Have this (what I think) is a fungal infection under my big toe nail.

Anyone got a remedy treatment please?

 

Could be, but might also just be a bruise, could you have stubbed the toe? Or dropped something on it?  Bruises under the nails take a  long time  to resolve. 

Doesn't much look like nail fungus. Nail fungus causes the nail to go mikly white or off yellow up to the outer surface of the nail. If you Google pics of "nail fungus" you'll get only one pic that looks like yours and it is not clear whether it is before or after laser treatment.

 

I tried various pharmacy varnishes on my nail fungus, to little avail. What made it shrink and go away ended up being Tea Tree Oil. 

Ciclopirox. Takes some time. But works 

This is what I used which finely worked well. But my toenails did not look like that when I had toe fungus

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/itraconazole-oral-route/description/drg-20071421

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, carlyai said:

Have this (what I think) is a fungal infection under my big toe nail.

Anyone got a remedy treatment please?

 

Yes, it looks like a fungus, maybe former underlying bruises.

You're not a diabetic, are you?

9 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Yes, it looks like a fungus, maybe former underlying bruises.

You're not a diabetic, are you?

No not a diabetic.

The better👍.

Ciclopirox is a liquid (topical treatment) which you will put twice daily onto your toe. Please follow the instructions written on the leaflet. (cut the nail short every week)

The toe will need around 6 to 8 weeks to grow again without issues. So any fungus tablets are not advisable because of severe side effects over such a long time.

Cut your nails that's half of it gone

As @Sheryl has said, not sure at all whether this is fungus.

Any therapy of nail fungus takes a long time (and money), so I would first want a definitive diagnosis, preferably with lab test.

19 hours ago, carlyai said:

Have this (what I think) is a fungal infection under my big toe nail.

Anyone got a remedy treatment please?

 

 

 

 

Yikes.....taken my son two years to finally get rid.....if it's the same.....a nail fungus.

 

 

 

 

 

I had a toenail fungus a few years ago.

 

 

 

https://www.loceryl.com/au/

 

A Thai hospital prescribed Loceryl a couple of times a week.

I think it took maybe six weeks for the fungus to completely disappear.

If I recall correctly, my research at the time suggested it might not be as effective for chronic conditions, but in my case it worked. I've never had a recurrence.

 

 

6 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Cut your nails that's half of it gone

 

Agreed.  The photo looks to me like a bruise that results when my over-long toenail bumps into my shoe for miles and miles a day.  (Last time, it happened right after I started taking blood thinners, too)

 

I have been treating my toenail fungus for years, with only a few toes affected.

I contracted it in a nail bar, my first and last visit.

I only visited to remove callouses on my feet but they started my toenails and I let them go ahead.

 

Just the top bit of nail is affected but all treatments due to date have failed that includes tea tree oil, Vicks vapour rub, vinegar and the expensive Loceryl for at least a year.

Vinegar seemed the most effective in that it is did suppress the fungus, and it’s easy to apply via a small spray bottle.

 

Currently, I’m on Lamisil cream that again does to suppress the fungus but not cure it.

I will give ciclopirox (mentioned above) a try.

You can take the tablets, they work every time, but they must be taken until the unaffected part of the nail has regrown completely, and anti-fungal tablets are very hard on the liver. That's why it's better to try and get rid of the fungus by any other means. Topicals like Loceryl, Clitopirox, Lamisil and Daktarin didn't work for me. Tee Tree Oil worked. Go figure.  Exposure to sunlight is also said to help.

Saw a Podiatrist out in San Sai last week.    I don't think he is a proper med school certified Physician, but a graduate of a podiatry course.    I was impressed by his knowledge and explanations of the foot fungus.  As well, the treatment he provided.   He explained that most topicals will not eradicate the fungus, but merely suppress it slightly.   He sold me a very strong fungus medication, however there was no mention of his name or dosage instructions on the medication package.  Much unlike any other prescription medication I've had before.  

 

Such as, I met with a General MD and went over my meds and any possible reactions with the fungus medication.

I Learned that the Fungus med is hard on the liver and you should avoid alcohol as it also stress the liver functions.  As well, a liver function test via blood draw is required before taking the Fungus med to determine your liver function status.

If this is a fungal toenail, then I had the same for at least 5 years in the UK and could not shift it with the GP prescribed lacquer and taking one a day tablets, which name I forget, over the years. Then I started to come to Thailand for the Winters, and still taking the tablets, the fungus seemed to retreat to about 25% of the big toenail, so although they should have been stopped, for my liver's sake, after such a long period of time, I asked the doctor if I could persevere for another 3 months as at last the tablets seem to be working. And it did work, It disappeared and has never returned after 19 Winters in Thailand (Summers with socks in UK). Now several factors could have resulted in the cure: Increased vitamin D from the Thai sunshine boosting my immunity (and since COVID, learning of its efficacy, I take 8000 units with vit K2 daily); Also living in flip flops not shoes and socks; and not walking in bare feet inside wherever I've lived, to keep my feet dry when in and out of the ubiquitous wet rooms here. Also dusting feet with athlete's foot powder (which you cannot buy in the UK now) after showers. Basically keeping your feet sweat free, dry and aired which is very easy to do in Thailand. P.S: Trainers are probably the least healthy footwear anyone can wear, especially in the heat and humidity of Thailand!

On 10/22/2025 at 5:23 PM, carlyai said:

Have this (what I think) is a fungal infection under my big toe nail.

Anyone got a remedy treatment please?

 

I'd start by soaking it in warm soapy water, then I would cut the nail back into shape. I reckon you have something similar to what I have right now. It is extremely painful, starts with an itch, then turns into excruciating pain. Maybe the beginning of an ingrowing toenail. My doctor gave me two creams to apply, both stop the itch - Medmaker Urea (I believe the cream is "U-Repair"

The other cream is called "Tonaf" Tolnafate, this helps warm it up and helps relieve the pain. (The doctor advised me to apply either one, then wait 30 minutes and apply the other.) She also warned me never to use alcohol (my bad) to clean it, she says it will dry it out and more cracking and pain will ensue. Do not wear flip flops or open toed shoes, make sure to put on clean socks and make sure to change socks everyday. Good luck.

I had the same problem years ago. Tried medications with little success. One day got my dremel kit out, used a few different attachments and basically went to work. When the nail above the affected area was removed, cleaned the area using lots of alcohol. Fungus free for 8 years. 

I just went into Pattaya Memorial Hospital Oct 8/25 for toenail fungus, big toes only.  The doc removed both toenails.  Hurt like you know what even with local anesthetic.  Here's the logic from my point of view.  The doc gets 500 baht if he writes me a simple prescription or gets 5000 if he removes the nails.  He also prescribed pills.  Not going back to that hospital as I've learned that toe nail removal is a last resort.  My infection had just started.

I can't say whether or noy you have a fungus.

 

If you do, and if this helps:- I had a serious infecrion under several toenails. This worked for me, when no medication did, and it cost next to nothing!

 

1. Trim back the nail as far as possible. This may mot be very far, as there is a spongy mass of material under the nail.

2. With a small brush or similar, paint the spongy mass with Povidone Iodine  (Betadine or similar) liquid. It will soak into the spongy mass. You can't use too much!

3. Next day, use a clean sterile sharp object to scrape out as much spongy material as possible, without actually hurting yourself. You need to scrape thoroughly under the nail itself, and as near to toe flesh as you can get without pain. Then, repeat step 2. Use your scraper (a sharp pointy scissor blade is ideal) to work the iodine into the spongy mass of tissue... again, without hurting yourself.

4. Be sure to dispose of the dead tissue removed safely, and to sterilise any scraper, toenail cutter, etc.  used, as they are now potentially contagious!

5. Continue from stage 1 until ALL signs of fungus are gone, and then some weeks more. If there is ANY sign of recurrance, immediately treat as above.

 

I accept no responsibility if you choose to try this. But, it worked for me.

Not cures, but 3 things have reduced my toe nail fungus -

 

1. Vinegar

2. Hydrogen peroxide

3 soaking in water with a little bleach.

 

Just have to do regularly.

I found vinegar to be the best suppressant in my many attempts at a cure for foot nail fungus.

When I first read about it, the recommendation was to soak feet in a bowel of vinegar and water.

That was a turnoff – too much work – morning and night soaking feet in a bowel, then drying off with a towel.

I put the vinegar into a small spray bottle. Easy to use just a quick spray locally and can be diluted.

Not yet tried bleach or hydrogen peroxide.

On 10/22/2025 at 5:23 PM, carlyai said:

Have this (what I think) is a fungal infection under my big toe nail.

Anyone got a remedy treatment please?

 

After suffering disappointment with several other OTC anti-fungal salves, I am having great results from Fungiderm (Clotrimazole), an inexpensive topical medication. Fresh undamaged nail is peeping out from multiple cuticles after a few weeks.

 

A cheery dermatologist may try to sell you on a more thorough internal medication - pills - but as a matter of caution I tend to avoid taking any medicinal poison which has to transverse the oral cavity, gullet, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys and bloodstream before eventually arriving at the extremities. I simply refuse to believe that such a powerful medication will innocently pass through and absolutely do no harm along the way.

 

It is not advisable to attempt to sing out "Clotrimazole" while heavily inebriated. 

16 minutes ago, Pharang-Bah said:

After suffering disappointment with several other OTC anti-fungal salves, I am having great results from Fungiderm (Clotrimazole), an inexpensive topical medication. Fresh undamaged nail is peeping out from multiple cuticles after a few weeks.

 

A cheery dermatologist may try to sell you on a more thorough internal medication - pills - but as a matter of caution I tend to avoid taking any medicinal poison which has to transverse the oral cavity, gullet, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys and bloodstream before eventually arriving at the extremities. I simply refuse to believe that such a powerful medication will innocently pass through and absolutely do no harm along the way.

 

It is not advisable to attempt to sing out "Clotrimazole" while heavily inebriated. 

Thanks.

My toe is improving. 

Marked decrease in the black area in a week.

I soak in vinegar a few times a day and use Lamazone cream and Candix (clotrimazole) 2 times a day plus a few bottles of Leo. 🙂

 

My guess is that there are different types of nail fungus, so a cure for one person may not mean a cure for another, as different type of fungus.

 

Ideally, your type of nail fungus would need to be determined and the corresponding antidote treatment provided.

 

As no one dies of nail fungus, it does not get much attention like say antibiotics.

Sadly, after many different treatments, I think I’ve got the incurable type of fungus.

Oral medications terbinafine (Lamisil) and itraconazole (Sporanox) as recomended by doc or pharmacist.  I would go to doc to make sure they think it is fungus.  Keep it clean and dry as much as possible.   Quit walking thru flood waters and typhoons.   That's the easy stuff that does not always work and can take a long time to work.

While it is working, tee tree oil for sure.  This takes a while too.  Maybe at least a month..maybe 2 or 3.  If you can rub on your nail 2-3-4 times a day that would be good.   While you have it, probably should do that to both big toes.

Good luck in the hot humid environment that is often wet.