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• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Assess the inflamed toe
• Method 2 of 3: Get medical attention
• Method 3 of 3: Using home remedies

Inflammation of a toe can range from a relatively mild infection from an ingrown toenail or fungal nail to more serious infections of the skin (abscesses or cellulitis). An inflamed toe can worsen and lead to infections of the joints or bones. Although superficial inflammation can usually be treated at home, if you have a serious infection, you should see a doctor. Learn to differentiate between the two, because if you don't go to the doctor with a severely inflamed toe in time, the inflammation can get worse or spread.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Assess the inflamed toe

1. Assess the symptoms. It can sometimes be difficult to tell what kind of infection you have on your toe and whether it is serious or not. It could be an ingrown toenail or a serious infection that can spread all over the body. To know the difference, you have to assess the symptoms.
   • The signs and symptoms of a mild infection are: pain or tenderness, swelling, redness, and a warm feeling in the toe.
   • Signs and symptoms of a serious infection include pus formation, red streaks radiating from the wound, and fever.
2. Get medical attention if you experience signs of a serious infection. Again, these are pus formation, red streaks radiating from the wound or fever. If this is bothering you, call your doctor right away to make an appointment.
   • A serious infection can spread from your toe to the rest of your body. A very serious infection can even lead to shock and be life-threatening. Because this is so dangerous, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible with a serious infection.
3. Determine if you can treat a superficial toe infection at home. If you don't have serious symptoms but it hurts, you may be able to treat the inflammation at home. As with other minor injuries, you may be able to fight the infection by thoroughly cleaning the toe, applying an antiseptic ointment, and bandaging the toe for a few days to see if it improves.
   • If the toe still hurts or the inflammation gets worse after you have cleaned it properly, put a good antiseptic ointment on it and put on a clean bandage, then it's time to see a doctor.
   • Even if the infection is mild and does not seem to pose a health risk, you can still take it to the doctor. Use common sense and remember that prevention is always better than cure.

Method 2 of 3: Get medical attention

1. Follow your doctor's advice to treat a mild infection. Different treatments are available depending on the cause of the infection. Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics, but usually the advice is to soak the toe three to four times a day in a mixture of 1 part water and 1 part liquid antibacterial soap, and keep the area clean.
   • Soaking will help fight the infection and soften the skin to allow the infection to surface.
   • In the case of a fungal nail, the doctor can prescribe oral antifungal medicines or a fungicidal nail polish.
2. Get your toe treated if you have a serious infection. If the infection is deep and severe, your doctor may suggest minor surgery. This can mean rapid surgical drainage, usually if there is an abscess.
   • The doctor will numb the toe with lidocaine and cut open the inflamed toe with a scalpel so that the pus can drain out. Then, depending on how deep the infection is, absorbent material will be placed in the wound to further drain it.
   • The wound is then bandaged with gauze for 24 to 48 hours. The dressing can then be removed and the wound re-examined and bandaged.
   • The doctor can also give oral antibiotics.
3. Use medicine to treat a superficial infection. An infection on the surface of the toe can be treated in several ways.
   • Soaking: As with a severe infection, the toe can be soaked in a solution of 1 part warm water and 1 part liquid antibacterial soap. Soak the toe in this mixture for about 15 minutes a day.
   • An antibacterial ointment such as Betadine, Dermel or Mesitran.
   • An anti-fungal ointment for fungal infections, such as miconazole, terbinafine or canesten.

Method 3 of 3: Using home remedies

1. Use tea tree oil to treat an infection. Try tea tree oil for a bacterial or fungal infection. Tea tree oil is naturally antibacterial and can fight infection.
   • Clinical research has shown that tea tree oil helps against swimmers' eczema.
2. Soak the toe in apple cider vinegar. Do this for 15 minutes every day. You can use apple cider vinegar hot or cold, whichever is most comfortable for you.
   • Apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial properties due to its acidic nature. Vinegar has been used against inflammation for hundreds of years.
3. Apply garlic paste to the inflamed toe. Crush two or three garlic cloves and mix them with olive oil, castor oil, or manuka honey, which also have anti-microbial properties. Smear this on the inflamed toe and put a band-aid on it.
   • Change the cloves of garlic every day.
   • Garlic has antibacterial properties that make it effective against skin infections.
4. Week the toe in Epsom salt every day. Dissolve half a cup of Epsom salt in 750ml of water. Soak the toe in this solution for 15 minutes, or until the water becomes too cold.
   • The high salt content kills the bacteria and fungi.
5. Dilute Listerine mouthwash in warm water and soak the toe in it. Put 1 part warm water and 1 part Listerine in a container and soak the toe in it daily. Listerine can help with a mild infection because it contains menthol, thymol and eucalyptol, all of which are natural antibiotics.
   • If you have a fungal nail, you can also try to fight the fungal infection with this solution.
6. If home remedies don't work, see your doctor. If the infection doesn't get better in a few days when using home remedies, or if it seems to get worse, you should see a doctor for treatment. Do not continue with these treatment methods if they do not work.