Swollen and pus-filled toenails: causes, symptoms and treatments

1. What is swollen and pus-filled toenail?

Swollen and pus-filled toenails is a phenomenon in which the corner of the toenail is red and swollen, with yellow or green pus under the skin. This phenomenon often appears when there is an obstruction in the drainage of fluid under the toenail. Pus is a sign of an infection caused by bacteria or fungi.

2. Causes and signs of swollen and pus-filled toenails

2.1. Causes of pus in the corner of the toenail

Infection

One of the main causes of pus in the corner of the toenail is infection. Infection can occur after the toenail has been damaged by an external impact such as: cutting the toenail too deep, having an object pierce the corner of the toenail, etc., creating favorable conditions for bacteria or fungi to invade and cause inflammation.

- Pressure on the toenail

When the toenail is subjected to strong pressure such as wearing shoes that are too tight or too high, being pressed by heavy objects, etc., it can cause pus. This pressure can damage the toenail and lead to infection.

- Cutting toenails incorrectly

The way you cut your toenails can have a big impact on the health of your toenails. If you cut too deep or too close to the skin, it can cause damage and cause the corner of the toenail to swell with pus due to infection.

- Poor personal hygiene: this is a favorable condition for fungi and bacteria to grow and cause pus in the corner of the toenail.

- Allergy or skin irritation

Using products or chemicals can cause allergies or skin irritation and lead to pus in the corner of the toenail.

- Underlying medical conditions

Many underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or circulatory disease can increase the risk of pus in the corner of the toenail.

2.2. Signs of pus in the corner of the toenail

The phenomenon of pus in the corner of the toenail can be easily recognized by the following signs:

- Redness and pain at the affected corner of the toenail.

- Pus or fluid is found under or around the toenail.

- Feeling hot in the affected toe.

- Pain when pressure is applied to the toenail or when the toe moves.

3. How to treat pus in the corner of the toenail

When experiencing pus in the corner of the toenail, proper treatment is important to prevent the condition from becoming more serious. Here are some ways to handle it that you can refer to:

3.1. Intervention at home

- Clean the toenail with salt and warm water

When you detect signs of swollen and pus-filled toenail corners as mentioned above, use warm water mixed with a little clean salt to soak the injured foot. This will help disinfect the injury, thereby reducing inflammation and the pus inside will also gradually decrease. You should do this 3 times a day until the signs of swelling and inflammation stop.

- Always make sure the swollen and pus-filled foot is kept clean and hygienic

During the time when the pus-filled toenail corner is swollen and pus-filled, you need to take measures to ensure that the toe is always clean and dry. Absolutely do not try to remove or cut the nail yourself because this can easily cause the injury and infection to become more serious.

- Reduce pressure on the toes

A swollen and pus-filled corner of the toe will cause you pain and warn of infection, so what you need to do is avoid wearing shoes at this time and replace them with a pair of dry, airy slippers. If you have to wear shoes, choose a pair of wide and comfortable shoes to avoid increasing pressure on the painful toe.

3.2. Medical support

If you have applied the above treatment method but the swelling and pus at the corner of the toenail does not decrease after a few days or shows signs of getting worse, stop and see a specialist for examination. In particular, if you experience serious symptoms such as high fever, hives around the swollen area or signs of spreading infection, do not hesitate but see a doctor immediately.

If the corner of the toenail is swollen and purulent after being treated at home but does not improve, you need to see a specialist immediately

Through examination and basic tests to determine the cause of the swelling and purulent swelling at the corner of the toenail, the doctor will make a diagnosis and choose the appropriate treatment method for each patient's condition:

- Swelling and purulent swelling due to infection: usually the doctor will prescribe antifungal drugs or antibiotics. Once prescribed, the patient must strictly follow the dosage and treatment time as instructed in the prescription.

- Swelling and purulent swelling due to underlying disease: the doctor will check to have effective measures to manage the underlying disease.

When the swelling and purulent swelling at the corner of the toenail has been successfully treated, the patient also needs to take proper care of the toes to avoid recurrence of this condition such as: maintaining clean toenails