How do you feel about your feet? If you’re like most people, you’re just as happy to keep your socks and shoes on so nobody else can see or smell them.
Warm weather means sandal time. But some folks are too embarrassed by their toenails to bare their tootsies.
The ads for prescription antifungal medicines have turned nail fungus into a social catastrophe. People worry a lot more now than they used to about the appearance of their “piggies.”
One reader confessed, “I have the worst feet in the world! My toenails are fused to my toe so you can't tell the difference between the skin and the nail.
“I'm so embarrassed I could cry. I’ve never worn sandals because my feet are so ugly I don't know what to do. I am desperate.”
A woman wondered where the fungus comes from: “My father-in-law had terrible fungus on his toenails, totally grossing out his grandchildren, who begged him to keep his socks on! My husband has had this problem for several years, and now two of our boys are experiencing the same thing. Could this be hereditary?”
The source of toenail fungus remains somewhat mysterious. Some people develop a nail infection after visiting a nail salon, so it may be contagious. But genes and the immune system might also play a role.
People with fungus just want to know how to get rid of it. Dermatologists frequently prescribe oral antifungal medications such as Lamisil. This treatment used to cost hundreds of dollars and was not always covered by insurance. All that has changed: “Please tell people concerned about the cost of Lamisil that terbinafine works fine. Because it is generic, it doesn’t cost much. (I spent $10 for a 90-day supply.)
“I only needed one blood test to check liver function after 90 days. I had fungus in all 10 toenails and two fingernails as well, so bad that the nails were peeling off. Home remedies and the paint-on prescription did not work at all. I’ve now completed 160 days of treatment and the fungus is almost completely gone.”
Some people worry about the toxicity of oral medicine or can’t take it because of other health problems: “I desperately need a home remedy for fungal toenail infection. I am on ten different medications for numerous medical problems and the prescription antifungal drug won’t mix with them. I have tried Vicks VapoRub for three months but it isn’t working.”
Although some people have success with Vicks, others want alternative remedies. We’ve had dozens of inquiries about a homemade concoction: “I want to try the Listerine and vinegar solution on my feet but I don’t know the proportions. I love to go barefoot and my feet are atrocious.”
We’ve heard that a solution of half vinegar and half amber Listerine works well not only for fungus but also for making calloused feet look and feel better.
We discuss many home remedies as well as pros and cons of antifungal medications in our Guides to Smelly Feet and Hair and Nail Care.
