How To Treat An Infected Toe

Contents

If your toe is infected, you’ll probably have one or more of these symptoms:

How to Tell When Your Toe Is Infected, and How to Treat It

Having a toe infection is no fun, especially if you’re on your feet a lot.

An infection can start small and build up to the point where you can’t ignore it any more.

Here’s what to look for and what you can do about it.

If your toe is infected, you’ll probably have one or more of these symptoms:

pain
pressure
redness or change in skin color
swelling
oozing
a bad smell
feeling hot to the touch
a visible break in the skin
fever

A toe infection can be caused by several different things, including:

an injury
another medical condition
a microorganism
the way your toenails naturally grow

Ingrown toenail infection

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.

Ingrown toenails can be caused by wearing shoes that are too tight, by cutting your toenails unevenly, or by injuring your foot. Some people also have toenails that naturally curve downward as they grow.

Feet yeast infection

Paronychia is a skin infection around your toenails. It’s caused by a type of yeast called Candida, but it’s usually accompanied by another germ, like a bacterium.

This type of infection causes the skin around your nails to become red and tender, and you may also develop blisters with pus in them.

Sometimes, your toenail may even come off.

Diabetes

If you have diabetes, the blood vessels and nerves in your toes may be damaged. This can lead to a toe infection that you may not be able to feel.

In extreme cases, an untended toe infection can become so severe that you may need to have your toe amputated.

Toe or toenail injury

If you stub your toe hard, you may drive the nail into the soft tissue surrounding it, which can cause it to become infected.

You can also create problems by trimming your nails too short near the edges, which can allow them to grow down into the fleshy part of your toe.

If you cut your nails so closely that you create a raw spot, this wound can also become infected.

Tight-fitting shoes

Shoes that are too tight or too narrow can cause a whole host of foot problems, including infections.

A tight-fitting shoe can aggravate an ingrown toenail, and if you have diabetes, can create blisters or sores that can become seriously infected.

Poor hygiene

Feet that are dirty or exposed to trapped sweat or moisture for long periods of time can give bacteria and fungus a place to grow.

Athlete’s foot

This fungal infection generally starts between your toes. Perspiration that lingers on your feet inside your shoes gives the fungus a moist place to grow.

Athlete’s foot can make your feet itch or burn. It appears as bright red, scaly patches, and may spread to other parts of your feet.

Athlete’s foot is contagious. You can get it by walking barefoot in locker rooms, using dirty towels, or wearing other people’s shoes.

Fungus

Fungus can also affect your toenails. Toenail fungus generally begins as a white or yellow spot in your toenail, and spreads with time.

Eventually, your toenail may be completely discolored and become thick, cracked, or crumbly.

When it comes to dealing with toe infections, your best strategy is one of prevention.

Check your toes a few times each week. Check them daily if you have diabetes. Look between each toe, examine your toenails, and note if you see any abnormalities.

Cut your toenails straight across rather than on a curve to prevent the edges of the nail from becoming ingrown.

Avoid going barefoot, wear roomy shoes, and change your socks often. If your feet sweat profusely, you may want to dust them with cornstarch powder when getting dressed.

If you do get an infection, the best way to treat it depends on how serious it is and if you have other medical conditions that put you at special risk.

Medical treatment

Based on the type of infection you have, a doctor may prescribe oral medications like antifungals or antibiotics.

You may also be given topical prescription creams or ointments.

In some cases, an infected or damaged toenail may need surgery.

For example, if you have a severe ingrown toenail, the physician may surgically remove the side of the nail that is growing down into the flesh.

Toe infection home treatment

For an ingrown toenail, try soaking your foot in warm, soapy water or apple cider vinegar.

You can treat athlete’s foot with antifungal sprays or creams available at your pharmacy. You can also check with a pharmacist about getting special padded socks that reduce the amount of moisture on your feet.

Toenail fungus can be treated with a variety of home remedies, including over-the-counter ointments and natural oils.

If home remedies aren’t working or your toe infection is getting worse, it’s definitely time for you to see a doctor.

Existing medical conditions can put you at even greater risk. It’s important to consult a physician right away if you have a weakened immune system or diabetes.

We take our toes for granted — until they start hurting.

You can keep your toes healthy and problem-free by:

checking them often
keeping your feet clean and free of moisture
trimming your nails carefully
wearing shoes that fit properly
treating toe infections as soon as they arise

Last medically reviewed on January 3, 2019

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Diabetes and foot problems. (2017).
niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/foot-problems
Fungal nail infections. (2017).
cdc.gov/fungal/nail-infections.html
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Athlete’s foot.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/athletes-foot/symptoms-causes/syc-20353841
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Ingrown toenails.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ingrown-toenails/symptoms-causes/syc-20355903
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Nail fungus.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nail-fungus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353294

Is My Toe Infected?

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.

What Causes an Infected Toe?

An infection in the skin around the toenail is called paronychia. It’s normally caused by a bacterium. The toenail can also be infected with a fungus.

What Are the Symptoms?

You might have an infected toe if you notice:

Redness
Soreness or pain
A pus-filled blister, or pus that drains from your toe
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

Make an appointment with your primary care doctor or a podiatrist (foot specialist) if you have diabetes and if the redness, swelling, and other symptoms don’t go away with home treatment. See your doctor right away if:

You have a fever or chills
You notice red streaks on the skin leading away from the infected area
Your joints or muscles hurt

Your doctor will examine your toe. You might need tests to find out what type of bacteria or fungus caused the infection.

Get regular checkups from your podiatrist if you have diabetes, so you can find infections and other problems early. See the doctor more often if you have any known foot problems, like an ingrown toenail.

How Is a Toe Infection Treated?

If bacteria caused the infection, an antibiotic cream or pill can clear up the problem. Fungal infections are treated with antifungal pills or cream. You can buy antifungal medicines over the counter or with a prescription from your doctor.

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. If lifting doesn’t work, the doctor can remove part or all of the affected nail.

Sometimes the infection can cause a pus-filled blister to form. Your doctor might have to drain the blister.

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.
Rub a medicated ointment on the toe and wrap it in a clean bandage.
To treat an ingrown toenail, gently lift the corner of the nail. 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.

Show Sources

American Academy of Family Physicians: “Paronychia.”

American Diabetes Association: “Foot Care.”

Cleveland Clinic: “How You Can Stop Foot and Toenail Fungus In Its Tracks.”

Diabetes New Zealand: “Infections.”

Fairview: “Ingrown Toenail, Infected (Antibiotics, No Excision).”

Mayo Clinic: “Ingrown toenails: Overview,” “Ingrown toenails: Treatment.”

Nemours Foundation: “Infections: Paronychia.”

Wound Care Society: “How to treat infected toe at home without antibiotics?”

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How To Treat An Infected Toe