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Possible nail infection

Posted by anna17X0X @anna17xox, Feb 3 9:04pm

Hello, does anyone know why my middle toe nail is a dark brown reddish color based on my photo. And if it may be a serious nail infection that I should seek a doctor about, or if I can should get some kind of treatment for it.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Feb 6 9:32am

@anna17xox Hi Anna, and welcome to Connect. We are a support community of patients and care caregivers who help one another along the way, not medical professionals.
But as someone who has had a lot of foot and nail issues over the years, I looked at your toe and thought of possible explanations. First it may be a bruise under the nail from bumping your foot - nails on the third to are often fairly thin, so it might not take much of a bump to cause this. The second is that you foot may be "complaining" about a too-tight or too-short shoe that is rubbing on that toe. This has happened to me when the tip of the toe is too low, and presses down when walking. And finally, a too-large or too-loose shoe can have the same effect, bouncing and moving against your foot whenever you walk.

I don't think this is a case for medical attention - it should clear up over time as the nail grows. But if it keeps happening, maybe pay attention to the fit of your shoes?
Sue

REPLY
1 reply
anna17X0X | @anna17xox | Feb 6 11:59am
In reply to @sueinmn "@anna17xox Hi Anna, and welcome to Connect. We are a support community of patients and care..." + (show)
@sueinmn

@anna17xox Hi Anna, and welcome to Connect. We are a support community of patients and care caregivers who help one another along the way, not medical professionals.
But as someone who has had a lot of foot and nail issues over the years, I looked at your toe and thought of possible explanations. First it may be a bruise under the nail from bumping your foot - nails on the third to are often fairly thin, so it might not take much of a bump to cause this. The second is that you foot may be "complaining" about a too-tight or too-short shoe that is rubbing on that toe. This has happened to me when the tip of the toe is too low, and presses down when walking. And finally, a too-large or too-loose shoe can have the same effect, bouncing and moving against your foot whenever you walk.

I don't think this is a case for medical attention - it should clear up over time as the nail grows. But if it keeps happening, maybe pay attention to the fit of your shoes?
Sue

Jump to this post

Hello thank you so much for replying, and now that you mention a bruise I recently had cut the tip of the skin above my toe nail because the skin had hardened a little and I couldn't figure out .why so because I couldn't find any search results of why my toenail skin had hardened at the tip. I assumed i could get rid of the hard skin did something reckless and just scraped it off the with a cuticle remover and I had a slight cut from that .I know it was stupid of me but I couldn't figure out why the skin above my toe nail felt so tough and it was just too unbearable for me.I'm aware that you guys aren't professionals but again I did all I can did my research and asked people about this but I couldn't get answers so I just felt like I had to do it.But I'll make sure not to make this stupid decision again.Do you know if it will still heal though considering if it was possibly caused by the cut ?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Feb 6 6:55pm
In reply to @anna17xox "Hello thank you so much for replying, and now that you mention a bruise I recently..." + (show)
@anna17xox

Hello thank you so much for replying, and now that you mention a bruise I recently had cut the tip of the skin above my toe nail because the skin had hardened a little and I couldn't figure out .why so because I couldn't find any search results of why my toenail skin had hardened at the tip. I assumed i could get rid of the hard skin did something reckless and just scraped it off the with a cuticle remover and I had a slight cut from that .I know it was stupid of me but I couldn't figure out why the skin above my toe nail felt so tough and it was just too unbearable for me.I'm aware that you guys aren't professionals but again I did all I can did my research and asked people about this but I couldn't get answers so I just felt like I had to do it.But I'll make sure not to make this stupid decision again.Do you know if it will still heal though considering if it was possibly caused by the cut ?

Jump to this post

Sure, unless you are diabetic or have circulatory problems, it will heal. But feet can be slow to heal, so it may take a month or more. Please pay attention to the fit of your shoes - it can make a big difference!
Sue

REPLY
1 reply
anna17X0X | @anna17xox | Feb 7 6:31am
In reply to @sueinmn "Sure, unless you are diabetic or have circulatory problems, it will heal. But feet can be..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Sure, unless you are diabetic or have circulatory problems, it will heal. But feet can be slow to heal, so it may take a month or more. Please pay attention to the fit of your shoes - it can make a big difference!
Sue

Jump to this post

Thank you ma'am,I wear the right shoe size so I think the cut may have been the only probable cause.I'll try letting it heal for some time ,and i appreciate your advise.

REPLY
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