Toe Nail Fungus, Upper Right Quardrant

I have been treating a toe nail fungus that is limited to the upper right quardrant of my great toe only. I am using the popular method I found on your site:soaking 30 minutes twice a day in a 50-50 solution of apple cider vinegar and 3% peroxide twice, followed by a 30 second bath in a 1 to 4 bleach to water solution that I apply with an eye dropper, rinse and dry then followed by teatree oil in petroleum dabbed on and kept in place with gauze wrapped with paper tape. I found that bandades were taking the skin off the bottom of my toe so had to abandom that method. On July 12th the flesh around the fungs side of the toe became bright red and puffy. It looked infected, but was not painful at all. I stopped all treatment. The skin was quite leathery, due I would imagine to it's constant pickling in brine. I applied some cortisone creme with trepidation, fearing it might excite the nail fungus. In a few days it all peeled and looks fine again. Now, should I start my treatments again? Do you think the teatree oil might have been too intense? Should I just give it one dose a day rather than two. The toe was always wrapped in teatree oil in accordance with directions. Thanks for your help. I don't want this fungus to win!