Can an ingrown toenail cause bone infection?
Left untreated or undetected, an ingrown toenail can infect the underlying bone and lead to a serious bone infection. Complications can be especially severe if you have diabetes, which can cause poor blood flow and damage nerves in your feet.
What happens if an ingrown toenail infection spreads to the bone?
A bone infection, osteomyelitis, can cause some very serious symptoms including fatigue, fever and nausea, while damaging the bone enough to risk permanent loss of movement. If the infection goes untreated for too long, sepsis can develop, possibly leading to amputation and other life-changing consequences.
What happens if you leave an infected ingrown toenail?
When left untreated, an ingrown toenail can lead to infection. This can lead to worsening pain and even fever. In some cases, an untreated ingrown toenail can spread the infection to the bone beneath the nail.
How do you draw an infection out of an ingrown toenail?
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of unscented Epsom salts into one quart of warm water and soak your foot for 15 minutes at a time. Do this several times a day for the first few days. Always dry your foot completely after soaking. Soaking your ingrown or infected toe will help relieve the pain and pressure of an infection.
Should I squeeze pus out of ingrown toenail?
Do not try to use a needle to drain the pus from your toe. This could make the infection worse. While your ingrown toenail is healing, wear comfortable shoes or sandals that do not press on your toe.
Can you get sepsis from ingrown toe?
Even a particularly bad ingrown toenail that becomes infected can lead to sepsis, he says, although that is not a common occurrence.
How do you treat an ingrown toenail that is infected?
Topical antibiotics can be used to treat an infection caused by an ingrown toenail. If treatment for an ingrown toenail is given quickly, it may require a visit to a doctor. One treatment for an ingrown toenail is to slightly lift the corner of the toe nail and place rolled-up gauze underneath.
How do you treat an ingrown nail?
An ingrown fingernail may require medical treatment. An antibiotic ointment may be part of the treatment for an ingrown fingernail. Epsom salts added to warm water can be used to help treat an ingrown toenail. An ingrown fingernail can be treated by soaking the finger and carefully trimming the nail.
What antibiotic is used for infected toenail?
Listerine can help a simple infection because it contains menthol , thymol, and eucalyptol, which are all derived from various natural antibiotic sources. If you have a toenail fungus infection, a soak of 50/50 Listerine and white vinegar can help eliminate the infection.