Ingrown toenails are a condition where the toenail starts to grow into the skin on the side of the toe instead of its normal straight forward direction. When this starts to happen, you will usually notice stabbing pain in the site of the ingrowth. This is because the nail is cutting into the skin of the toe, and is usually aggravated with everyday movement like walking. Ingrown toenails can cause the skin of the toe to become red and inflamed, and in some cases even filled with pus.

When an ingrown toenail causes the skin to be filled with pus, this is cause for more concern. While other ingrown toenails are usually treatable with just an ingrown toenail removal surgery, the presence of pus indicates that the wound in the toe has become infected. These infections occur when bacteria or fungus go into the open wound caused by the ingrown. When an infection occurs, your doctor will likely need to prescribe antibiotics in addition to the normal ingrown removal procedure. These antibiotics will kill the bacteria present in the infected wound. Infected ingrown toenails will not heal themselves, and home remedies for ingrown toenails should not be attempted once they have become infected.

Pus in an ingrown toenail is an indication that the infection has become severe enough that medical attention is urgent. If you have an ingrown toenail that is filled with pus, or just an infected or otherwise irritating ingrown toenail, you should seek out a consultation with a licensed podiatrist. They will be able to diagnose your ingrown toenail as well as any potential infection, then provide you with an effective treatment plan including removal of the ingrown and any necessary antibiotics. To schedule your consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.