Major toe issue (WARNING: gross pictures)

I’m 19 years old, and I’ve been dealing with an issue involving my finger (specifically my nail) for about six years now.
I’m honestly getting pretty desperate at this point and I have no idea what my next move should be. First, I’ll upload some photos of my finger so you guys can see exactly what we're talking about.



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This whole thing started back when I was a kid. I used to swim competitively, and for one year, our club moved into the pool at this old, run-down hotel—the kind of place that was damaged during the war and hasn't been properly renovated since, so the hygiene was basically non-existent. I don't remember the exact moment, but I'm almost 100% certain I hit my finger while running around the pool deck or playing around as a kid, and it's been a problem ever since. My primary care physician tried treating me with Johnson & Johnson creams, solutions, and powders. Even after two months of applying it six times a day—and I wasn't even training at the time—nothing changed. She eventually referred me to a dermatology clinic, where a nurse took a sample from the nail and sent it off to a lab in Washington, D.C., for mycological analysis. It turns out it isn't a fungus; it’s actually mold. Following all the previous treatments, the dermatologist also prescribed Lamisil tablets. After finishing the first course, I went back for a follow-up, and she told me the nail looked better, though she barely gave it more than a passing glance. Her advice? Just stick with the Johnson & Johnson products. But again, that didn't work either.
I ended up visiting a private specialist—someone who has successfully removed moles for me in the past—because I don't really trust the results from general practitioners (🙏). She sent her own sample for testing and got the exact same result. She admitted she had never seen anything quite like this before and wasn't sure what she would do if she were in my shoes. Since it was summer, she suggested I wait until autumn, at which point she could remove the nail to see if a healthy one grows back underneath.
In the meantime, a podiatrist from Germany (who happens to be my mom's best friend) came over. She ripped the nail off, filed it down, and groomed it as if it weren't diseased, advising me that under no circumstances should I ever try to lift the nail myself.😕😕
A few years later, sores started appearing around the finger. They pop up here and there, disappear, and then resurface. At the urging of a relative, I went back to the general practitioner because apparently, there's a new dermatologist there. She took one look at the nail and said it needs to be lifted; if a healthy nail grows back, great, but if not, we'll figure out the next steps then.😢
You might think it’s stupid to ask "what's next," but frankly, I'm terrified. I don't know if I should go through with having the nail pulled. First off, I have no clue how long the healing process takes. In six months, I start a new job washing yachts, and that involves a ton of heavy chemicals that could seriously irritate my skin. Second, I pay for a gym membership, and I have no idea if I'll even be able to train. I'm completely in the dark. I'm scared that even if they pull it, the same messed-up nail will just grow back, and then they'll tell me the entire finger needs to be dealt with. I just need someone to give me a straight answer about what is actually happening, how the nail removal works, and what the recovery looks like.

You’ve already got the thread about fungal stuff—go check that out, maybe someone there has a solid recommendation,
because while Johnson & Johnson works fine for minor fungal issues, you’re dealing with actual open sores here.

What I can actually suggest—and this saved my skin when I picked up some nasty herpes on my foot from trying on someone else's shoes—is to try an alternative remedy for a few days first.

Try honey mixed with some propolis and pollen. Honey is a massive antiseptic; even your doctor will tell you it’s great for healing wounds while simultaneously cleaning them and acting as a barrier against fungus. My boyfriend has absolutely horrific foot issues, and it took me forever to get him to actually try it, but he was totally sold.

You can find all the ingredients at health food stores, or better yet, head to a local beekeeping supply shop. It won't break the bank—just grab the pollen and some crushed propolis; if they have it in powder form, that's the way to go. You might even find it at some pharmacies. Just mix everything together and keep it in a cool, dry spot—don't stick it in the fridge and don't leave it out in the sun. At night, wash your foot, slather it on (the area or the whole foot), put a plastic bag over it, then a sock, and just sleep.

It might feel a little gross at first, so just watch out so you don't make a huge mess of your sheets.

Give it a shot for 10 days. It'll cost you a tiny bit, it won't hurt you, and it might actually work.
If it does help, I'd recommend wearing closed-toe shoes during the summer to protect your feet, and keep doing this treatment at least once or twice a week. That toe is going to stay sensitive and vulnerable, so you'll need to baby it for at least another year.

Thanks for the deep dive, though I’m pretty sure we aren't dealing with fungi here.
And while we're at it, what exactly constitutes pollen?

Pollen vs. flower dust