What is Impetigo?
Impetigo is an extremely contagious bacterial skin disorder which normally affects children but at times can also develop on people of any age group. Adults generally contract Impetigo when they come in direct contact with a child or an individual who has been infected. The bacterium responsible for Impetigo is Staph Aureus. This bacterium sometimes in found in the nasal passageways or the throat waiting for an opportunity to get into the body. They are also present on skin surfaces.
The normal mode of transmission of bacteria causing Impetigo is through small cuts and bruises on the skin surface through which these bacteria enter the body. In majority of the cases, Impetigo is quite benign and is not a cause of worry but in some cases complications may develop, especially of the condition is left untreated.
Impetigo constitutes about 15% of all bacterial skin infections around the United States. Normally, the face, arms, and legs are the areas most affected by this infection.
At times, impetigo may also develop in people with perfectly healthy skin. Why this happens is not known but it is termed as primary impetigo.
It is not always that Impetigo requires medications to treat it. This is a condition which can be treated at home as well. This article highlights some of the ways to treat Impetigo at home.
How Can I Treat Impetigo at Home?
Treating Impetigo at home not only calms down the symptoms but also facilitates faster healing of the condition. It should be noted here that the home remedies mentioned below are just an addition to the medical treatment that may have been prescribed by the healthcare provider. Some of the ways that Impetigo can be treated at home are:
Aloe Vera. This is a natural skin moisturizer and is a great home remedy for treating a condition like Impetigo. Aloe Vera is also a potent antimicrobial meaning that it fights off bacteria present in the body.
To use Aloe Vera as a home treatment for Impetigo just apply aloe gel taken directly from its plant on the affected area of the skin. Alternatively, an aloe vera cream can also be brought from an herbal store. This needs to be done at least three times a day until improvement is observed.
Chamomile. This is yet another remedy to treat Impetigo at home. This is also a natural skin moisturizer and is also an antiinflammatory. Chamomile has proven to be quite potent against various bacteria especially staph aureus which is known to cause impetigo.
To use it, just make some chamomile tea and use it like skin wash. Alternatively, take a used chamomile teabag, cool it, and apply it directly on the blisters caused by the infection. This needs to be done at least thrice daily until there is an improvement.
Garlic. Garlic is a traditional antiinflammatory and is also used to treat various fungal, viral, and skin infections. Garlic has in it ingredients that inhibit the growth of bacteria causing a skin condition like impetigo. Take a clove of garlic, remove its peel, and apply it directly on the sore. It may hurt just a bit.
A garlic paste can also be made by crushing garlic cloves and applied on the sores for hastening the healing process. This needs to be done for a few days to notice improvement. It should be mentioned here that garlic should be avoided in infants and children as it may lead to irritation of the skin.
Ginger. This is yet another effective remedy to treat impetigo at home. Ginger has health benefits in abundance. It is a natural antimicrobial and treats bacterial infections like impetigo effectively. Just cut a slice of ginger and place it directly on the sores. It may burn or sting a bit but this is the best way to get rid of the symptoms of impetigo.
Ginger juice can also be made from ginger roots and applied topically on the sores. This needs to be done for a few days for best effectiveness. Ginger however should not be used in infants and young children due to chances of irritation of skin.
Grapefruit Seed. Various studies have shown that Grapefruit Seed has plenty of antimicrobial properties and is quite efficacious in treating impetigo. A grapefruit seed extract is readily available in the herbal stores in liquid form. It just needs to be mixed with water to dilute it and applied directly on the sores.
Eucalyptus. This also has been shown to have antimicrobial properties in abundance based on various studies conducted. All that needs to be done is this oil has to be applied directly on the sores. It needs to be ensured that the oil has been diluted by adding water to it.
Neem. Oil extracted from the bark of the neem tree is believed to be very efficacious in treating various ailments. It is normally used for insect stings to calm down the symptoms and inflammation caused by the toxins of the insects. Neem oil is also quite beneficial in treating a skin condition like impetigo at home. Just dilute some neem oil with water and apply it on the sores for a few days until improvement is observed.
Honey. This is an excellent remedy to treat impetigo at home. It has plenty of medicinal properties and is a proven antimicrobial. Raw honey just needs to be applied to the sores caused by impetigo for a few minutes and then wash it with warm clean water. This needs to be done for a few days until improvement is seen.
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