When Over-the-Counter Treatments Aren’t Enough: A Real Fungal Nail Case

Fungal nail infections are incredibly common and for many people, the first step is trying something from the pharmacy or online. Creams, paints and solutions are easy to access and promise results, but unfortunately they don’t always work.

Recently, a gentleman visited Foot Corner after months of trying multiple over-the-counter fungal nail treatments with no success. Despite his best efforts, the nail continued to deteriorate.

What Was Really Going On?

When one of our experienced podiatrist examined his toe, it was clear why the treatments hadn’t worked.
The toenail was already quite loose and there were significant fungal deposits sitting under the nail, directly on the nail bed.

This is the key issue with many fungal nail infections:
👉 Topical treatments can only work where they can reach.
If the fungus is trapped beneath a thickened or lifted nail, creams and lacquers applied on top simply can’t penetrate deeply enough to be effective.

The Treatment

In this case, the best option was to remove the affected toenail.

Because the nail was already loose, it came away very easily and importantly without pain. Once removed, the nail bed underneath was revealed and thoroughly cleaned, removing fungal material that had never been reachable with pharmacy products.

Immediately, the toe was left looking clean, healthy, and far better placed to heal properly.

Aftercare and What Happens Next

Following the procedure, the podiatrist gave clear, simple advice on how to care for the toe while it heals. Proper aftercare is essential to encourage healthy nail regrowth and reduce the risk of reinfection.

We’ll be reviewing him again in a few weeks’ time to make sure everything is progressing in the right direction and that the new nail is growing back as expected.

The Takeaway

Over-the-counter treatments can help in very mild cases but when a nail is thickened, loose, or the infection sits underneath, they often don’t stand a chance.

If you’ve been treating a fungal nail for months with little or no improvement, it may be time to have it properly assessed. Sometimes, removing the problem nail is the quickest and most effective step towards long-term improvement.

If you’re unsure what stage your fungal nail is at, the team at Foot Corner is always happy to help with honest advice and clear options.