Lotemax Side Effects: What They Are and How to Manage Them
How To Get Rid Of Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a common bacterial infection of the skin and the soft tissues underneath. It can become serious if left untreated. Cellulitis can cause swelling, redness, pain, or warmth in the skin.
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that can develop from a break or cut in your skin. (Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images)
Cellulitis can develop from a break or cut in the skin. A cellulitis infection typically affects the lower legs but can occur in the face, arms, and other parts of the body. Left untreated, the infection can spread into the bloodstream and become life-threatening.
Erysipelas vs. Cellulitis
Erysipelas is another type of skin infection. Both erysipelas and cellulitis cause the same symptoms -- red, warm, and swollen skin. The two conditions can be hard for even doctors to tell apart. One difference is that cellulitis affects deeper layers of skin than erysipelas does.
Lymphedema and cellulitis
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels that's part of your immune system. These vessels carry a fluid called lymph that flushes bacteria out of your body to prevent infections.
Lymphedema is swelling under the skin caused by a buildup of lymph fluid. It happens when damage or a blockage in the lymphatic system prevents lymph fluid from draining.
You're more likely to get cellulitis if you have lymphedema. That's because a damaged lymph system can't protect you as well against infections.
Cellulitis vs. Abscess
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin that can cause redness, pain, and swelling at the infection site.
An abscess has similar symptoms as cellulitis but is a collection of pus under the skin. A doctor's care is sometimes required to drain the pus from the abscess, and they may prescribe antibiotics to continue treatment after it's drained.
Cellulitis happens when there's a break in the skin and bacteria get inside. It usually shows up on damaged skin such as inflamed wounds, dirty cuts, and areas with poor blood circulation.
Although many different types of bacteria cause cellulitis, the two most common types are Group A streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria live on your skin and underneath your fingernails.
Bacteria get into a cut or tear in the skin from:
Is cellulitis caused by poor hygiene?
Breaks in the skin are the most common cause of cellulitis. But it can also happen in areas that aren't clean. To lower your risk, wash your hands with soap and water before you touch your skin. Shower regularly and put on clean clothes. Also, clean any wounds to prevent bacteria from getting inside.
Is cellulitis contagious?
Cellulitis isn't contagious. Usually, it doesn't pass from one person to another. The only way it might spread is if one person has an open wound that directly touches another person's open wound.
Common parts of the body affected by cellulitis are your legs, feet, toes, arms, hands, and fingers. Doctors also label types of cellulitis based on where the infection starts, including:
Periorbital cellulitis
This is an infection of the eyelid or the skin around the eye. It's most common in children. The cause is often an injury or sinus infection. Periorbital cellulitis usually isn't serious. Most children with this infection get better after they take antibiotics for about a week.
Orbital cellulitis
Orbital cellulitis is less common than the periorbital type, but it can be more serious. Like periorbital cellulitis, it starts when bacteria spread from an injury or sinus infection into the eye. But in this case, the bacteria get deeper into the fat and muscles of the eye. Orbital cellulitis can cause blindness without treatment.
Perianal cellulitis
This infection mainly affects children under 10. It starts in the perineum, the area between the anus and the scrotum in boys, or between the anus and vulva in girls. Strep bacteria most often cause perianal cellulitis.
Facial cellulitis
Cellulitis can affect the face, although a skin infection on the face is more likely to be from erysipelas. Facial cellulitis happens when bacteria spread to the face from a(n):
Breast cellulitis
Breast cellulitis is an infection of the breast. It happens when bacteria build up in the sweat underneath the breasts. The skin of the breast becomes red, warm, and swollen. Some people also have flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills.
You're more likely to get breast cellulitis if you:
Cellulitis in the breast can spread quickly if you don't treat it.
Cellulitis from a bug bite
Insects don't transmit the bacteria that cause cellulitis through their bites or stings. However, the break in your skin from a bite or sting gives the bacteria a way to enter your body and cause an infection. The bacteria that cause cellulitis live on your skin and in your nose and mouth even if you're healthy.
Cellulitis most commonly shows up in the lower legs but can occur anywhere in the body. Some examples include:
Cellulitis on toes
Cellulitis on your toes can cause the skin to become swollen, red, painful, and warm to the touch. Flaking and peeling skin and blisters can happen, too. Cellulitis on the toes happens for a variety of reasons, but especially if you have athlete's foot, diabetes, or poor circulation.
Cellulitis on legs
Cellulitis on your legs can appear as peeling, pitted, or blistered skin and can cause the skin to become red, swollen, and/or warm to the touch.
Cellulitis in eyes
Cellulitis in your eyes, or orbital cellulitis, can infect the skin, fat, and muscles around the eye, causing a bulging or swollen eyelid and redness. Orbital cellulitis is rare but can become severe and cause long-term problems, including blindness.
Periorbital cellulitis, occurring in the skin around your eye, is more common in younger children. Still, it's important to treat it before it spreads and becomes the orbital type.
Facial cellulitis
Cellulitis on your face can happen when bacteria enter through a break in your skin. Symptoms include swollen, red, and painful skin along with tenderness, bruising, or discoloration.
For all cellulitis cases, the infection can spread if symptoms aren't treated.
Cellulitis symptoms usually start with a small area of skin that's red, swollen, tender, and warm. The skin may be pitted like an orange peel or develop blisters. You may have a fever and chills.
Other common symptoms include:
Get medical help for any of these more serious symptoms:
Is cellulitis itchy?
Cellulitis doesn't generally itch. However, your skin can itch as it begins to heal during treatment.
Is cellulitis painful?
Cellulitis is frequently painful. Pain at the site, swelling, and skin that is hot to the touch are some of the most common symptoms of cellulitis.
You're more likely to get cellulitis if you:
Often doctors can diagnose cellulitis based on how your skin looks. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine your skin. You might need a blood test to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. Other procedures could include:
X-ray. This is used to see if there's a foreign object in your skin or if the bone underneath is possibly infected.
Bacterial culture. Your doctor will use a needle to remove fluid from the area and send it to the lab.
Rarely, the infection can spread and cause complications such as:
Get medical help right away if you have cellulitis along with any of the following symptoms:
While treating cellulitis, the goal is to get rid of the bacteria that caused the infection. Usually, the way to do that is with antibiotics.
Cellulitis antibiotics
Cellulitis treatment usually includes an antibiotic such as dicloxacillin or cephalexin, which you take by mouth for 5 days (or longer if specified). Which antibiotic you need will depend on what type of bacteria caused your cellulitis.
Take the full course of antibiotics even if you feel better. You may need to take antibiotics for 7-14 days or longer if you have a weakened immune system. Some people need more than one type of antibiotic.
What are the signs that cellulitis is healing?
Once treatment has begun, symptoms of cellulitis will begin to go away. Redness will ease, swelling will go down, and discoloration will fade.
You may get treatment in a hospital if:
The hospital can give you antibiotics right into one of your veins (IV treatment). You may need to stay in the hospital for a few days if you have a serious case of cellulitis.
Cellulitis home remedies
Take care of your wound. Keep it covered to help it heal faster. Your doctor will let you know if you need to put special dressings or medicines on the infected area.
Here are some other ways to manage cellulitis at home:
How long does cellulitis last?
With treatment, cellulitis can last 7-10 days, or longer if there are complications. Patients with a weakened immune system can take longer to recover.
Most of the time, antibiotics are enough to treat cellulitis. Surgery usually isn't necessary, unless your doctor needs to open and drain an abscess or remove pus that has collected in the tissue. They may also cut away dead tissue to help the area heal.
Use these tips to avoid cellulitis:
Some injuries are more likely to cause cellulitis than others. See your doctor if you have:
Cellulitis should go away after you take antibiotics as prescribed. You may need to take antibiotics for longer than a week if the infection is serious.
In rare cases, cellulitis can spread through the bloodstream and cause more serious problems, such as a heart infection or blood infection. You may need treatment in a hospital if that happens.
Cellulitis is a common bacterial infection of the skin that can occur all over the body but most commonly appears in the lower legs. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and skin that is warm to the touch. If left untreated, cellulitis can become serious and spread to the bloodstream. Treatment usually involves a course of antibiotics that clears up symptoms within 7-10 days.
Is cellulitis very serious?
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin and not usually serious if treated. Most forms of cellulitis, which can occur all over the body, clear up following a course of antibiotics.
Some types, such as cellulitis in the eye, can be very serious and can cause blindness. If your case of cellulitis isn't treated, it also can spread to your lymph nodes and bloodstream, which can be life-threatening.
What is the fastest way to get rid of cellulitis?
The fastest way to treat cellulitis is to see a doctor and receive a course of antibiotics to take care of the infection.
What are the warning signs of cellulitis?
The most common warning signs of cellulitis are patches of skin that are swollen, red, painful, and warm to the touch. Cellulitis most commonly occurs in the lower legs but can appear all over the body, including the toes, arms, face, and belly. Flaky, dimpling, or pitted skin around the swollen site can also be a warning sign.
What are the red flags of cellulitis?
Symptoms of cellulitis include skin that becomes painful, swollen, red, and warm to the touch, especially in the lower legs. Red flags that mean you should see a doctor immediately for treatment include:
11 Home Remedies For Vaginal Yeast Infections
1. Greek yogurtProbiotics can be effective against Candida albicans — and yogurt can be considered a probiotic because it contains live bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. These bacteria help promote a healthy environment in your vagina, and they can help address an overgrowth caused by an imbalance.
In a 2015 study, a vaginal cream mixture of plain yogurt and bee honey was found to improve symptoms of vaginal yeast infections.
A 2017 study suggests that eating yogurt helps expand your gut microbiome, which can help reduce yeast in your body. If you don't like yogurt, you can take a probiotic supplement or try other probiotic foods.
When it comes to using yogurt for a yeast infection, opt for plain Greek yogurt.
Warning: The yogurt shouldn't contain any added sugar, flavoring, or fruit. Added sugar can fuel the growth of the Candida fungus.
To reap the benefits, try:
Boric acid is a powerful antiseptic, and some people claim it can help clear up yeast infections resistant to other remedies.
Boric acid vaginal suppositories may be used in combination with medications to treat vaginal infections.
However, boric acid is toxic in large amounts. It can lead to:
Warning: Avoid using boric acid on broken skin, and never take it orally.
If you're pregnant, don't use boric acid in any form. You may also want to consider another remedy if you have sensitive skin.
Discontinue use if you notice any discomfort.
3. Oil of oreganoOil of oregano (the extract) and oregano essential oils come from the same plant but are different in application. Oil of oregano is also not the same as common oregano or Origanum marjoram, which you'll usually find in your grocery store's spice section.
To ease a yeast infection, you could search for oregano oil extract drawn from wild oregano or Origanum vulgare.
A 2017 study suggests oregano essential oil may prove effective for altering the growth of Candida albicans.
To use, mix three to five drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil, such as olive or sweet almond oil. Then, apply it to your skin by massaging or inhaling it using a diffuser. Don't apply this essential oil near your vagina.
Warning: Never ingest essentialoils. Essential oils are meant to be inhaled as part of aromatherapy or diluted with massage oil to use during massage. They're also not meant to be used internally — external use only!
4. Probiotic suppositories and supplementsProbiotics can help restore the bacteria-yeast balance throughout your body.
Taking oral probiotics that contain strains of the Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria can offer a number of health benefits, including helping bring your digestive tract and vaginal flora back into alignment.
Oral supplements can take several days to a few weeks to reach full effect, so some people use probiotics as vaginal suppositories to get results more quickly.
Evidence suggests probiotic suppositories can also help treat bacterial vaginosis (BV).
5. Coconut oilCoconut oil is a fatty oil derived from the flesh of the coconut. The oil has many health benefits, including antifungal properties.
Research suggests coconut oil is effective against C. Albicans, making this home remedy one of the few with supportive evidence behind it.
To treat a vaginal yeast infection using coconut oil, be sure to buy pure, organic coconut oil. You could apply the oil directly to the affected area.
6. Tea tree oilTea tree oil is an essential oil used to help:
In fact, research supports tea tree oil's antifungal properties.
Research from 2016 suggests a combination of probiotics and vaginal suppositories containing tea tree oil may help treat vaginal infections.
More recent lab findings continue to support the antimicrobial activities of tea tree oil.
Tea tree oil is an incredibly powerful essential oil. So, you'll always want to make sure you dilute it with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil, if it's going to touch your skin — undiluted tea tree oil should never touch your skin. And just as a reminder, essential oils should never be used internally!
If you can, opt to purchase prepared tea tree vaginal suppositories — this is the safest option.
Warning: Only use tea tree oil occasionally, and never swallow it. If you have sensitive skin, you'll generally want to avoid using tea tree oil. Discontinue use if you experience any discomfort or irritation after using it.
7. Apple cider vinegarOne popular yeast infection remedy is an apple cider vinegar bath.
Vinegar has many medicinal uses, some more supported by research than others.
But when you add a half cup of apple cider vinegar to a lukewarm bathtub and soak for 20 minutes, the acidic component of the vinegar may help eliminate any harmful microorganisms, including yeast.
An apple cider vinegar bath is not the same as douching, which was designed to flush out all bacteria (but it actually eliminates good and bad) from your vagina. Douching leaves you more prone to a recurrence of the yeast infection, so avoid douching with apple cider vinegar — or any other substance.
You'll want to dilute vinegar in water before it touches your skin. In addition, you could also try adding apple cider vinegar to your diet.
8. GarlicEvidence suggests garlic may also help kill Candida, though some strains may prove more effective than others.
While more studies are needed, research from 2019 examined the effect of using a garlic solution on sores of the mouth and found it could effectively help curb the growth of Candida. That said, garlic was less effective than nystatin (Nystop), an antifungal medication.
If you want to try garlic to treat a yeast infection, it's best to simply add more garlic to your diet.
Warning: Some websites recommend inserting garlic into your vagina, but we do not recommend this approach. That's because the active compounds in garlic can cause burns and pain when applied to your skin or mucosa. Mucosa, or mucous membrane, is the type of moist tissue that lines your mouth — and yes — the walls of your vagina.
9. Hydrogen peroxideHydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic that can kill bacteria and yeast. Lactobacillus bacteria in your vagina produce hydrogen peroxide as part of natural biological activity.
Some people swear by using hydrogen peroxide topically when they get a yeast infection.
Adding it to a bath or diluting it in water before applying it to your skin may help with yeast growing on the genitals. You can dilute by combining equal amounts of water and hydrogen peroxide.
Just keep in mind that hydrogen peroxide may not work on every species of yeast, and no strong research supports the use of hydrogen peroxide to treat vaginal infections.
Warning: It's recommended to avoid douching with hydrogen peroxide, never use hydrogen peroxide internally, and avoid using it for an extended period of time.
10. Vitamin CVitamin C is an immune system booster that also has a role in skin health. A strong immune system allows your body to bring itself back into balance.
Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, has antimicrobial components, so some people add it to their diet to treat Candida overgrowth.
You can try increasing your intake of vitamin C to boost your body's ability to beat the yeast infection.
Warning: Do not apply the acidic vitamin C to the sensitive vaginal tissue.
11. Vitamin ESome doctors recommend vitamin E for certain types of vaginal inflammation. In fact, lab research suggests vitamin E can help reduce inflammation caused by Candida albicans.
Evidence also suggests vitamin E suppositories may help address atrophic vaginitis (aka, vaginal atrophy), which is the thinning of the vaginal walls caused by a lack of estrogen. Atrophic vaginitis causes changes to the vagina's acidic environment, increasing the risk for bacterial and yeast infections.
You can also purchase vitamin E suppositories intended for vaginal use, or apply vitamin E oil to your vulva or vagina. Vitamin E may help soothe:
If vitamin E doesn't seem to help, a good next step involves asking a healthcare professional for more guidance.
What Are The Treatments For Swimmer's Ear?
If you come back from a day at the water park with a case of swimmer's ear, don't plan on just trying to shake it off. See your doctor to get treatment that fights the infection and eases your pain.
For swimmer's ear treatments to work well, your doctor will first need to gently clean out any gunk that's blocking your ear canal, like fluid, dead skin, and extra wax. She may use hydrogen peroxide, a suction device, or a special tool called an ear curette.
Your doctor will also want to check to make sure that your eardrum is healthy. If it's torn (perforated), regular swimmer's ear treatments may not work. You may need to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist for treatment.
You'll probably leave your doctor's office with a prescription for eardrops to use at home. It's the most common treatment. The eardrops fight the infection and help your ear heal.
Depending on your situation, these drops might have:
Follow the bottle's instructions for putting in the eardrops. Usually, you need to:
You may find it easier to have somebody in your family put in the drops for you. They'll probably have better aim. If the drops hurt because they're cold, warm the bottle first by holding it in your hands.
Once you start treatment, it will probably take about a week before your symptoms go away. In the meantime, you can take steps to feel better and help your treatment work.
Use painkillers if you need them. Over-the-counter acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen can help with pain. If they're not enough, your doctor may give you a prescription painkiller.
Use the eardrops for as long as it says on the bottle. That's usually 7 to 14 days. You may start feeling better after just a few days, but don't stop early. If you do, the infection could come back.
Keep your ears dry. When you shower, gently put cotton balls coated with petroleum jelly into your ears to keep out water. And don't swim until your doctor says it's OK -- probably for 7 to 10 days.
Don't use headphones or a hearing aid. Wait until you feel better before you put anything into your ear.
Protect your ears from chemicals in cosmetics. For some people, hairsprays, hair dyes, and other products can irritate the skin and cause swimmer's ear. Stop using anything that you think could be causing a problem -- or at least put cotton balls into your ears first.
Call your doctor if you're not feeling somewhat better in 36 to 48 hours. You may need a different approach to get rid of the infection.
Most folks find they can get their swimmer's ear under control with eardrops. But if the infection is more serious or has spread, you may need other types of treatment.
Ear wicks. If your ear canal is very swollen, it can block eardrops from getting far enough into your ear. If this happens, your doctor might put a wick into your ear. It's just a piece of cotton that helps the drops get to where they need to go. Your doctor may need to replace the wick a few times.
Oral or IV antibiotics. If your infection is hard to treat or severe -- or it has spread to nearby tissue, cartilage, or bone -- you may need more powerful antibiotics. One serious infection is called malignant (necrotizing) external otitis, which is more common in older people with diabetes and immune problems like HIV.
Once you start treatment, you'll probably start feeling better within a few days. If your symptoms last longer than 10 days -- or if they get worse -- call your doctor.
When you're better, take steps so you won't get it again. Wear earplugs when you're swimming, and dry your ears carefully after they get wet. And don't pick or scratch inside your ears, since that can cause swimmer's ear.
Above all, follow the advice your mom might have told you: Never stick anything in your ear that's smaller than your elbow.
Comments
Post a Comment