I'm a GCA patient that has been on high doses of PRED since late August. I've had bad finger nail fungus for YEARS, and thought it'd get worse from using all this PRED. But it's clearing up!! What the heck!
I'm not complaining, but I certainlyd don't understand. Any thoughts?
Is it definitely a fungus?
Well that's what the dermatologist said. Maybe she's wrong?
Just surprised - pred usually makes fungal problems worse. BUT there are some fungal infections where oral steroids are used. I wonder what it was.
I had nails that snapped at the slightest thing, GCA came along and my nails were stronger and longer than ever before. Then remission and nails back to normal and have to keep them short. I did enjoy nail varnish...............
Never occurred to me that it might have been the pred till I read your post.
Interesting! I don't get it, but interesting.
Similar thing, since stopping pred (in May this year) I've noticed my nails are weaker and I have ridges on some.🤷
I don't get it either - maybe someone else knows...........
My chiropodist said that I had a fungus on my big toe. She drilled holes in top bit of the nail and said spray Lamisil on it. I have only done it for two days so do not know the outcome yet.
Yeah,well I've tried all kinds of topical things including Lamisil to no avail. I tried taking oral meds also but they hurt my liver so I stopped. It's ugly, for sure, but mainly cosmetic.... and I'm a guy so I've learned to just live with it.
They say that the oral items for nail fungus are not a good idea, with which I think you will agree. I don’t know if mine is a fungus although she said it was. It does not hurt and is only on one nail, the top part is coming away from the skin underneath. I suppose I won’t know if the Lamisil will work or not!!
Interestingly, I had a fungus on both my big toes. I was recommended terbinafine tablets by the podiatrist. They sort of worked but the fungus came back. This was before being diagnosed with pmr.
Subsequently, I was recommended tea tree nail solution, which I paint on every morning, and the fungus has gone!
Paddy
well thank you for this! I've not tried it, but just ordered some from Amazon. Thanks
fingers crossed then🤞
Lamisil’s active ingredient is terbinafine, so it looks like it does not work very well.
I’ve had toenail fungus and used almond oil with Oregano & Lavender essential oils added. ( its the oregano that did the trick) Have to apply it daily for weeks but it worked really well. I still apply it couple of times a week. Lovely smell too
What were the symptoms of the fungus, did it hurt?
No it didn’t hurt. The nail was thickened, white/yellow discoloration and a bit flaky. Mostly the top half of the nail (the nailbed was normal).
My big toe the pedicurist thought was a fungus! The top part of the nail had broken away and looked awful. Sent clippings to the surgery which came back negative! I bathed it daily inHydrogen Peroxide solution after filing it gently. The GP didn’t think it was a fungus and didn’t want to put me on Terbinafine. Just wait and see. It’s much clearer now and a normal colour. Nail looks ragged at top.
Have read many OTC cures for Nail Fungus. I think the best are Tea Tree Oil, Lemon Oil., Hydrogen Peroxide, Oregano and some people swear by Vicks Vapour Rub!
Yes I agree, have heard of them too. Think its worth persisting with them. Oregano worked for me.
I also cut away as much as I could, so the oil could get at it
As the chiropodist drilled holes in the nail I can just spray stuff on. Mine is just like a normal nail, but is coming away at the top and sides. I am not convinced it is fungal, it is just one nail, my big toe, and I knocked it a few weeks earlier and it had been quite painful. It is not discoloured or thick either.
sweet feat 😉
Good tip thanks
I read your post a month ago and subsequently got the tea tree nail solution (HB) to treat my husbands feet. He has been meticulously applying twice a day, filing the surface of the nails, and there is much improvement. I think it will be a long job as most of his nails are affected. Nothing has worked in the past so many thanks for the tip off.
I've been using it routinely for about 3 weeks, and to be honest see little if any improvement. I'll keep trying though. It sure has a strong aroma, no?
The solution my husband is using has no string smell - organic tea tree purifying nail solution HB 😂
If you see a Podiatrist, ask them to file it down
Then treat twice a day with Lemon oil or Tea Tree oil .
Keep the nail moist with the oil
Been doing mine for 6 weeks and it looks much better
I have tried all other treatments over the years with no luck
thanks for the info. I have just had a fungally infected big toenail removed and another one looks dodgy. Tea tree oil it is.
note my diagnosis is Stills Disease which for me manifests as RA.
All my finger nails grow oddly due to the illness apparently and I have had a had a fungal toe nail infection for several years and athletes foot. OTC creams, gels, powders and ointments have all failed. My chiropodist doubts the efficacy of the nail drilling treatment however there are some good tips in your replies and I will follow them to get better feet 👍
Very possibly not a fungus. There are inflammatory dermatoses that affect the skin, hair and nails which can be mistaken for fungal infections.
Well that must be what's going with my nails. Next time I see my dermatologist I'll confront this. I'm so glad I asked
I don't have a fungal nail condition but have always,even as a child ,had nail ridges and when I'm on high pred they disappear!! Unfortunately they come back again when I get down in lower doses but nice while it lasts. Weird eh!? Hope your problem stays gone!
Yeah, weird. I FINALLY saw a rheumy yesterday about my GCA -- and when I told him about my fingernails he said he highly suspects that it isn't nail fungus at all -- and that it never has been -- and in fact is probably psoriasis of the finger nails instead -- which would account for them "healing" with the prednisone.
Had fungal infection on big toe. Took Terbasil oral tablets.. Didn't agree with me. Then took Lamasil and it cleared. Gosh didn't know orals were bad.
I find this ironic because I have one nail that was split for years, long before GCA. I tried glueing or taping it together and nothing would help. When I was on high doses of prednisone it healed completely. It was the only good side effect of pred. In fact all of my nails were growing beautifully. Once I got to lower mgs my nails got back to normal and my one split nail is once again split. Go figure
Yeah, same thing with me. I'm at 20 MG right now, and the nails are already getting bad again. I've been applying tea tree oil, but I'm not sure it's doing anything but making me smell like tea tree oil!
I just ordered tea tree oil from Amazon. I’ll see how that works
PMR and/or periformus?
Omeprazole and Prednisolone 
Pred and insomnia
Tapering and shielded status (UK)
Doses and tapering
