Infected Toe Pictures, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention Tips

What is an Infected Toe?

An infected toe refers to a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection affecting the skin and tissues of the toes or feet. Infections can occur in both toenails and the surrounding skin, causing swelling, discoloration, pain, and discharge.

Common Causes of Toenail and Toe Infections

Some ways feet and toes can become infected include:

• Ingrown toenails
• Cuts, cracks, bites, or puncture wounds
• Athlete’s foot fungus
• Paronychia (infection of skin around nails)
• Blisters
• Warts
• Dermatitis

Diabetes, poor circulation, weak immune system, and not properly cleaning or drying feet can also increase infection risk.

Types of Toe and Foot Infections

There are many possible types of toe and foot infections depending on the cause and location. Some common ones include:

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection causing redness, swelling, warmth, and tenderness of skin. It may affect the toes, feet, legs, and other areas. Scratches, cuts, eczema, and athlete’s foot can allow bacteria entry.

Ingrown Toenail Infection

Ingrown toenails develop when the nails grow into surrounding skin instead of straight outward. The area can harbor bacteria leading to redness, drainage, swelling, foul smell, and pain around the nail.

Nail Fungus Infection (Onychomycosis)

Onychomycosis refers to fungal nail infection often starting in the nail beds or tips and spreading across the toenail, causing yellowing, thickening, and crumbling of nails. Toes may swell and hurt.

Diabetic Foot Infections

People with poorly controlled diabetes are more prone to foot infections due to high blood sugars, neuropathy (loss of feeling), and poor circulation. Cuts and blisters can become infected quickly.

Paronychia (Infected Nail Fold)

Paronychia is a bacterial or fungal infection of skin around the toenails or fingernails resulting in redness, swelling, warmth, and pus-filled bumps in the skin folds around the nail plate - often with ingrown nails.

Blister Infections

Friction from ill-fitting shoes can create blisters on toes and feet that fill with fluid. These blisters can easily become infected due to bacteria entry, resulting in pus and skin redness, swelling, and tenderness.

Symptoms of an Infected Toe

How can you tell a toe is infected? Some key signs and symptoms of infected toes include:

Swelling and Inflammation

The skin around an infected toe often appears puffy, red, and swollen as inflammation and fluid buildup develops under the skin. The nails or nailbeds may also swell or bulge.

Discharge and Bleeding

Infected toenails or skin may ooze discolored, yellow or green, smelly pus discharge or fluid containing dead tissue and blood. There may be crusty skin or scabbing with bleeding when scratched.

Pain, Stinging, or Burning

Infected toes often hurt, with sharp, stinging, throbbing, or burning sensations. The area is sensitive when touched or pressed and the pain may worsen with activity or at night.

Thickened Nails or Debris Under Nails

Nail fungus may cause toenails to become warped, discolored, thickened or crumbly with debris accumulating under the nails. Dark spots under nails may indicate bacteria or fungus lingering under and growing into the nail beds.

Skin Changes Such as Rashes or Discoloration

Infections like cellulitis or warts can lead to scaly, itchy skin rashes on toes. Warts produce rough bumps. Some infections can cause toenails or skin to appear yellowed or blackened.

When to Seek Medical Care for an Infected Toe

While some mild toe infections may clear up with home care, medical treatment is often needed to resolve more severe or chronic issues. See a podiatrist, urgent care, or family doctor if you experience:

• Pus, drainage, red streaking, or bleeding
• Unrelenting pain
• Fever, chills, nausea, dizziness (signs infection has spread internally)
• Skin rashes, blisters, or ulcerations
• Difficulty walking
• Symptoms lasting more than one week
• Conditions not improving with home care

Dangers of an Infected Toe

While most mild toe infections respond well to topical treatment, more serious consequences can develop if infections are not properly treated such as:

Greater Spread to Other Areas of the Body

Bacterial infections like cellulitis or staph can spread quickly through the lymph system into deeper tissues, potentially entering the bloodstream where they can become life threatening. Diabetics are at especially high risk for complications.

Permanent Nail or Tissue Damage

Left untreated, stubborn fungal or bacterial toenail infections may lead to permanent nail damage or even complete nail loss if the infection spreads to nail beds and matrix. Skin can also die if wounds become severely infected.

Amputations

In severe cases, serious spreading foot infections - especially in those with poorly controlled diabetes - may require partial or complete amputations of toes or feet if wound healing is not possible.

Early treatment of infected toes reduces the likelihood of these serious consequences occurring.

Infected Toe Treatment, Remedies, and Medications

Treatment for an infected toe depends on the type and severity of infection, but often involves:

Prescription Antibiotics

Doctors may prescribe oral, topical, or intravenous antibiotics to combat bacterial cellulitis or diabetic ulcers that have become infected. Soaking in antibiotics baths may also be helpful.

Topical Antifungal Creams

Over-the-counter or prescription antifungal creams treat fungal nail infections (onychomycosis), athlete’s foot, or ringworm on the feet. Applying elixirs or creams that penetrate the nails are needed for nail fungus.

Antiviral Medications

Oral antiviral drugs like Valtrex can speed healing of viral infections like herpes on the toes and feet.

Surgical Draining or Removal of Infected Tissue

Surgery to drain pus or remove diseased toenails, infected skin wounds, or dying skin/tissue may be needed to allow wounds to heal. Nails may need removed to access nail beds.

Home Remedies and Self Care

For mild infections, home care remedies may help reduce pain, swelling, and discharge including:

• Soaking feet in Epsom salt baths
• Washing and drying feet thoroughly
• Applying hot and/or cold compresses
• Covering wounds with clean bandages
• Ensuring rest and elevating affected feet
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen sodium

How to Prevent an Infected Toe

Preventing toenail and foot infections involves:

Practicing Good Foot Hygiene

Bathe feet daily using antibacterial soap and dry thoroughly including between toes where moisture can harbor bacteria. Avoid extended moisture contact with skin.

Treating Cuts, Blisters, and Nail Issues Promptly

Clean and bandage wounds immediately to block infection entry. Disinfect and properly care for blisters or ingrown nails to prevent worsening.

Changing Socks and Shoes Routinely

Rotate pairs of shoes to allow full drying after sweating and change into clean, dry socks daily to help prevent fungal and bacterial overgrowth.

Using Proper Footwear

Wear properly fitted, supportive shoes appropriate for activities that won’t constantly rub or cause blisters or pressure points leading to wounds.

Managing Chronic Health Conditions

Those with diabetes should tightly control blood sugars and watch for wounds to remain infection-free. Monitor issues like fungal infections or ingrown nails to catch worsening early.

Not Delaying Medical Care

Consult doctors for wounds not quickly resolving, signs of skin infections, chronic neuropathy or nail fungus to allow early intervention and prevent complications.

Paying close attention to foot health and seeking medical care when appropriate can help you avoid serious toe infections.

When to Return for Follow-Up Care

Expect to return to the doctor:

• To have wounds, amputated toes or dressings evaluated and changed
• For recurrent wound cultures or imaging scans to ensure infections have fully cleared from bones or tissue
• To monitor conditions like chronic fungal nail infections needing repeat treatments or nail removal
• To assess complications like impaired wound healing

Communicate with your doctor on ideal timing to recheck your case progress.

Outlook for an Infected Toe

The outlook depends on infection type, severity, timing of treatment, chronic medical issues, and how well you follow doctors’ wound care and foot hygiene instructions.

Mild skin or toenail infections often clear within a few weeks with topical ointments. More severe presentations may need cleaning surgically with nail removal and/or oral antibiotics for several weeks or months for total resolution.

An early diagnosis, proper medical management, and commitment to preventing re-infection provide the best chances for quick healing without permanent damage or complications.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.