nail. I've been doing this for 2 months and the toenails are getting clearer.

Only 2 of them are not now normal. However, I started feeling swollen in the right side, and middle of stomach, and nausea. Knowing that taking the pills affect the liver, I stopped the Lamisil cream 3 days ago, and the nausea has disappeared.

Could the cream be absorbed into the skin enough to affect the liver?

My doctor said only use the original Listerine, DO NOT USE GREEN or any other color because it turns your feet and nails to BLUE....

You also need to clean your shoes that already have fungus in it. Buy some moth balls and put your shoes in zip lock bags with some moth balls. Two days later, use rubbing alcohol to clean them. You can also use cotton ball dipped in Listerine to clean them. Do not do it on an expensive shoes using the latter method. The moth ball remedy was instructed by my podiatrist.

Oh, don't use the green or blue Listerine, use the original one (amber color) so that it will not stain your toenails.

I had asked my podiatrist, he said bleach is harmful to your skin, that's why.

I used listerine mouth wash for my toenail fungus, it took soaking every day for a couple months but my fungus is gone.

A family member had fungus on the ten toes, after many visits to her foot doctor and many $ for visits and medication she accidentally cleaned her toes with hydrogen peroxide and noticed that her toes started to get clearer. She continued using the peroxide a couple of times and vamoose, she has been been cured for over two years now.

I have had this fungus for several years. Because I wore surgical support hose, my toes were in a warm, moist environment. I do water aerobics 3 times a week and after several months in the chlorine treated water and getting surgical hose with open toes, my formerly black, green and yellow toe nails seem to be quite normal. They would get black, soft and peel off - gross. Any comments?

Hello,
thank you for all the comments.
after researching I believe to have a fungus nail infection. I have had it for over 4 years and it was never so bad until two years ago. It's on both big toes, the left one is very bad (the nail is barely growing) and the right toe is very mild with a slight yellow stain at the tip, so I'm not sure if that is fungus.

I had the left toe nail removed over a year ago because I thought it was an ingrown toe nail, I was given the sort of nail polish anti fungal which didn't work one bit, now I've been on terbinafine 250mg for the past four months. The nail seems as though it's growing out clearly but I'm not sure whether is will last, as it was never the whole nail that was stained, it was the tips and they were very curved into the skin.

Now I'm going the begin the Listerine and Vicks and vinegar soaks, but what do I do about the shape of my nail?? Is that an effect of the fungus??

Also how exactly do you use urine?? I mean do you rub the urine and then wipe it off or do you have to soak the feet in urine?? If so for how long??

I would really appreciate an answer and I hope these will work.

thanks everyone.

I have had toenail fungus for many years. One of my toenails is getting significantly worse these days and looks like it may fall off, so I've been looking into what to do and am starting the Listerine/vinegar approach.

One question - do you put your whole foot into the Listerine and vinegar, or do you try to only get your toes in? It seems like it takes quite a lot of Listerine.

Thanks!

You should really stop using fingernail polish on your toes with an unsightly foot fungus....it seals the infection in and makes it worse... I've seen this happen to many other people besides me :D

This site is so encouraging! I started to take care of this nasty nail fungus 4 days ago. The first thing I did was remove the nail polish I had, I didn't realized it was so thick and ugly.. As soon as I got home I soaked my foot in vinegar and water and all the thickness and bumps were gone!! I don't know if it was because I filed it down, but it looked a lot healthier! So that motivated me to keep doing this... The second day I bought tee tree oil and applied it while at work.

I also tried vicks at night, the last two nights. Yesterday when I soaked my toenail (not my whole feet anymore because it takes a lot of vinegar!) I was filing it and a part of the affected area started to disintegrate! Is that what's supposed to happen? I took that part of the nail off, and no more yellowish there, but I hope it grows back.

Today for the first time I am soaking my feet in a mix of Listerine, vinegar, tee tree oil and hot water. But I used the blue Listerine and I am just reading that it turns your feet blue... my feet aren't blue yet.. but will see after 30 mins...

I do think that if I keep doing this, it will work! I am already seeing good results... and while I soak my feet I am with my laptop reading about it so it encourages me to keep doing this!! I wish I did this last year, when it was starting, it was just a small section of my toenail... now it is almost in all my toenail :(

I also want to try the hydrogen peroxide! Is there anything else I could try?
I want to try different things because my husband hates the smell of vinegar, and tee tree oil... I thought Listerine was gonna be OK. but he just said it stinks the whole house! :|

Have had thick yellowish toenails for yrs, doing nothing about it. Then had bunion surgery (1 yr. ago) with 2 hammertoes straightened and the nails on the old hammertoes are now normal, meaning wider and flat! It's great but why did this happen? Unsure if I have a fungus or not, my problem is only in the thickness of my nails (also yellowish). But why did the two toes change? Podiatrist suggested could be from not having put pressure on the nails for awhile (while recuperating). Think that's baloney.

Anyone have thoughts on this?