Bolt cutters about 1 inch below the affected area should remove your fungus problem.
When you don’t have universal healthcare, this is the kind of question that doesn’t raise any flags. If you’re not troubled by this, you should be.
I mean, that’s a valid take, but even in the EU I don’t think most people need to go to the doctor for say, athlete’s foot, unless it’s a particularly aggressive case.
Where I live you’re supposed to go to a pharmacist for things like that. For minor ailments a pharmacist is the first thing to do.
ChatGPT4 response to your question , might be helpful:
Treating toenail fungus at home involves a combination of hygiene practices and over-the-counter (OTC) treatments. However, it’s important to note that severe cases may require medical attention, and home remedies might not be effective for everyone. Here are some strategies you can try:
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Keep your feet clean and dry: Fungus thrives in moist environments, so it’s crucial to keep your feet and toenails as dry and clean as possible.
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Trim your nails: Keep your toenails trimmed straight across and file down thickened areas. Use a separate nail clipper for infected nails to prevent spreading the fungus.
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Use antifungal treatments: There are various OTC antifungal creams, ointments, and nail polishes designed for toenail fungus. Terbinafine (Lamisil) and clotrimazole (Lotrimin) are common options.
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Try essential oils: Some studies suggest that tea tree oil has antifungal properties. Apply a small amount to the affected nail twice daily. Other essential oils like oregano oil may also have antifungal effects, but they should be used with caution as they can be irritating to the skin.
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Soak your feet: Vinegar soaks or baking soda soaks may help. For a vinegar soak, mix equal parts of vinegar and water and soak your feet for up to 20 minutes daily. For a baking soda soak, add a few tablespoons of baking soda to warm water.
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Change socks and shoes regularly: Fungus can survive in shoes, so it’s essential to wear breathable footwear and change your socks at least once a day.
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Use antifungal powders: Apply antifungal powders or sprays inside your shoes and socks to reduce moisture and fungus growth.
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Avoid nail polish and artificial nails: These can trap moisture and worsen the infection.
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Improve your diet: A healthy diet can boost your immune system and help your body fight off infections, including toenail fungus.
Remember, home remedies can be effective for mild cases, but they may take several months to work, and there’s a chance the infection might return. If your toenail fungus is painful, spreading, or causing significant discomfort, it’s best to consult a healthcare provider for more advanced treatment options, such as prescription antifungal medications or, in severe cases, nail removal.
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I haven’t had to deal with toenail-specific infections, but for the fungal issues I have had, I had good results with a miconazole nitrate 2% spray
Paint it with mouth wash now and then.
And let it breathe.
Might not be the best way, just a low effort way.
Ask a pharmacist in the pharmacy. They have the proper chemicals / medication to treat it.
Unless it’s causing pain or discomfort, doctors won’t say you need to do anything. If you want to get it treated for cosmetic reasons, you either need to a.) Have the toenail removed, b.) Treat it with prescription strength topical anti fungals (OTC medication will not work. Don’t bother if it’s already pretty far into the fungal infection, or c.) Treat it with oral anti fungals which are super hard on your liver and have potential serious side effects. My vote is to not worry about it unless it’s bothering you visually or it hurts.
Chlorhexidine and ketoconazole have great anti-fungal properties, but if you want to get a body wash for humans they charge more than double the price. The stuff for pets is the same thing without added scents or foaming agents. I used it to treat a dandruff issue. Wash your feet with it and maybe get some under your toenail with syringe (no needle).
Tea tree oil.
Put some in your finger, rub on toenail and between toes.
You can find it at the health foods store.
I suggest to dilute it because the oil is quite toxic. My wife has moderate success with this method.
Not a doctor, not giving medical advice.
Just to clarify to not confuse OP. When you say dilute that means mixing it with another oil, right? Like coconut oil or something?
Yes. You can mix it with other oils. It can be an irritant for certain people.
Tea tree oil has antiseptic properties and anti fungal properties and is typically a component in treatments for foot fungus and other skin treatments.
Chew at it until it’s gone.
The main issue for fungus is warmth and moisture, and being in shoes all day provides a great environment for it to grow.
As others have pointed out, change socks regularly, but I would advise even a step further with adding a mild amount of bleach to a wash with socks to ensure that the fungal spores are being killed entirely and don’t re-colonize your toes each time you put your socks back on.
Anything you can add to help keep your feet dry in general can help. You don’t want to go too dry or you risk dry, cracking skin, but you need dry enough to not allow growth.
If you have a dehumidifier, try placing your shoe tree right next to it as well as invest in dessicants you can put directly in your shoe, to suck up excess moisture and similarly prevent fungus from growing in your shoe and re-colonizing your toes each time you wear them.
Along with changing socks, try to have and wear at least three pairs of shoes, so you can let the other two dry on the shoe rack (hopefully with the dehumidifier) with tongues out for maximum dryness. (I know not everyone can afford numerous pairs of shoes, but it really makes a difference. In my twenties, I used to only ever own one or two pairs, and my shoes and feet would always stink. This was the major reason why. My feet don’t stink anymore.)
Wash your feet regularly. A lot of people really slack on washing their feet in the shower, and most people don’t take time for a foot-bath. I would say focus on a good soapy scrub in the shower and then an epsom salt foot-bath soak at the end of the day. I try to add a little extra epsom salt to kind of give an environment where the salts left on my feet will help suck up leftover moisture.
Go shoeless at home as much as possible to help reduce length of time your feet stay in enclosed spaces, and during the summer, if you can get away with it, some nice sandals without socks to allow your feet to breathe.
Finally, antifungals like terbinafine and clotrimazole applied to your feet before you put them in clean socks can help tremendously as well. I’ve personally had very good luck with clotrimazole.
Further, as others in the thread have pointed out, anything that can help keep your feet dry like Tea Tree oil can be quite helpful as well, if you prefer more natural remedies as opposed to straight antifungals.
Wash your feet well, and dry them thoroughly.
Keep your feet clean and exposed as much as reasonable, as in don’t wear socks or slippers around the house, wear sandals if possible during normal day to day life.
If you must wear socks and closed toe shoes, change your socks several times during the day, and let your shoes air out when you’re not wearing them.Apply an over the counter nail antifungal regularly.
Be patient.
Trim the nails regularly.Piss, not joking. Urea is an effective treatment over time.
Also supposedly effective for jellyfish stings.
That’s actually a myth.
Really? I’ve been peeing on people just in case they had a jellyfish sting for years!
It really depends on the infection. Some of them require that the toenail be removed in order to treat the infection. And either case, antifungals are the best treatment, not these old wives’ tales other people are giving you.
Remove toenail. Can’t have toenail fungus without toenails.
