Infected Toe
A Guide To Dealing With Your Toe Pain
Our nails are often taken for granted. They shield our fingertips and toes, allowing us to grasp, scratch, and navigate the world. However, like any other part of the body, nails can become infected. But fear not, fellow nail enthusiasts! This blog delves into the world of infected toes, equipping you with the knowledge to identify, treat, and prevent these pesky problems.
The Culprits: Paronychia and Fungal Infections
Most toenail infections are caused by bacteria (paronychia) or fungus; lets dive in and find out what the difference is between these two.
Paronychia
Paronychia, also known as a nail fold infection, is an inflammation of the skin surrounding your toenail. The culprit? Bacteria. These tiny invaders typically enter through a break in the skin, often caused by:
- Picking at cuticles: The delicate skin around your nails loses its protective barrier when picked at.
- Ingrown nails: Untreated ingrown nails can become inflamed and infected.
- Trauma: Bumps, cuts, tight shoes or even aggressive manicures can create openings for bacteria.
- Exposure to water: Working in constantly damp environments can soften the skin, making it more susceptible to infection.
Symptoms
You may have symptoms of acute paronychia include pain, swelling, redness, discolouration or thickening of the nail, and in some cases, blisters filled with pus or pus draining from the injury. Your infected toe must be treated otherwise the infection can spread up your toe and worse case can spread up your leg.
Acute Ingrown Nail
Acute paronychia lasts less than 6 weeks and it’s usually caused by bacteria. It tends to develop after bacteria is introduced to your toe following trauma, which can be caused by tight shoes, tight socks or cutting your nails too short.
Chronic Ingrown Nail
Chronic Paronychia is an irritation of the paronychium which has been there longer than 6 weeks. It could be due to a past infection or trauma that has caused the tissue to enlarge or become hard. The nail may have permanently changed shape. Typically these nails need nail surgery.
Treatment
The best way to avoid infected toes is by keeping your feet dry and clean, making sure you wear comfortable shoes that don’t put excessive pressure on your toes, and trimming your nails straight across. Avoid walking barefoot in moist, common areas such as gyms, pool or gym showers, or around the pool. Read our article on home treatment for ingrown nails.
When to Call for Reinforcement:
While most paronychia cases can be managed at home, seek medical attention if:
- The infection worsens despite home care.
- You experience a fever or chills (signs of a more widespread infection).
- You have diabetes or a compromised immune system.
- The infection reoccurs frequently.
Click here to find out how a Podiatrist will treat an ingrown toenail.
Fungal Infection
Fungal nail infections, also known as onychomycosis, are another common type of infected nail. Unlike paronychia, the culprit here is a fungus. These microscopic organisms thrive in warm, moist environments like sweaty shoes, gym showers and even some nail bars. They slowly invade the nail plate, causing a gradual transformation.
Signs of a Fungal Foot Soldier:
Unlike the more dramatic presentation of paronychia, fungal nail infections often develop slowly over months or even years. Keep an eye out for these symptoms:
- Discoloration: The nail changes color, appearing yellow, white, or brown.
- Thickening: The infected nail becomes thick and difficult to trim.
- Brittleness: The nail becomes crumbly and prone to breaking.
- Distorted Shape: The nail loses its normal shape and may become uneven.
- Odor: In some cases, a foul odor may emanate from the infected nail.
Battling the Fungal Foe:
Treating a fungal nail infection takes more time and persistence compared to paronychia. Here are your weapons:
- Antifungal Medication: Topical or oral antifungal medications are the mainstay of treatment. Topical solutions may be used for mild cases, while oral medications are necessary for severe infections but come with side effects.
- Laser Hot and Cold: There are two types of laser used for treating fungal nails. Cold laser has been proven to be more effective and not painful compared with hot lasers.
- Debridement: In advanced cases, your podiatrist may need to physically remove part of the infected nail, this is then usually treated with cold laser to kill any remaining fungal spores.
- Antifungal Oral Medication: In some cases, your doctor may prescribe an oral medication. There can be side effects on your liver with this approach.
Read our article on the 5 best nail fungus treatments
Diabetic Nails
Infected toes can be harder to diagnose and treat if you suffer from diabetes, since the vascular and nerve damage caused by the disease makes it harder for you to feel trauma to your toes, and it slows the healing process. If you are diabetic, or suffer from a weakened immune system, you should make sure to keep your feet dry and to check them every day looking for any minor injuries which can trigger an infected toe. Find out more about diabetic feet.
