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What can I do About an Infected Toenail?

Debora Ruth Hoffman
Debora Ruth Hoffman

An infected toenail is rarely serious, although it can be painful and ugly. Symptoms that include redness, swelling, and tenderness around the nail all point to an infected or possibly ingrown toenail. If symptoms are more confined to the nail itself, such as thickened, crumbly, dull, or dark color toenails, then it’s likely a fungal nail infection. Although both can be caused by injury or illness, most often the cause is the condition in which the feet live each day. For both conditions, prevention is really the key. Anyone with diabetes or an immune disorder should seek medical advice immediately for an infected toenail.

An infected toenail can be caused by an ingrown toenail, which are in turn caused by the nail growing into the toe around it. This is most common in the big toe and can easily become an infected toenail if ignored. Before seeking medical help, try treating the symptoms at home. Foot soaks in warm salt water or warm, soapy water for 15 to 20 minutes a day will help reduce the swelling and the soreness. The bath will also soften the skin allowing the nail edge to be gently lifted away from the toe. Try putting pieces of clean cotton under the ingrown edge after each soaking. This helps the nail to grow away from the skin edge. It can also be helpful to apply a topical antibiotic to the affected area.

A foot soak can help with an infected toenail.
A foot soak can help with an infected toenail.

One way to help prevent ingrown toenails is to clip nails straight across. Ingrown toenails can also be caused by shoes that are too tight and it can be helpful to wear open-toed shoes while waiting for the nail to grow out. It is a good idea to take pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help ease the pain of an infected toenail. However, keep an eye on the toe so that the symptoms don’t worsen. If they do, seek medical advice. This is especially important if you have diabetes.

Toenails can become infected as a result of a fungus.
Toenails can become infected as a result of a fungus.

A toenail that is infected with fungus will become thickened, brittle, crumbly, or dull in color. It can also become darker in color and the nail can separate from the skin. Toes are an ideal location for fungal infection as fungus favor dark, warm, moist environments such as sweaty feet encased in shoes all day. It’s easy to pick up the fungus from the floors of communal showers and public pools. Wearing flip flops can help prevent infection. Other risk factors include sweaty feet, working under humid conditions, and wearing tight shoes that lack airflow.

A foot bath that contains white vinegar may help heal an infected toenail.
A foot bath that contains white vinegar may help heal an infected toenail.

A suspected nail fungal infection requires attention from a medical provider as soon as possible. This condition can be difficult to treat and the longer the wait, the worse it can get. A doctor will take a sample of the infected toenail to identify it and prescribe either oral anti-fungal medications or something topical such as a cream or nail polish. The oral medications can have serious side effects, ranging from skin rash to liver disease.

Home remedies to try include vinegar foot baths and applying a mentholated topical cream. Neither of these has been clinically proven to help with nail fungus, but people have reported success with both.

Discussion Comments

anon313429

I have had good success with using activated charcoal for nail infections. I get them a lot when I cut my nails (I cut as far down as possible usually and sometimes too far, plus I bite my nails).

What I do is open a capsule of activated charcoal (You can get this at the store in the pharmacy section near the anti-gas stuff like Gas-X, etc.) and pour the contents on the nail and wrap it up good with a band aid or use one of those lovely gauzy finger cuff things they make for finger or toe injuries. The charcoal will draw out the infection in usually a day or two.

This worked on my finger a couple of weeks ago and right now, I have a bad infection in my big toenail which isn't responding well to the charcoal, but I'd say over the years it took care of probably eight out of 10 infections in my nails so I always try it first before anything else.

The charcoal is messy and it will stain stuff (like certain surfaces -- some stained my toilet seat when I applied it over the toilet to catch the excess that fell -- unfortunately some fell on the toilet seat and it was smudged black forever) so be careful what it comes into contact with. Also it will come off your skin. You just have to wash thoroughly with soap and water and it may leave a black residue, but will eventually come off completely in a few soaks.

anon152295

you can use a tea bag. just wait until it boils and you can have a drink. take the tea bag and squeeze all the liquid out and place it on infected area for at least 20 minutes. do it two times a day for as long as you need.

PurpleSpark

@calabama71: For those that do not wish to go to the doctor and get medication for infections, tea tree oil is a good alternative. You can purchase it from most health or herb shops. It has natural antifungal properties. One study done found that it improved or cured over 60% of cases of infected toenails.

Apply it twice a day, wiping it under the tip of the nail and all of the surrounding skin.

Remember, it is an oil so it could discolor shoes made of leather. At night, soak a small piece of cotton wool with the tea tree oil and use medical tape to tape it to the end of your toe.

calabama71

Has anyone heard of using tea tree oil for infected toenails?

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    • A foot soak can help with an infected toenail.
      By: Jan Andersen
      A foot soak can help with an infected toenail.
    • Toenails can become infected as a result of a fungus.
      By: Serhad
      Toenails can become infected as a result of a fungus.
    • A foot bath that contains white vinegar may help heal an infected toenail.
      By: hsagencia
      A foot bath that contains white vinegar may help heal an infected toenail.
    • Toenail infections may be caused by injury to the foot.
      By: johnnydao
      Toenail infections may be caused by injury to the foot.
    • A topical antibiotic can be applied to an infected toenail to help kill bacteria.
      By: Coprid
      A topical antibiotic can be applied to an infected toenail to help kill bacteria.
    • Severely infected toenails that do not respond to treatment may need to be removed.
      By: adam88xx
      Severely infected toenails that do not respond to treatment may need to be removed.
    • Sandals are a breathable kind of shoe that may help in the treatment of several foot conditions.
      By: mettus
      Sandals are a breathable kind of shoe that may help in the treatment of several foot conditions.