If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. Symptoms of infected toes include discoloration, brittleness, changes in toenail shape, and swelling around the toenail. Fortunately, there are many ways to cure a toe infection that you can do quickly at home.
When should you go to the ER for an infected toe?
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. Infected toes often stem from ingrown toenails; while common, the infection can be painful if left untreated. Treating an infected toe is usually simple and can usually occur at home.
When should you seek medical attention for an infected toenail?
You should seek immediate medical attention if you have a fever and notice red streaks on your skin that lead away from the infected area on your toe, as these symptoms indicate a more severe infection. An infected toenail can impact your daily life, but it doesn’t have to.
How to get rid of an infected toe?
Infected Toe Treatment 1 Toenail Infections. Infected toes often stem from ingrown toenails; while common, the infection can be painful if left untreated. 2 Topical Treatments. Antibiotic ointments go a long way as treatment for an infected toe. ... 3 Epsom Salt. ... 4 Prevent Infected Toes. ... 5 Warning. ...
What are the symptoms of an infected toe?
If your toe is infected, you’ll probably have one or more of these symptoms: A toe infection can be caused by several different things, including: When the side of your toenail grows down into the skin of your toe, it’s said to be ingrown. This can be very painful.
When should I go to the ER for an infected toe?
SEE A DOCTOR: If you have any worrisome symptoms like unbearable pain, unusual swelling, pus, odor, or warmth in the affected toe and its surrounding area, have a doctor take a look. An emergency room can remove ingrown toenails if necessary.
What does a serious toe infection look like?
Redness. Soreness or pain. A pus-filled blister, or pus that drains from your toe. Cracked, thickened, yellow toenails (from a fungal infection)
When should you seek medical attention for a toe?
Pain when the affected toe is touched. Severe redness and swelling of the affected toe. The presence of oozing pus, a sign of infection. The skin around your toenail feels warm to the touch.
What should I do if my big toe is infected?
Soak your foot in warm water and Epsom salt or coarse salt to soften the area. This will help the pus to drain out and reduce pain. Apply antibiotic or antifungal lotion directly to the nail and to the skin under and around the nail.
Can you get sepsis from an infected toe?
Even a particularly bad ingrown toenail that becomes infected can lead to sepsis, he says, although that is not a common occurrence.
What do Covid toes look like?
COVID toes: One or more toes may swell and turn pink, red, or a purplish color. Others may see a small amount of pus under their skin. Sometimes, people who have COVID toes have other symptoms of COVID-19.
How do you soak an infected toe?
Allow your sore toe to soak in a warm salt water bath for 15 minutes a couple of times every day. This soak can help relieve pain and swelling in an ingrown toenail. Dry your foot completely after each soak. Keep your foot dry except when soaking.
What does it mean when your toenail is throbbing?
Your doctor may call it a “subungual hematoma” if you have bleeding under a fingernail or toenail. It usually happens if the nail gets crushed in an injury. It can cause symptoms such as intense pain and throbbing as blood collects under the nail.
How do I know if my foot injury is serious?
Seek immediate medical attention if you:Have severe pain or swelling.Have an open wound or a wound that is oozing pus.Have signs of infection, such as redness, warmth and tenderness in the affected area or you have a fever over 100 F (37.8 C)Are unable to walk or put weight on your foot.More items...
Should you squeeze pus out of an infected toe?
Avoid squeezing out the pus. We have a tendency to try to help the healing by attempting to squeeze any pus out of an infected wound. However, this can actually push the bacteria further into the wound, making the infection worse.
What does it mean when your toe is swollen and red?
A swollen toe can occur for many different reasons, including injuries, infections, and conditions such as arthritis. Some causes of a swollen toe require a visit to the doctor. In general, people should see a doctor if the swelling persists or is accompanied by pain or other worrying symptoms.
Will infected toe heal itself?
Will an Infected Toe Heal Itself? An infection can sometimes go away on its own, but it may need treatment. If you have diabetes, and redness and swelling don't go away or have painful joints or muscles, you should see your doctor.
Why is my toe red?
Your toe is red, swollen, and sore. Could it be infected? Toe infections are common -- especially in people with diabetes or a weakened immune system. Knowing what caused your infection can help you figure out whether you can treat it yourself, or you need to call a doctor.
How to get rid of ingrown toenails?
To treat an ingrown toenail, your doctor might lift the nail and place a piece of cotton or a splint underneath it. This will help the nail grow away from your skin.
How to keep a toe nail from rubbing?
Place a small piece of cotton or waxed dental floss underneath to hold the nail away from your skin. You’ll also want to protect your toe while it heals. To help it heal properly, wear loose, comfortable shoes that don't rub. Keep your foot dry, and change your socks every day.
How to get rid of a blister on my toe?
You can also try these remedies at home: Soak the toe for about 15 minutes in a bathtub or bucket filled with warm water and salt. Do this three to four times a day.
Why do my toes turn yellow?
Cracked, thickened, yellow toenails (from a fungal infection) Diabetes can prevent you from feeling that you might have an infection, so check your feet every day. Look for redness, swelling, pus, and other signs of infection. When to See Your Doctor.
Can diabetes cause toe infections?
And diabetic nerve damage can prevent you from feeling minor trauma that could lead to a toe infection. If you have a weakened immune system, you’re also more likely to get toe infections.
What is the best treatment for toe infection?
Several natural treatments can be used to help heal a toe infection. Tea tree oil and lavender oil have anti-fungal properties. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that you can apply to a sore spot or under an infected toenail when your feet are clean, preferably after a shower or bath. Do this twice a day.
How to treat an infected toe?
If you have a cut, blister or ingrown toenail, topical medicine is necessary. Apply treatment to the infected area and cover with an adhesive bandage if you must wear shoes and so cks. If you can, leave the infected area open to the air to speed healing.
How to treat toenail fungus?
Fill a bathtub or a large basin with enough warm water to fully immerse your foot. Add 3/4 cup of Epsom salt and soak your foot for at least 20 minutes.
How to remove a toe nail that has burrowed?
First, take a pair of clean nail clippers and use the file to gently remove the nail that has burrowed into your skin. Be very careful not to puncture your skin; this can cause further harm.
What are the symptoms of an infected toe?
Symptoms of infected toes include discoloration, brittleness, changes in toenail shape, and swelling around the toenail. Fortunately, there are many ways to cure a toe infection that you can do quickly at home. **.
Why do my toes get infected?
**Infected toes can be caused by a variety of triggers: fungi, open cuts or wounds on the toe, ingrown toenails, and shoes that do not fit properly, to name a few.
What to do if home remedies do not work?
If home remedies do not fight the infection or if your symptoms worsen, seek medical treatment 1. A doctor will be able to accurately diagnose your problem and may prescribe an antibiotic.
How to tell if you have an ingrown toenail?
It could be a simple ingrown toenail or a more serious infection that could spread into the rest of your body. In order to tell the difference you should assess your symptoms. The signs and symptoms of a light infection include: pain and/or tenderness, swelling, redness, and increased warmth in the area.
How do you know if you have a toe infection?
Once again, these symptoms include pus, red streaks radiating from the wound, or a fever. If you experience any of these, call your physician for advice right away. A serious infection can move from your toe into the rest of your body. A really bad infection can even put your system into shock and threaten your life.
How to get rid of fungus on toe?
Soak the toe in Epsom salts daily. Add about ½ cup of Epsom salts to three cups of warm water. Let your toe soak in the solution for 15 minutes, or until the water gets too cold. The high salt content can kill bacteria and fungal infections. ...
How to get rid of a swollen ear?
Apply a garlic paste on the infection. Crush two to three cloves of peeled garlic and mix with either olive oil, castor oil, or manuka honey , which also has anti-microbial properties. Put onto the infection and cover with a bandage. Change the garlic daily .
Does Listerine help with toenail fungus?
If you have a toenail fungus infection, a soak of 50/50 Listerine and white vinegar can help eliminate the infection.
Does soak help with toenail infections?
Soaking helps with the infection and softens the skin to allow the infection to “come to a head.". In the case of toenail fungal infections, your doctor may prescribe an oral anti-fungal medication or an anti-fungal prescription nail polish. [4]
How to treat athlete's foot infection?
1. Use tea tree oil on an infection. Apply the tea tree oil directly onto either a bacterial or a fun gal infection. The tea tree is naturally anti-bacterial and can help to kill an infection. For example, tea tree oil has been shown to reduce athlete's foot infections in clinical studies.
What to do if you have a fungal infection on your toe?
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can both help relieve the pain that comes from an infected toe. Use an antifungal cream if you think you have a fungal infection. You can purchase an over-the-counter cream or get a prescription from your doctor.
How to get rid of ingrown toes?
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of unscented Epsom salts into one quart of warm water and soak your foot for 15 minutes at a time. Do this several times a day for the first few days. Always dry your foot completely after soaking. Soaking your ingrown or infected toe will help relieve the pain and pressure of an infection.
Why are my toenails red?
The most common causes of an ingrown toenails include: Cutting your toenail too short or too long. Toenail injury. Curved toenails (genetic predisposition) Improper footwear (too tight or narrow) that puts pressure on your big toes.
What does it mean when your toenail is red?
An infected toenail is a slow pain that’s easy to ignore. That is, until it isn’t. Whether the infection is caused by an ingrown nail or because of an injury, it’s hard to ignore when your toenail is a red, infected, sore mess. If you feel that you have an infection in your toe, you should follow up with a podiatrist or visit your local InstaCare or urgent care clinic as soon as possible.
Why does my toe swell?
You are noticing redness, swelling, and/or drainage coming from your toe. You think you may have a fungal infection and over-the-counter creams haven’t worked. You have an infected or ingrown toenail and you’re diabetic. Your toenail infection symptoms don’t go away, they worsen, or they keep coming back.
How to tell if your toenail is infected?
An infected toenail comes with pretty specific symptoms. They include: 1 Pain with pressure on your toe 2 The skin next to your nail being swollen, tender, or hard 3 Redness 4 Bleeding 5 Skin that grows over part of your toenail 6 A blister filled with pus (you may not notice a blister, but have large amounts of drainage coming from your toe) 7 Yellow toenails that are thick or cracked, suggesting a fungal infection in your toenails
Does toenail infection go away?
Your toenail infection symptoms don’t go away, they worsen, or they keep coming back. You should seek immediate medical attention if you have a fever and notice red streaks on your skin that lead away from the infected area on your toe, as these symptoms indicate a more severe infection.
How to soak toes in Epsom salt?
Prepare the soak by mixing one gallon of hot water with 2 cups of white vinegar and one half cup of Epsom salt. Move your toes around in the water to keep the vinegar and salt mixing and flowing across the infection. Suzanne Alicie is a professional writer and author who has been writing professionally since 2008.
How to treat an infected toe?
Learn More. Place the infected toe into the soak and allow it to remain there for at least 30 minutes. Move your toes around in the water to keep the vinegar and salt mixing and flowing across the infection.
What is the best treatment for fungus on toes?
Vinegar is a very effective treatment for infection and fungus. Epsom salt is also known as a soothing additive which will help relieve pain in the infected toe. When it comes to treating an infected toe a packaged foot soak is not recommended because it may have fragrance or other additives that will irritate and possibly worsen the infection. ...
Why do you soak your toes?
Because your toes are inside socks and shoes, the best bet for curing infections is to soak the toe at the end of the day.
How long does it take for a foot bath to work?
Many commercial foot bath devices offer vibrating or propulsion options that will keep the water in motion. Approximately 30 minutes gives the vinegar and salt time to work as the water cools. Remove the infected foot from the soak and dry it gently with the towel.
Who is Suzanne Alicie?
Suzanne Alicie is a professional writer and author who has been writing professionally since 2008. She has experience in gardening, communications and retail, as well as being a small-business owner. Alicie is an avid gardener and is happiest when digging in the dirt or grooming her flowerbeds.
What are the conditions that can cause a toenail to be red?
Blunt trauma to the toenail, such as a heavy object dropped on the toe, which may need to have a fracture or wound treated. Severe swelling, pain, or redness of the toe. Discharge from under the toenail.
What causes discoloration under the toenail?
Discharge from under the toenail. Toenail becomes loose. If you have neuropathy, diabetes, peripheral arterial disease , or any condition that affects healing or circulation. Discoloration appears as a linear streak or a stripe going with the length of the nail.
Can a toenail regrow?
Permanent nail loss : This can happen due to damage to the nail matrix. The toenail may not regrow. 4 .
Why does my toe go numb?
The toe goes numb or tingly. This suggests pressure on, or damage to, the nerves to the toe (which run up the side of the toe, one on each side). The skin on the toes has turned blue (other than bruising) or grey and is cold to the touch when the other toes are not. The toe is bent at an angle or with an open wound.
What to do if your toe is swollen?
Ibuprofen gel applied to the toe may be helpful if the skin isn't broken. Protection: wear sturdy shoes with stiff soles, that don't squash or bend the toe. You can begin normal activity once the swelling has gone down and you're able to wear a protective shoe comfortably.
What does it mean when your toe is broken?
A broken (fractured) toe is a fairly common injury which usually needs no specific treatment . It is most often caused by dropping a heavy object on to your foot or badly stubbing your toe.
Why are toe bones so vulnerable?
However, toe bones are more vulnerable because they are small bones and because they are on the edge of the body, so are more likely to be injured in the first place. A broken little toe, caused by stubbing it, may be particularly common due to its position.
Why do you cast a broken big toe?
A broken (fractured) big toe may be put in a cast to support it, as it takes much more of your weight than the other toes and is also needed for balance. The big toe is more likely than the smaller toes to need surgery in order to heal properly and to be as strong as it was before you broke it.
How to get rid of a broken toe?
Make sure the tape isn't too tight. Also make sure you remove it and apply fresh tape and padding after washing your injured foot. Pain relief: take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve the pain. Ibuprofen gel applied to the toe may be helpful if the skin isn't broken.
How long should I ice my toe?
Ice: beyond 72 hours ice is no longer beneficial. Hold an ice pack to the toe for 15-20 minutes every one to two hours for the first couple of days. See the separate leaflet called Heat and Ice Treatment for Pain for more information. Elevation: this means sitting or lying with your foot up, as high as is comfortable.