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Anyone Have Nail Fungus?

Swingin' Celiac

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Swingin' Celiac Newbie
Swingin' Celiac
Posted

OK so maybe this isn't something anyone would want to admit to but I'm just curious. Does anyone else have nail fungus? I read that people with celiac disease are more succeptible to fungal infections so I just had to ask. I've had a problem with mild toenail fungus for a couple of years now. It's so frustrating because the topical over-the-counter stuff doesn't seem to help much and nail polish makes it worse. I mean it's really not that bad, just a bit of discoloration, but I'm so self concious that I won't leave the house in open toed shoes without nailpolish (vicious cycle huh). Anyone have any suggestions?

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Smunkeemom Enthusiast
Smunkeemom
Posted

they make a medicine you can take orally now, although it takes like 6 months to work, and I am not sure if it's gluten free or not, but I know someone who tried it and was pretty happy with the results.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
OK so maybe this isn't something anyone would want to admit to but I'm just curious. Does anyone else have nail fungus? I read that people with celiac disease are more succeptible to fungal infections so I just had to ask. I've had a problem with mild toenail fungus for a couple of years now. It's so frustrating because the topical over-the-counter stuff doesn't seem to help much and nail polish makes it worse. I mean it's really not that bad, just a bit of discoloration, but I'm so self concious that I won't leave the house in open toed shoes without nailpolish (vicious cycle huh). Anyone have any suggestions?

I've touched on this before, but did not go into detail. I had a problem with this--not terrible, but my toenails were a bit darkened and thick. I never wore sandals without nailpolish--ever. The good news is that I've been gluten-free for almost a year--11 1/2 months--and my toenails gook great. I did nothing special to them and took no medications for them. Currently, I'm wearing sandals every day with a sheer polish I never would have worn in the past. I consider this a wonderful side effect of the diet--something I didn't expect! Also, I had a ridge in both thumbnails--crosswise about midway down the nail. Those are also completely gone. I don't know how long you have been gluten-free, but maybe give it some time and see if your nails improve. :)

Swingin' Celiac Newbie
Swingin' Celiac
Posted
  • Author
I've touched on this before, but did not go into detail. I had a problem with this--not terrible, but my toenails were a bit darkened and thick. I never wore sandals without nailpolish--ever. The good news is that I've been gluten-free for almost a year--11 1/2 months--and my toenails gook great. I did nothing special to them and took no medications for them. Currently, I'm wearing sandals every day with a sheer polish I never would have worn in the past. I consider this a wonderful side effect of the diet--something I didn't expect! Also, I had a ridge in both thumbnails--crosswise about midway down the nail. Those are also completely gone. I don't know how long you have been gluten-free, but maybe give it some time and see if your nails improve. :)

Thank you for the hope. I've only been gluten-free for a little over 2 months, so I still have some time to go. Too bad toenails take so long to grow. I was wondering if it could go away on its own after a while without gluten, so I guess now I know it's possible. As far as prescription oral drugs like Lamisil go, I heard they can have some pretty nasty effects on the liver, so I guess I'll just wait it out with the topical stuff I have and hopefully it will go away before I start living on campus at college in the fall. :rolleyes:

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
Thank you for the hope. I've only been gluten-free for a little over 2 months, so I still have some time to go. Too bad toenails take so long to grow. I was wondering if it could go away on its own after a while without gluten, so I guess now I know it's possible. As far as prescription oral drugs like Lamisil go, I heard they can have some pretty nasty effects on the liver, so I guess I'll just wait it out with the topical stuff I have and hopefully it will go away before I start living on campus at college in the fall. :rolleyes:

I think thats a wise way to go--I didn't notice the positive changes until probably at least 10 months had passed. Be sure to keep your toes and nails dry--be extra dilligent after a shower or swimming. That will further encourage healing.

eKatherine Apprentice
eKatherine
Posted

My father had toenail fungus all his adult life until they removed his toenails. Another sign he's probably got celiac.

Guest greengirl
Guest greengirl
Posted

I have never tried this, but I read that soaking the nails in hydrogen peroxide a couple times a day is supposed to get rid of a fungus. It couldn't hurt to try!

Christine

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jams Explorer
jams
Posted

Hmmm... interesting!! I was dx with psariosis of the finger nails after my son. I still have it bad after 10 yrs of a dx. I had my celiac dx for 2 1/2 yrs and no improvement. A friend just told me that it looks like fungus vs psariosis. I have to go have it checked out again. I have pits and yellowness. It looks pretty nasty.

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

I used to use Lotrimin (don't know if it's gluten free) on my kids' diaper rash. It's a topical for fungus (jock itch and athelete's foot) ... maybe it'll work on fingernails. It did wonders for my son's cuticles (he was a nailbiter).

dyepretty Newbie
dyepretty
Posted

You need TEA TREE OIL!

I've been using it about every other day for almost two years, and my toe nails have grown out pink and

healthy. I've only been gluten free for a couple of weeks, so I hope they continue to improve.

I have noticed my fingernails are getting stronger since implementing the diet.

Dye

luvs2eat Collaborator
luvs2eat
Posted

I just spent the better part of 2 years using Penlac nail lacquer... a prescription nail polish... for fungus. Mine blossomed after the trauma of accidentally jamming a huge needle in to my foot that required surgical removal. The foot doc told me that everyone has the fungus... he said if he swabbed the inside of any shoe, he'd find it... but it's a trauma that usually makes it "blossom."

I didn't even consider the oral medication... w/ any sort of autoimmune issue?? No way!! The Penlac worked but you have to be super diligent ... it just takes a long time.

StrongerToday Enthusiast
StrongerToday
Posted

I've used Vicks Vapo Rub and it cleared up a mild case. Old wives tale - maybe.... can I go without nail polish now? YES!

GlutenFreeAl Contributor
GlutenFreeAl
Posted

I too have this embarassing problem. I tried the oral Lamasil, but it made me HORRIBLY sick to my stomach and I just couldn't bear the thought of 6 months of that or however long you have to take it for.

Then my doctor gave me a prescription for Ketokonazole (or something like that) cream which I think is normally used to treat ringworm and fungal infections on the skin. We tried it on a lark and it actually helped clear up my toes! I still have one toe that's bad but it's been bad since I was like 13. The rest look nice now!

On a side note, I threw out all of my old nail polishes and have bought new ones because I was afraid the brushes were "infected."

Good luck with your toes!

  • 5 years later...
gailc Newbie
gailc
Posted

I think thats a wise way to go--I didn't notice the positive changes until probably at least 10 months had passed. Be sure to keep your toes and nails dry--be extra dilligent after a shower or swimming. That will further encourage healing.

What a coincidence!! I am just 10 months gluten-free too, and I went to the dermatologist Wednesday thinking I had a toenail fungus. The new nail growth 1/16" is much thinner and a different color. He said yes fungus. Friday I went to the Podiatrist and she said the old nail had fungus, the new nail coming in doesn't. It self healed I guess on the gluten-free diet. I wonder why no other doctor ever noticed it, including this same doctor who operated on the toe a year ago.

That blew my mind. So I need to use drops, antibacterial soap etc. so it doesn't spread to the new nail or the other nails.

By the way it takes about 6-10 months for new nail being formed to come out of your toe to be visible, then another 6 months for it to move up and be able to remove the old nail. I had already looked up the growth rate. I had toenail surgery on that toe some 12-13 months ago (ingrown toenail) and it was completely successful.

If I could focus at that distance I would have noticed it a couple weeks earlier.

I completed a diabetes class a few months ago to help delay the onset of diabetes in the future. and they said check your feet after every shower.

To anyone who has an ingrown nail and diabetes, get the surgery, No pain and she remove the part of the nail in less time than I usually took to dig it out very painfully.

gailc

beebs Enthusiast
beebs
Posted

I thought I had nail fungus that I just couldnt' get rid of my whole life - but then found out it is psoriatic nails - which is psoriasis but it only attacks your nails, its autoimmune. If I were you I'd be asking to see a rheumy about that -you are celiac which means you are more likely to have other autoimmune diseases etc.

Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

I may have had this problem but I also have psoriasis and that can look the same. I cleared it the first time with OTC NonyX but... Once cleared you have to keep using it. We were making a cross country move and I didn't want to pack any more than I had to so I didn't bring any. It came back.

I cleared it the next time using some herbs I bought online. You heat them up with vinegar and soak your feet in it. Frankly I'm not so sure the herbs helped but the vinegar probably did. The other thing I did was buy some files for tough/artificial nails. I filed down the surface to thin them. I also cut them as short as I could. This really helped.

Another thing I have done (not sure if it helped) was coat them with a lotion containing urea. No particular brand. Whatever I could find for the least amount of money.

Mom-of-Two Contributor
Mom-of-Two
Posted

I tested positive for celiac via blood panel not quite 2 weeks ago. I don't see a specialist unil March. I have had pitted thumb nails (both) for years now. Yellowed, pitted grooves, and some lines. I not only showed my dr this, but also the dermatologist, and both didn't seem concerned. I now feel strongly that it is due to my celiac!!!!

When I see the specialist I plan to bring up the issue and see what her thoughts are.

corky21 Newbie
corky21
Posted

Thank you for the hope. I've only been gluten-free for a little over 2 months, so I still have some time to go. Too bad toenails take so long to grow. I was wondering if it could go away on its own after a while without gluten, so I guess now I know it's possible. As far as prescription oral drugs like Lamisil go, I heard they can have some pretty nasty effects on the liver, so I guess I'll just wait it out with the topical stuff I have and hopefully it will go away before I start living on campus at college in the fall. :rolleyes:

Have you tried soaking your toenails in white vinegar? If you do that a few times a day for several days it may help. I got a fungus under my fingernails 20 years ago b/c I was cleaning with rubber gloves and my nails have always been thin and the moisture from the heat and such caused a fungus. I soaked them in white vinegar a few times a week for several minutes and the fungus went away. I may have also taking an oral anti fungal at the same time.Try those things.

Darn210 Enthusiast
Darn210
Posted

Just an FYI . . . this thread was initiated over 5 years ago and the OP hasn't been on for over 3 years.

Feel free to discuss nail fungus and home remedies, but I wouldn't bother trying to engage the OP.

Archived

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    • SamAlvi
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      Thanks again for the detailed explanation. Just to clarify, I actually did have my initial tests done while I was still consuming gluten. I stopped eating gluten only after those tests were completed, and it has now been about 70 days since I went gluten-free. I understand the limitations around diagnosing NCGS and the importance of antibody testing and biopsy for celiac disease. Unfortunately, where I live, access to comprehensive testing (including total IgA and endoscopy with biopsy) is limited, which makes things more complicated. Your explanation about small-bowel damage, nutrient absorption, and iron-deficiency anemia still aligns closely with my history, and it’s been very helpful in understanding what may be going on. I don't wanna get Endoscopy and I can't start eating Gluten again because it's hurt really with severe diarrhea.  I appreciate you taking the time to share such detailed and informative guidance. Thank you so much for this detailed and thoughtful response. I really appreciate you pointing out the relationship between anemia and antibody patterns, and how the high DGP IgG still supports celiac disease in my case. A gluten challenge isn’t something I feel safe attempting due to how severe my reactions were, so your suggestion about genetic testing makes a lot of sense. I’ll look into whether HLA testing is available where I live and discuss it with my doctor. I also appreciate you mentioning gastrointestinal beriberi and thiamine deficiency. This isn’t something any of my doctors have discussed with me, and given my symptoms and nutritional history, it’s definitely worth raising with them. I’ll also ask about correcting deficiencies more comprehensively, including B vitamins alongside iron. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and taking the time to help. I’ll update the forum as I make progress.
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    • lizzie42
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      Neither of them were anemic 6 months after the Celiac diagnosis. His other vitamin levels (d, B12) were never low. My daughters levels were normal after the first 6 months. Is the thiamine test just called thiamine? 
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    • lizzie42
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      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc.  Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food. The only processed food they eat regularly is a bowl of Cheerios here and there.  Could shaking legs be a symptom of just a one-time gluten exposure? I guess there's no way to know for sure if they're getting absolutely zero exposure because they do go to school a couple times a week. We do homeschool but my son does a shared school 2x a week and my daughter does a morning Pre-K 3 x a week.  At home our entire house is strictly gluten free and it is extremely rare for us to eat out. If we eat at someone else's house I usually just bring their food. When we have play dates we bring all the snacks, etc. I try to be really careful since they're still growing. They also, of course, catch kids viruses all the time so I  want to make sure I know whether they're just sick or they've had gluten. It can be pretty confusing when they're pretty young to even be explaining their symptoms! 
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