Any home remedies for an infected toe?

[itsy]

Years ago when I first started dating my BF - I had an ingrown toenail. I have this thing with having to have my toenails so short that no white nail part is showing. Something about long toenails kind of grosses me out, but I'm getting better at dealing with that. lol

Either way - I had this ingrown toenail. I let my BF check it out. His trick is to try and lift up the offending edge enough to wedge a small piece of something *clean* in there like a piece of plastic spoon or a piece of paper. He's always used paper (like cardboard) though. Can I tell you how well that worked? He's prone to getting them and that's always what he's done for himself.

Good luck!

 

[Skyesrocket]

Mulewagon, That is a good website. I bookmarked it. Thanks for posting the link!
I would try the peroxide too. To cut a toenail that is ingrown let the nail grow out and then soak it for half an hour or so until the nail is soft. Take a nail trimmer and cut the nail back from the middle of the nail towards the ingrown area. Only cut it part way. Then pull it the rest of the way slowly. The nail peels back and pulls the ingrown part out.
Both of my big toes have ingrown nails....they actually curl around my skin in like a tiny tube. I let my nails grow long and then cut it like I described and it works. It pulls the whole curl thing out. No pain, no blood.

 

[citychickx6]

We use a product around here called green soap. You will have to ask at the pharmacy for it. They just don't keep it on the counter. It is what doctors used to use before hibiclens for scrubbing before surgery. Hot water mixed with it and a good long soak 2 x a day is how we fix em up.

BUT I really think if it is as bad as it sounds a doctor may be in order.

 

[Frogdogtimestwo]

I didn't read all the answers but I had chronic ingrown toe nails as a kid and the fastest way for it to heal is to cut a v in the center of your toe nail to relieve the pressure and it will grow inwards to fill in the v instead of out which is what is happening. I used to pour hydrogen peroxide over and soak with epsom salt as well.

* Forgot to mention I always cut away the offending (usually sharp) corner that is causing the infection and keep the v cut in the nail for as long as it takes to fully heal.

 

[Ole and Lena]

I have a lot of experiece in wilderness medicine where doctors are'nt available.

Do not SOAK in hydrogen peroxide. It will kill and dry out healthy tissue which will cause other problems. It is a good topical antiseptic but must be dabbed on with a clean cloth and then rinsed with cool water.

If drainage is greenish in color and/or adjacent skin is showing red streaking, excessive swelling or skin is sloughing, go to an ER ASAP, you have symptoms of blood poisoning or gangrene. If just a run of the mill infection, ice the toe until it is numb. Use a stout fishhook straightened out and sterilized in a flame to dig out the offending ingrown part. Excise any dead tissue or scabs with a VERY sharp knife or razor blade. You want to open it up a bit and get things draining(that's how your body gets rid of the infection). Sterilize area with peroxide or alcohol dab. Thouroughly rinse area, then dab dry with clean gauze. Stop bleeding with a styptic pencil. Use a compress of gauze and Honey to draw out any additional infection. Leave that in place about 2 hours. Rinse again with peroxide dab, then cold water. Stop any new bleeding again with styptic agent. Allow to dry in open air, no socks or shoes. Walk around or at least wiggle toes constantly to encourage circulation. Keep it warm, don't wear tight fitting shoes or socks. Eat a balanced diet including some good old red meat. This will help your body fight off infection and repair damage.

 

[Chuckles1330]

Thanks everyone for the advice and the great link. Looks like I'll be headed to the Dr to get it taken care of, epsom salt soaks help some, but I can't really manipulate the toe enough to do much else, and I keep expelling pus. Thankfully I don't have any complicating factors like diabetes, but I just want the pain to stop!