Woman, 45, left with a second degree burn after applying freshly sliced raw GARLIC on her toe to treat a fungal nail infection

• The patient had been putting garlic on her toe for four hours a day for a month
• She developed a chemical burn on her toe, which had a fungal nail infection
• Recovery took two weeks after medics burst her blisters and bandaged the toe

A 45-year-old woman got a second degree chemical burn on her toe after putting garlic on her foot to try and cure a fungal nail infection.

The toe became red and blistered after the unnamed woman spent four hours a day for a month with sliced raw garlic on her big toe.

Garlic has been used as a medical treatment for thousands of years, experts say, but it can damage the skin by causing chemical burns and contact dermatitis. 

The woman, who went to a hospital in England, had her toe bandaged up and took two weeks to heal, after which doctors told her not to put garlic on it again.

Medics say the extreme case acts as a warning for people to be careful when using herbal remedies. 

The woman, who is unnamed, developed a second degree burn after placing sliced raw garlic on her toe for four hours a day for four weeks

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When the woman arrived at hospital she had been suffering from the painful blisters and redness on her left big toe for 12 hours.

Placed garlic on her toe for four hours a day 

She told doctors she had been placing sliced garlic on top of her toe in an attempt to treat a fungal nail infection – she had been doing this for four hours a day for four weeks, according to BMJ Case Reports.

Medics then diagnosed her with a partial thickness burn – known as a second degree burn – in which the top two layers of skin are damaged.

Garlic contains sulphuric compounds which are thought to react to heat and cause reactions on the skin, leading to burns, and similar cases have been reported in the past.

The skin on the woman’s toe was far less acidic than is normal, so was washed with water and her blisters were burst and had the top layer of skin taken off.

Scientists say garlic is used as a herbal remedy because it is believed to have antibacterial and antifungal properties, and may be eaten or rubbed onto the skin.

Chefs and people who work with food have reported being burned by the food, and the severity of injury may depend on how fresh the garlic is and how long it is used for.

Patient recovered in two weeks and told not to do it again 

The report said: ‘The garlic burn was managed with regular dressings and the skin changes resolved over two weeks.

‘[The patient was advised] to avoid further application of garlic or other topical herbal medicines. 

‘This case seeks to highlight the potential for injury following application of garlic-related naturopathic remedies. 

‘The general population should be encouraged to apply caution when using such herbal treatments.’

Past case of burn from crushed garlic on the face 

Applying garlic to the skin has been reported to have caused burns in medical journals in the past.

One reported the case of an 80-year-old woman who had applied garlic to the side of her face to try to stop nerve pain with which she had suffered for more than a year.

The woman had crushed garlic and wrapped it in a cloth before placing it on her face, at the recommendation of a neighbour.

However, she was then taken to hospital with a second degree burn across her cheek and had to use medication for a week to heal the wound.  

WOMAN ATTEMPTS TO USE GARLIC TO CURE THRUSH 

Garlic is thought to have antibacterial and antifungal properties, and scientists say it has been used as medicine for thousands of years. 

But one British writer living in Sydney, Australia, in 2016 tried to use the plant to cure a persistent yeast infection in her vagina.  

Susie Garrard, who also suffered from recurring cystitis, resorted to extreme measures after a combination of horse riding, stress, sex and long-haul flights resulted in the ‘mother of all yeast infections’

After trying every cure she could get hold of Ms Garrard revealed to women’s website XO Jane that she had given garlic a try.

‘I have to admit that I was apprehensive about how the garlic might irritate my already much-upset vagina. But up it went,’ she wrote. 

She had planned to leave it in overnight but she said by three in the morning she had to take it out.

‘I have to admit that the experience wasn’t exactly physically uncomfortable. There was a mild burning sensation, but no pain.’

The treatment was not successful and Ms Garrard said she wouldn’t do it again – and health officials recommend that people don’t try it at home.  

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