| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/3/2009 12:31:43 PM | | Hey all. I seem to have a bacterial infection around my toenail (big toe) and I just noticed it, though I suspect it has been working towards an infection since I squashed it repeatedly a couple of weeks ago. Don't ask how. Let's call it a dumb-dumb wound and leave it at that. Now it's weeping and smells bad, and I'm wondering if soaking it in salt water will help? I can't get to a doc until later in the week. If it suddenly goes really bad I will go to the ER. In the meantime does anyone have any advice to try and disinfect/draw out the infection? It's quite deep and I'm worried about it getting deeper into my foot before I can get it treated. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/3/2009 12:35:45 PM | | Yes, salt water will help, you could also use a strong alcohol, either is going to sting like a b1tch. There's always savlon or TCP as well. From the brief description that you've put down it sounds like an ingrowing toenail. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/3/2009 12:40:59 PM | | I have to stick with what I have at home. Would an iodine solution be better than salt? Actually it's because a large part of my toenail fell off and I subjected it to way too much trauma in one day. And can't get time off work, and am always walking, so it never heals. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/3/2009 2:28:02 PM | | hi... my experience with ocean water proved very healing to a gash that I received on my leg...EVERYONE told me that I needed meds or I would get a huge life threatening staff infection that apparently is prevalent in the tropics.. seeing as I had not taken meds in 20 yrs I decided to go with my instinct and wash it everyday in the ocean.. it healed, barely leaving a scar... what about witchhazel as a rinse.. blessings for quick healing | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/3/2009 3:16:02 PM | | When the water is salty enough the bacteria have to try and pump water in faster than osmosis pulls it out. So do you, but you can afford to loose a few million cells the bacteria only have the one. This is also why it won't work on a viral infection. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/3/2009 3:23:43 PM | Without being a dr., how do you know it's a *bacterial* infection? Salt water soaks might be good.
I've cleared up and toe and nail problems with Oil of Oregano and Teatree Oil. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/3/2009 3:50:57 PM | | Typically infections of the toes are associated with fungal infections. Fungus like anaerobic environments so aerate that stuff. Don't put your whole foot in the salt water, you'll allow it to swim around to your other toes for more nastiness. I don't know if salt water will have much effect on a plant-related organism. Keep the area as dry as possible, usually desert conditions tend to get the best of fungus unless you got some sort of cacti strain that absolutely loves that environment. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/3/2009 8:06:33 PM | I watched Cityline the other morning and it covered toenails and bacteria and it recommend soaking feet in vinegar and cool water several times a day.
Since it's been a few weeks since you squashed it, I'd see a dermatologist and get it checked out. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/3/2009 8:27:38 PM | You can try soaking the foot in warm/hot epsom salt bath (magnesium sulfate) to draw out the infection. Doing this a couple times a day can help remove a good bit of the infection.
Also, as another poster said, tea tree oil applied to the toe can help treat the infection. Tea tree oil has significant anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/4/2009 1:42:51 AM | | If you're healthy then you may not even need to go to a doctor at all. Soak it in hot water and epsom salt two or three times a day and after you take your shoes off, keep it clean, use a little neosporin and don't forget to let it breathe a little every day and it should heal up in no time. I just don't see the point in going to the doctor for every little thing, you have an immune system for a reason, however, if it doesnt start looking better in a couple days of at home care or if it gets worse it is wise to see a doctor asap. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/4/2009 3:13:11 AM | A very cheap, non-toxic disenfectant is hydrogen peroxide. Less than $1/pint in any pharmacy or grocery store.
Also is very effective mouth-wash and teeth whitener, better than alcoholic mouthwash. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/4/2009 5:39:23 AM | I use salt water all the time on cuts that are getting infected. I actually used it on a spot on my arm last year - Saturday night it started getting those red streaks and hot (and that's REALLY bad)...by Sunday night the streaks were gone, and by Monday I cancelled the doctor's appointment.
My grandmother taught me that - works better than any of these ointments on the market. Use it on everything. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/4/2009 1:33:58 PM | | Will pick up some epsom salts today. It was quite a bit better this morning. I used to use epsom salts on my horses' feet when they got bruised/infected, but I don't have any handy. Have been using an iodine solution, which has helped, but I'm not crazy about brown toes. I think epsom salts will be just as good. I don't want to take antibiotics if I can possibly help it. Hydrogen peroxide is a good one too. Been a while since I've used that, but I do have some here. Thanks for all the advice. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/4/2009 3:44:52 PM | | Antibiotics are great when its internal. For topical used (soap) there are much more effective things you can use that fall between wear gloves and call poison control if swallowed. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/4/2009 4:44:35 PM | OP, a dermatologist can prescribe ointments which contain antbiotics which would help.
I'm an esthetician and clients come into the salon with finger and toe infections and I won't touch them. I refer them to a doctor and recommend vinegar and water soaks. I saw the same recommendation (vinegar and water) on a tv show last week. | |
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| Salt water to disinfect?
Posted: 8/4/2009 10:15:52 PM | | A dip in the swimming pool always did wonders for me and my kids, for cuts, nicks and the like. If not, try neosporin, and a bath (not shower) daily. Just work on keeping it clean, and cover it while it is seeping. | |
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