“What can I do about my nail infection?”
There's an infection in my big toe, and my doctor told me that the best way to treat it would be to remove the toe nail. Aren't there other ways? Like medications?
20 Answers
yes
Yes but it depends on the severity of the infection. I would have to see it either in the clinic or over phone video chat visit and would be able to tell you right away your options. This will progress if left untreated. There are multiple conservative options that work very well. Please, make an appointment with me in my Chandler office (480) 269-7130 and I will go over all of your options. Depending on Xrays (if needed) that I can take at my office and the clinical exam, I am able to diagnose and recommend different treatment options. I recommend you have this checked as soon as you can, especially since I can usually treat this without surgery very well in just one visit with me. My office is located on Dobson road, just north of Chandler Regional Hospital. Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists of Arizona. Feel free to ask to be seen by me specifically and I will get you in the same day or latest the next day. I take all insurances, please do not go off of the insurance list on this website as it is not updated yet. Mention that I have talked to you on the internet. I can also do the entire visit with you over the phone or video call as well, which most insurances cover, even if you are out of state and my staff can verify this for you when you schedule. Thank you and have a good evening.
Get the nail removed. It will grow back,
If the infection is caused by an ingrowing portion of the nail, it will not heal without removing that portion of the nail. It is just as if you had a splinter embedded in your skin. No medication will fix the splinter (or ingrown nail); it must be removed. In most cases, however, the entire nail does not need to be removed, only the ingrown portion. After it heals, this will look completely normal.
Kathleen Neuhoff, DPM
Kathleen Neuhoff, DPM
Your doctor can prescribe an oral antibiotic and a topical antibiotic but most times the nail or a small part of the nail has to be removed from where it is embedded into the side of the toe.
If the physician told you that you should have the nail removed. Be sure that he or she advises you whether the nail will grow back. There are no medications if there is an infection except for an oral antibiotic, but the nail, if it is infected, sometimes ask a splinter, and the best treatment is to remove it and then allow the nail to grow back. Be sure to check with that physician or another physician.
Dr. Gorman
Dr. Gorman
Your doctor is probably correct. Antibiotics will usually calm the infection, but if the nail is incarcerated in the skin, the pain and infection will return.
Thank you for your question. If you have a moderate to severe ingrown nail, otherwise known as a paronychia, then removing the nail is the standard of care. I would perform a culture and rx antibiotics if needed as well. I would follow your medical professional's advice.
Thanks and good luck to you.
Thanks and good luck to you.
If you have an infection in your toe which is related to an ingrown nail, then the best treatment is to remove the offending nail Marjan and not necessarily the entire nail. It should be looked upon that the ingrown nail is a foreign body and like any foreign body it needs to be removed. Medication alone will not be adequate.
If it is fungal, the topical or oral takes a year to see the results. Laser has shown moderate promise if you are young and healthy. Oral meds and nail avulsion is an okay Idea.
Hello,
Removing the nail is not going to treat a fungal infection (assuming that is the type of infection we are talking about). There is oral and topical antifungal medication that can be used.
Dr. Lui
Removing the nail is not going to treat a fungal infection (assuming that is the type of infection we are talking about). There is oral and topical antifungal medication that can be used.
Dr. Lui
There are different types of infections involving the nail and surrounding soft tissue structures. Infection of the soft tissues adjacent to the nail are usually bacterial and involve redness swelling pain and sometimes drainage. It is those acute infections where the body treats the nail as a foreign body and the infection will likely not go away unless you remove the offending nail border. But if that is all you do, the skin will overgrow the nail groove and recurrence of the ingrown toenail is likely unless, after the infection is resolved, the nail in this area is removed permanently, as the pressure of the nail against the skin maintains the nail groove. Cutting the nail in the nail groove and tight shoes both contribute to ingrown toenails.
Go to a podiatrist. He can take just the sides out. Unless the nail is very thick or loose, do not let the whole nail be taken off.
If the toenail plate is infected with a fungus, then there are different types of treatment. Topical medication, oral medication and laser treatment can be done to help reduce toenail fungus. If there is a bacterial infection of the surrounding skin, then sometimes toenail needs to be removed.
Jonathan M. Kletz, DPM
Jonathan M. Kletz, DPM
The nail is the problem. It's very easy to remove the edge of the nail in the office. Get it done!!
One of the ways to treat the infection is to remove the toenail. If you don't want to do that yet, I would talk to your doctor about a course of antibiotics to see if it might clear it up. Also try soaking your infected toe in epsom salt and lukewarm water. But this is all very general information, without seeing the infection and the toe myself it is hard to say if those suggestions would work.
Infection like a fungus or infection like red and pus? It's hard to tell for me to give you the best answer. If it is infected with bacteria then yes sometimes removing the nail is best. If it is fungal then no removing it is not needed most of the time.
If you have a fungal infection, there are various treatment options including removal of the nail, along with topical anti-fungals, oral anti-fungals. Tolcylen Ointment is currently the most effective topical anti-fungal. You should have a discussion with your doctor about which treatment option is best for you
There are several treatments for nail infections. If it is a fungal infection, you can try oral medicine, topical medicine or surgery. Be aware, treatment will take time and depending on how advanced the disease process has progressed, may limit some treatment options. If if is an infected ingrown toenail, surgery may be the only option. If unsure with current recommendation, I recommend you see another foot and ankle surgeon (podiatrist) for a 2nd opinion
Removing your toenail will NOT actually eliminate the infection if you are referring to a toenail fungus. If you are talking about an ingrowing nail with an infected nail fold (a paronychia), you must have the offending portion of the nail removed. If it is a fungal nail infection, the best remedy is an oral medication called Lamisil.
