07939 335744info@alicegate.com Home visits across Hertfordshire · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm HomeAboutTreatments Areas Our WorkReviewsContact07939 335744Request a Home Visit - Home - Services - Fungal Nail Infections Nail conditions # Fungal Nail Infection Treatmentat Home Across Welwyn Garden City,Hatfield & St Albans Discoloured, crumbling, thickened nails assessed and treated in a full hour at home, addressing the infection itself and the conditions that let it take hold, so it does not simply return to the next nail. 1 hour · From £75.00 Request a Home VisitCall 07939 335744 Qualified FHP · Registered nurse of 20+ years · Insured with Balens Ltd ## Why clients trust Alicegate Foot Health Practice - Qualified Foot Health Practitioner (FHP) - 20+ years of nursing experience - Fully insured with Balens Ltd - Home visits across Hertfordshire - Cash or bank transfer after treatment ## About Fungal Nail Infections A fungal nail infection, or onychomycosis, usually begins at the free edge or side of the nail and works back towards the base. The nail discolours to yellow, white or brown, thickens, becomes brittle and crumbly, and may lift away from the nail bed. It is not painful in the early stages, which is exactly why it spreads. By the time a nail is uncomfortable inside a shoe, the infection is generally well established and often present in more than one nail. Treatment during the hour-long appointment addresses the infected nail directly: the infected nail material is reduced, thickness is taken down, and crumbling debris is removed. Reducing the infected bulk both improves comfort and gives any topical treatment a realistic chance of reaching the nail bed. Equally important is preventing recurrence: footwear, hosiery, skin between the toes and the surfaces the feet are exposed to all determine whether the fungus comes back. That is discussed properly rather than dealt with in a sentence. ### Why professional care matters Topical treatments bought over the counter cannot penetrate a thick infected nail plate, which is why they so often fail. Reducing the infected nail material first is what changes the outcome, and professional assessment also distinguishes fungal infection from trauma, psoriasis and other causes that look similar but need entirely different management. ### Who this is for - Anyone with discoloured, thickened or crumbling toenails - People who have had athlete's foot repeatedly - Clients whose over-the-counter treatments have made no difference - Clients where several nails are now affected - People with diabetes or reduced immunity, where infection carries more risk ### When it is needed - A nail has turned yellow, white or brown - The nail is crumbling at the edge or lifting from the bed - The nail has thickened and become difficult to cut - More than one nail is starting to look the same - The skin between the toes is flaky, itchy or split ## What happens if it is left untreated ### It spreads to other nails Fungus moves readily from nail to nail and between the toes. One affected nail becomes three or four over a couple of years. ### The nail deteriorates permanently Long-standing infection can damage the nail matrix, after which the nail may never grow back with a normal appearance. ### Skin infection follows Fungal nail infection and athlete's foot travel together. Cracked, macerated skin between the toes is a route in for bacterial infection, which matters greatly for diabetic clients. ### Common mistakes we see - Painting nail varnish over a discoloured nail - Buying a topical treatment without reducing the nail thickness first - Stopping treatment as soon as the nail looks slightly better - Sharing clippers, files, towels or shoes with someone else - Ignoring the athlete's foot that is reinfecting the nails ## How the appointment works, step by step - Step 1 ### Assessment The pattern, extent and likely cause of the nail change are assessed, along with the skin between the toes and the state of the other nails. - Step 2 ### Debridement Crumbling, infected nail material is removed and the nail is reduced in thickness and length using sterile instruments. - Step 3 ### Treatment plan Options are explained clearly, including topical treatment and when a GP review for oral treatment is the sensible next step. - Step 4 ### Skin and footwear management Any athlete's foot is identified and addressed, and footwear, hosiery and hygiene measures are set out to stop reinfection. - Step 5 ### Review Progress is monitored at each subsequent visit as the healthy nail grows through, with reduction repeated as needed. ## What you get from the treatment ### Treatment can actually reach the nail Reducing infected bulk is what gives topical products a chance of working rather than sitting on the surface. ### Immediate comfort improvement Thinning a thickened infected nail relieves the pressure inside shoes straight away. ### Correct diagnosis Not every discoloured nail is fungal, and treating the wrong thing wastes months. ### Spread is contained Treating the skin and correcting hygiene stops the infection moving to neighbouring nails and to other people in the household. ### Appearance improves over time As healthy nail grows through, each appointment removes more of the affected plate. ### Care at home The whole appointment is carried out in your own home across Hertfordshire. ## Fungal Nail Infections in detail ### How fungal nail infection takes hold The organisms involved are usually dermatophytes, the same group responsible for athlete's foot. They thrive in warm, damp, dark conditions: inside a shoe worn all day, in a sock that is not fully dry, in a bathroom floor shared with an infected household member. Entry usually needs a small breach: a nail lifted slightly at the edge, a nail damaged by trauma or pressure, or skin split between the toes. Once the fungus is under the nail plate it is protected from anything applied to the surface, which is why infections persist for years. ### Realistic timelines Toenails grow slowly; a full nail replacement typically takes many months, and longer in older clients. Any honest account of fungal nail treatment therefore involves a long timeline, with improvement measured by the healthy nail visible at the base rather than by the appearance of the whole nail. Progress is reviewed at each maintenance appointment, and infected material is reduced each time. Where the infection is extensive or has not responded, a GP review for oral antifungal treatment is the appropriate next step, and you will be advised of that directly. ### Preventing reinfection Practical measures make the difference: dry thoroughly between the toes after washing, change socks daily and choose breathable materials, rotate shoes so each pair dries fully between wears, avoid walking barefoot in shared bathrooms and changing areas, and never share clippers or files. Household spread matters too. If athlete's foot is present in the home, treating one person's nails while the source remains untreated is a losing battle. Where relevant, this is discussed as a household issue rather than an individual one. ### Related treatments - Thickened Toenail Treatment | 1 hour, From £75.00 - Nail Cutting & Filing Only | 30 minutes, From £67.00 - Routine Foot Care Appointment | 1 hour, From £80.00 - All treatments and prices → ### Areas covered for home visits - Hertfordshire - Welwyn Garden City - Hatfield - St Albans - Potters Bar - Codicote - Hertford - Stevenage - Borehamwood - Welwyn - Hemel Hempstead - Hitchin - Enfield - BarnetNew to the practice? Read about the practice or meet Nse Murray. ## Fungal Nail Infections: your questions answered How much is fungal nail treatment?From £75.00 for a one-hour home visit in the covered Hertfordshire areas. How long does it take to clear?Toenails grow slowly, so improvement is measured over many months as healthy nail grows through. Infected material is reduced at each appointment along the way. Do over-the-counter treatments work?They rarely penetrate a thick infected nail on their own. Reducing the nail first substantially improves the chance that a topical treatment reaches the affected area. Will I need tablets from my GP?Sometimes. Where the infection is extensive or unresponsive, oral antifungal treatment prescribed by a GP is appropriate, and you will be advised if that is the sensible route. Is it contagious?Yes. It spreads between nails, between feet and between people, particularly through shared towels, clippers and damp floors. Are you sure it is fungal and not something else?Trauma, psoriasis and other conditions can look similar. The pattern of the change is assessed at the appointment, and you will be told if the appearance suggests something other than infection. Can you still cut the nails while treating them?Yes. Reduction of length and thickness is part of the treatment, not separate from it. How do I pay?Cash or bank transfer, soon after treatment. Which areas do you visit?Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, St Albans, Potters Bar, Codicote, Hertford, Stevenage, Borehamwood and the surrounding Hertfordshire area. ## Comfortable Feet, Treated ProperlyWithout Leaving Your Home Tell Nse what is troubling you and she will call you back to arrange a convenient appointment. Qualified Foot Health Practitioner, 20+ years of nursing experience, fully insured with Balens Ltd. Request a Home VisitCall 07939 335744 Clinical foot health care delivered in your own home by Nse Murray, qualified Foot Health Practitioner and registered nurse. Your feet, our priority. ## Contact - 07939 335744 - info@alicegate.com - Home visits across Hertfordshire ## Opening hours - Monday9am – 5pm - Tuesday9am – 5pm - Wednesday9am – 5pm - Thursday9am – 5pm - Friday9am – 5pm - SaturdayClosed - SundayClosed - Bank HolidaysClosed ## Treatments - Initial Consultation with Treatment - Follow-Up Treatment - Nail Cutting & Filing Only - Routine Foot Care Appointment - Hard Corns & Calluses - Heel Pain / Plantar Fasciitis - Cracked Heels - Verrucae Treatment - All foot health treatments and prices → ## Service Areas - Hertfordshire - Welwyn Garden City - Hatfield - St Albans - Potters Bar - Codicote - Hertford - Stevenage - Borehamwood - Welwyn - Hemel Hempstead - Hitchin - Enfield - Barnet © 2026 Alicegate Foot Health Practice. Fully insured with Balens Ltd. Our WorkPrivacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsRead our Google reviews Call 07939 335744Request a Visit