You have something called RETRONYCHIA. I’m absolutely sure as I had it. It is not fungus. Antibiotics are not a treatment for retronychia. You need a topical steroid, a steroid injection or nail removal. It’s highly misdiagnosed. In retronychia, the nail stops growing but a new nail begins to grow underneath the old one, pushing the old nail up and back into the proximal nail fold. This causes inflammation, redness, pain. Retronychia is essentially when the entire nail is ingrown at the back. Signs include a nail that seems to stop growing, loss of cuticle, proximal fold redness/swelling/pain, pus, distal nail lifting, xanthonychia (yellowing of the nail). It takes a LONG time to recover, like months-year because toenails grow slowly. Nail removal is last resort. Nail removal can lead to disappearing nail bed and distal nail embedding.
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Thank you for adding me.
Thank you for adding me. Went to a podiatrist today and he wanted to remove the nail, which now after joining this group I am glad I didn’t. I asked him what the redness was on my skin and he was noncommittal. My nurse practitioner first thought it was cellulitis, so I did a round of doxycycline which of course was no help. Does toenail fungus make your toe painful and swollen? I am going to try the compounded topical lamisil, because I cannot do oral meds. Has anyone had success with that?
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Why is it bad to remove the nail? I soaked my foot and then with clippers removed most of my nail and am just treating the skin now (a little of the nail is growing back now but mostly there’s no nail). I’m starting to wonder if that wasn’t the best idea… I almost wish I’d left the nail.
The nail looks thick and slightly deformed which is likely causing the skin infection. They might be able to partially surgically remove it at the sides if you wish to preserve some of the nail, to stop it from being ingrowing. It's possible if you don't have any nail surgery that the surrounding area will continue to be repeatedly infected. Mild toenail fungus can be treated with curanail but once a nail is thickened and deformed it will not grow normally again.
My pod wanted to remove mine too. I haven’t gone back to her. She’d do it without my approval. She was nice but aggressive. She did a needless biopsy on dried blood she found when she cut my nail down. Pretty sure that happened when my dog being clumsy stepped on my toe. He’s pretty heavy! ❣️ that biopsy cost me $150 copay. Than she saw a freckle on my baby toe. I had since I was young. Omg. She wanted to biopsy it? Yeah she frightened me. My toenails keep growing back curled up so it’s causing me pain digging into my toes. Plus I have terrible neuropathy so they extra sensitive. I need to see a diff doctor but a little scared. 😞
I had both of my big toenails removed due to ingrown issues. It didn't hurt and only felt a small burning afterwards from the raw skin. Just kinda like a nail being cut to short. I have nail fungus in my other toenails though. I really want to remove all my toenails permanently.
Does not look like fungus to me.
Did the podiatrist take a sample and make sure it is fungal? I read yeast (fungal) can cause redness around your toenails. Wonder if it could be that?
You were treated with antibiotics for a fungus!!! Antibiotics don't treat a fungus.
Carol , this is not fungal. Is you nail n the other foot the same ?
I had mine removed had mine removed back to normal
interesting, thank you. You had it? What did you do for treatment and did it work?
it was very difficult to get help. I had one dermatologist that prescribed clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment which took the swelling and pain down. I later had a Kenalog steroid injection into the proximal fold but I probably didn’t need it. My nail started to get pushed out about 2 months after I started the steroid topical. I had 2 layers of nail (the new nail pushed out the old nail). It took me 6 months to get the proper diagnosis from a nail dermatologist. My nail is now back to normal but it took >1 year from start to finish. *keep in mind steroids should never be used long term and cause skin thinning/atrophy and other changes. I may still have very slight fat atrophy on top of my toe but it’s hard to tell. I used the steroid cream too much and the injection was overkill. I should’ve just been patient.
thank you for that info. Did not know there was such a thing as a nail dermatologist 🤷♀️
there’s only a handful in the USA, maybe like 20 or so. Some are listed here: https://www.nailexperts.org/copy-of-find-a-cnd-member Technically all dermatologists specialize in hair, skin, and nails but some are nail experts.
awesome, thank you. I appreciate this.
of course there isn’t a nail dermatologist anywhere even close to me. I am going to see a dermatologist though. Did your doc ever suggest removing the nail?
I have just read that many people have the whole nail taken out by their podiatrist and it’s painful and doesn’t take care of the fungus. I don’t know.
thank you for your response. I am going to get a second opinion.
yeah it doesn’t seem to fix the problem… I guess the idea is that the topical treatments don’t have to seep thru the nail to get to the fungus but hasn’t worked great for me, I wish I still had the nail!
it’s all so frustrating!!
one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever dealt with
they probably don't advise to get rid of all the shoes. Fungal spores will be all over them , so the problem will start again. Even sooner if there is open skin ( after removing toenail)
and sometimes the nail doesn't grow back....I shaved out all the fungus and now my nail isn't growing....at least before I could still put on polish and it would look normal. Now I have this weird shaped nail that's not growing 🙁
oh wow I never thought of that!!
I know. I miss getting my pedi’s but that is how this all started!
same
I don’t blame you for being scared, I am too. I have a big dog too and it’s like they know which toe to step on 😂
I went to Mexico and got mine removed it healed right away can't remember what medication cream he gave me but it was worth it.
so true! 😄
did it get rid of the fungus in the ones you had removed?
I never had fungus in my nails untill years after they were removed. So I cannot say if that would help. All I can tell you is that it is not panful.
ok thank you. Good to know.
no he didn’t. I didn’t like him at all, so I am going to get a second opinion
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no my doc thought it was cellulitis and gave me an antibiotic. When it didn’t work she sent me to a podiatrist. They are just guessing and not trying to biopsy or test it.
no, just this toe. 🤷♀️
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