Not Medical Advice: There is no evidence found that Lysine, or L-lysine, can help get rid of toenail fungus.
Lysine is an amino acid (building block of protein). People use it to make medicine.
Lysine is used for preventing and treating cold sores (caused by the virus called herpes simplex labialis). It is taken by mouth or applied directly to the skin for this use.
To treat toenail fungus, you can buy antifungal creams, gels, and nail polish at the store and online without a prescription. You might want to try one of them first if the infection doesn't look bad. Some people also swear by home remedies like menthol rub, tea tree oil, mouthwash, or snakeroot extract -- but studies show mixed results.
Your foot doctor will likely trim your nail and file away its dead layers. He may also take a piece of your nail and send it to the lab to make sure it’s really a fungus, and to find out what type it is.
The doctor might suggest an antifungal drug that you paint on your nails. This may work on its own, or he may suggest you take it with antifungal pills.
One of several antifungal pills may help. They work, but it may take many months to do the job. They also come with side effects like nausea, vomiting, and headaches. They may cause liver damage, too, so your doctor will watch you closely while you take them. Be sure to tell her about any other meds you’re taking -- some antifungal pills might not work well with them.
Learn more about the Treatments for Toenail Fungus at WebMD.