Comments on: Over the Counter Nail Fungus Treatments – Are There Any That Might Work?

By: Jackie

Jackie — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:12:36 +0000

What is FFN-rx and Where do you get it? Do you need a perscription?

By: HoJo

HoJo — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 02:28:07 +0000

My dermatologist told me about Vicks and it worked. She said for whatever reason
Fungus does not like Vicks. Only problem is it comes back. Now on
FFN-RX which is going great.

By: HoJo

HoJo — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 02:25:36 +0000

Vicks worked for me. Trouble is t will come back. Now taking FFN-RX. My dermatologist told me about Vicks and she was spot on.

By: L.spangler

L.spangler — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:13:26 +0000

I tried Piggy Paste for several months with hardly any improvement. I went to a podiatrist and he gave me a bottle of FFN r/x. after one week, I am truly amazed at the improvement. I am to see him in 8 weeks and I suspect the fungus will be completely gone by then.

By: James

James — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 06:12:52 +0000

Dr Christine-

“Now trying the pythium oilgandrum. So far so good. One more application to go with it. Will keep you posted. I had a really tough fungus.”

How is this working? I have tinea versicolor, spots around my waist and abdomen.. was wondering if this would be affective cure?

Thanks!

By: Dr Christine

Dr Christine — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 11:59:42 +0000

I have tried lots and lots of over the counter products for years and years. The money I spent on Loceryl! then I started using stuff from the web, When my nails looked good and had grown out, after a month the rotten fungus would be starting to creep back again. Used a manuka cream with an “accelerator”. Held it in check a bit but big problemo… the fungus kept spreading to other fingers and toes. One toe or finger would start looking better and another one would suddenly get it. It was driving me mad. Now trying the pythium oilgandrum. So far so good. One more application to go with it. Will keep you posted. I had a really tough fungus.

By: terry

terry — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:51:47 +0000

No Short Cuts Exist! It helps if you are OCD, Anal Retentive, or just plain Self-Disciplined. 3 months, every day TWICE. All thru Europe & US Tour. Drag the applicator brush across the end of the nail where it meets the nail bed (skin). Then cover nail liberally.. Wear sandals, go barefooted when possible. I even tried putting a condom over the freshly medicated toe, my wife objected. The longer the twice a day application remains undisturbed the better. I do not have the “courage” to Dremel my own toe, but saturation of nail to nail bed is important, hence, twice a day routine. I used “Fungi-Cure” I’m cured, and still OCD, Anal Retentive, & Self Disciplined..Be well. “cured” .

By: Randy

Randy — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:56:20 +0000

I am using Vick’s rub and I got rid of the fungus on one big toe and the other three I have seen a big change in the sign of the fungus under the nail. It does work but it may take 6 months or more. I will keep it justntomkeep control ofbthenfungus from growing

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:07:27 +0000

Based on hundreds of comments on this site, it’s clear that there are a variety of remedies. What works for one person is completely ineffective for another, and the difference is explained by the variety of infections.

But that isn’t really the problem. The problem is getting the medicine to the affected area.

Unless you are willing to go with an oral solution with it’s potential health risks, you must remove the nail, because it keeps the medicine from reaching the affected area.

I found that prescription ciclopirox laquer not only costs 10x other topicals, but didn’t seem to penetrate the nail. No effect at all, except on my wallet.

In frustration, I purchased 2 bottles of cicliopirox from eBay, $22 on eBay, which is 1/10 the price per unit of the prescription stuff and is water-based. I cut the nail and all dead material, very carefully, once a week, and for a year, applied the topicals as close as possible to the affected area. Problem solved.

One guy in his comments on another page of this site suggested using a dremel tool, which would have been eaiser than nail clippers, but takes some guts.

Steve, in this same thread, suggested on 08 Jan 2012) to use Salicylic acid to remove the nail. That seems a good idea.

So, here is the best solution to the problem:

1. Remove the nail to expose the infected area. See Steve from 08 Jan 2012 above for details.

2. Apply home or over-the-counter remedy, and i it fails, try another & another. See DANMD from 17 Feb 2012 above for a list.

3. Once problem is gone, do a weekly soak in vingear or over-the-counter remedy to reduce the likelihood of re-infection.

Also, I find that wearing mostly cotton socks rather than those of various plastic threads (polyester, etc.) means my feet can breathe and the socks will soak up any sweat. That prevents excessive stink, and reduces fungus.

By: DANMD

DANMD — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:43:44 +0000

A patient showed me this link and asked for my thoughts, so I thought I would post my opinion.
Home remedy’s are great, Vicks, Vinegar, Tea Tree and cost effective. The down side is compliance such as soaking, odor and sometimes messy.
One has to realize if home remedy’s work and so often used, I believe that simple good foot hygiene is the best prevention. Wash feet with a foot cleanser that kills germs, dry between toes and most important use clean socks and rotate shoes. By doing this you may never need a home remedy.
As far as other products I base my recommendations on clinical studies. Keep in mind we are dealing with an infection in the nail bed, so I have always questioned tropical products. The most published is Lamisil – terbinafine an oral pill that has good results provided the patient has a positive test for fungi. More resent studies by Lamisil has shown increased results with debridement (filing) of the nail.
The studies I have seen for a topical product is Penlac Nail Lacquer (Loceryl) and Clearzal BAC. Published success rates for Penlac ran around 10% and for Clearzal around 35%.
One product was shown to me at a recent conference was Formula 3. They have a 100% guarantee for the product and would sell to me for $18 and I would sell for $40. 100% guarantee, I should have ran, Lamisil the most published 100’s of millions of dollars works good, but not 100%. That seemed high for a product that a few years back was sold in salons for $15. I asked about the science of the product and the rep could not even pronounce common medical terms. I asked why a brush was used for application. Any medical professional is aware of cross contamination in using an apparatus on an infection over and over (like reusing a bandage). It made my stomach turn that they would ask a doctor to sell something like this that is a salon product.
What do I do:
Combination therapy appears to work best. Using clinical based papers.
Use generic Lamisil (very inexpensive now) for patients that have multiple nails infected and can tolerate the medication.
I then dispense Clearzal topical (which is published) for a twice a day application for $18. It is broad spectrum and kills fungus and bacteria, which compliments Lamisil. For less severe cases I start with Clearzal.
In all cases I trim the nails and file down any build up.
I also dispense a foot cleanser – like Fungi Soap or now the Clearzal Cleanser and have patients use once a day.
Tell the patient to always dry between toes, use fresh socks and rotate shoes.
This does not work 100% as nothing does, but I can say all patients who have complied showed improvement of the nail.
As far as Laser, I have not made the investment, die to the fact that once again there are now good studies to justify the $900 I would have to charge patients, and I am not comfortable with that as it is not covered by insurance (even if it was I would still be uncomfortable charging that much without clinical evidence).
Hope this helps from my small world. All the best.