Which home remedies can help? | Nail bed inflammation on the toe

Which home remedies can help?

In case of a slight nail bed inflammation, various home remedies can be used to relieve discomfort and speed up healing. These are mainly herbal products that have an anti-inflammatory or germicidal effect. Suitable are, for example, preparations made from arnica, onion extract or horseradish.

A frequently used household remedy is also tea tree oil, which can be applied undiluted several times a day to the inflamed area. A tub with a warm camomile bath in which the foot is held for about ten minutes is also suitable. If the inflammation increases further, causes severe pain or pus develops, treatment with home remedies alone is no longer indicated.

Instead, you should consult a doctor early on. Tea tree oil is a popular household remedy that can be used to treat a wide variety of inflammatory skin diseases.It has a germicidal effect and can be applied undiluted in a thin layer to the affected toe in case of nail bed inflammation. It should then be applied twice daily.

In rare cases, the skin reacts irritated to the tea tree oil. If there is an increase in pain or burning, the oil should be washed off and no longer used. If the nail bed inflammation does not subside after a few days or if there is an increase in symptoms, a medical consultation is also indicated.

When does one need surgery?

An operation for a nail bed inflammation on the toe is necessary, for example, if a suppurative focus has formed. Depending on the extent, the doctor must drill an opening in the nail under local anesthesia, remove part or all of the nail plate, so that the pus can drain away easily. A bandage is then applied.

At regular intervals the toe must be examined and the bandage renewed. This can usually be done in the doctor’s office. Even if the procedure sounds simple, you should never try to open the pus in case of a nail bed inflammation yourself.

This can otherwise lead to the spread of germs into deeper tissue layers. Surgery may also be necessary if the cause of the nail bed inflammation is an ingrown toenail. In such a case, the nail plate is reduced in size during the operation.

In extreme and advanced cases, nail bed inflammation can spread to the bone. In this case, further surgical intervention is necessary. In the worst case, the toe must be amputated. However, such cases are very rare.