# Thick, chunky toenails **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thick-chunky-toenails/160027 "2003-03-09T03:36:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thick-chunky-toenails/160027/21 "2010-11-08T14:48:26Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > My patients have been less than impressed with VapoRub. What with a bunch of microbiology under her belt, and a compulsive nature, my wife was very fastidious in keeping the toenail swimming in Vicks. The stuff probably doesn’t work if you let the fungus come up for air. ---
**Author:** ![Dunkelheit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dunkelheit/32/248_2.png) [@Dunkelheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunkelheit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thick-chunky-toenails/160027/22 "2010-11-08T14:50:59Z")
My thick pinky-toe nails seem to be genetic, my mother has them as well and all of my grandfather’s toenails were like that. Never had a trauma or infection as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![Dunkelheit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dunkelheit/32/248_2.png) [@Dunkelheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunkelheit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thick-chunky-toenails/160027/23 "2010-11-08T14:52:44Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > What with a bunch of microbiology under her belt, and a compulsive nature, my wife was very fastidious in keeping the toenail swimming in Vicks. > The stuff probably doesn’t work if you let the fungus come up for air. How did she keep the nail covered with it, did she put a bandage or rubber toe glove over it or something? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thick-chunky-toenails/160027/24 "2010-11-08T15:06:13Z")
> [@Jeneva](#): > > How did she keep the nail covered with it, did she put a bandage…? Kept a sock on it. If you use plenty of goo, it’ll mess up the sock some, but keep the toe coated all day long. ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thick-chunky-toenails/160027/25 "2010-11-08T15:10:04Z")
I apologize if this is a slight hijack, but it is toenail-related. One of my toenails (the Little Piggy That Stayed Home) has rolled itself like a tube. It is about 85% round, and the sides are almost touching. It doesn’t cause me any pain, but it is difficult to trim. Is this just a strange case of ingrown toenail? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thick-chunky-toenails/160027/26 "2010-11-08T15:36:19Z")
I have these thick, incredibly hard-to-cut toenails. So did my mother. I suspect sometimes it might be hereditary. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thick-chunky-toenails/160027/27 "2010-11-08T15:38:40Z")
I did not have any luck with Vicks Vap-o-Rub, but did get good results with an over the counter solution called RECLEAR AF, which was recommended by my podiatrist. The active ingredient is Clotrimazole 1%. RECLEAR AF is a thickish, clear liguid that you apply over and under (as much as possible) the nailbed daily (or so). I find it is easier to appy following a bath or shower. I have been using it about 6 months and the fungus that was causing the thickened and opaque nail, which used to affect about half the nail, has now reached a point where I think I can trim it off and be finished soon. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thick-chunky-toenails/160027/28 "2010-11-08T17:58:07Z")
There’s actually a [book](http://www.amazon.com/War-Against-Toenail-Fungus/dp/097438920X)about fighting toenail fungus, and I believe it recommends a combined penlac / lamisil approach. I’ve tried Penlac alone and it didn’t work. I also tried Vicks Vaporub and Tea Tree oil, again without success. I can’t take Lamisil due to conflicts with other, more important, prescription drugs I’m taking. J. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thick-chunky-toenails/160027.md?page=1)