Tea tree oil is sometimes more effective than antibiotics used to treat various staph skin infections. This is especially true in this day and age of over-prescribing and over-indulging in taking too many antibiotics that the bacteria are becoming resistant to. Bacteria are adapting to its new surroundings (meaning to all the antibiotics and other drugs used to clear up infections) and thus you must as well. Turning back to more natural means is the best scenario.

Looking at Staph and the Tea Tree Link

Staph is not normally a bacterium that we should worry about as it lives naturally in your skin as well as your nose. However, staph is one of the bacteria that end up causing quite a few serious illnesses like pneumonia. There are also staph skin infections that have been rather resistant to antibiotics like MRSA which is methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin is a type of antibiotic. Typically limited to the skin, this MRSA has spread to the blood and bone to become a potentially deadly problem.

Many people who contract staph get it from direct person to person contact. Here is where the tea tree oil comes in. The tea tree oil has both anti-bacterial and antifungal properties and it was often used as a natural antiseptic. The good news is that tea tree oil can kill quite a few strains of bacteria including the MRSA. Quite a few studies have shown that tea tree oil works just as well as some prescribed medications. And the best part of it all is that no one suffered any ill effects of tea tree oil.

The success rate for tea tree oil compared to drug therapies is about even with the nasal infections clearing up better with the antibiotics. However, the skin infections and ulcers that were treated cleared up more quickly with the tea tree oil. Indeed, the tea tree oil is at its most effective when applies straight to skin infection sites than through other means.

If you get a skin infection, consider applying tea tree oil to the site and see what happens. Chances are that you will be amazed at how quickly the infection clears, especially with no ill effects. As of right now, MRSA shows no signs of becoming resistant to tea tree oil which is great news for you and for others who may end up with an infection that antibiotics does not clear up.

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Viral Skin Infections:

There are three main groups of viral skin infections they are papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus and poxvirus.

Cold sores are small blisters around the mouth that are caused by herpes simplex virus. Herpes simplex is not curable. Hot sun, a cold wind, or coming down with a cold may bring on an outbreak of herpes simplex virus. You may feel a tingling of the lips before seeing the cold sore or may feel an itching or irritation of the lips or mouth.

Shingles is also known as Herpes Zoster and is a common infection involving blisters on the skin anywhere on the body. The pain from this infection can last for months. This infection is common in persons with depressed immune systems and in those who are over 50 years of age. The symptoms of shingles include skin sensitivity or pain in the area where the rash appeared, the rash lasts longer than five days and you may have blisters that turn yellow and then dry leaving small, pitted scars. You may have early symptoms of headache, fever, and gastrointestinal upset.

Warts are caused by a virus and are noncancerous skin growths. Children often get warts. Warts can spread by skin-to-skin contact. There are different types of warts, common, foot, flat, genital and filiform.

Parasitic Skin Infections:

Small insects and worms burrow into the skin where they live and lay their eggs. Creeping eruption is caused by hookworms. The parasite is spread to humans by contact with the feces of cats and dogs who have hookworms. If you have this infection you may have severe itching of the feet, legs, back or buttock regions. You may see a winding rash caused by the hookworm burrowing into a tract. The treatment for creeping eruptions is liquid thiabendazole and other various topical ointments.

Lice are tiny insects that can infest the skin anywhere on the body. You can have them on your head, body or in the pubic area. Lice are highly contagious and can be spread from one person to another when there is close body contact, sharing of clothes or other personal items like hairbrushes, hats and combs. Head lice are common in school aged kids, and in childcare settings. The eggs of lice are called nits and are difficult to remove. Body lice are seen most often on individuals who have poor personal hygiene. Pubic lice is very contagious and can be transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person, by using towels or clothing of someone who has public lice. Medicated cream rinse and shampoo are used to treat head and pubic lice. Nits need to be combed out. Body lice does not need medication they will disappear with improved personal hygiene. Bed sheets and blankets need to be washed to prevent re-infestation.

Scabies are caused by mites (tiny insects). This infection can be spread from one person to another, usually from sleeping together and when having close personal contact. Symptoms may take up to six weeks to appear after contact. Young kids can get hem on the head, neck, palms and the soles of the feet. Older kids and adults can have them on the hands, between fingers, along the belt line, around the belly button, in the groin area and around breasts and in the armpits. The symptoms include itching, rash with small pimples or red bumps. The advanced symptoms include scaly or crusty skin. Scabies is treatable. All members of the family must be treated to prevent re-infestation. Treatment is with prescription creams and lotions and oral medication (antihistamine) to relieve the itching. Topical ointments may be recommended also. All bedding and clothes must be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer. Also any pillows or stuffed animals must also be washed. If they cannot be washed they should be put into a plastic bag for at least one week. The itching may last for an entire week after treatment has begun.

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The cause of erysipelas aka St, Anthony’s fire, is usually from Group A Streptococcus bacteria although other forms of streptococcus and even staphylococcus can be contributors to this skin infection. Typically, erysipelas is preceded by some type of wound such as a cut, scrape or abrasion which opens the skin to infection. Occasionally, there may be no broken skin preceding the skin infection.

Emergence of the Skin Infection

The face is a popular area in which erysipelas presents itself although these days you can also find it on the legs and lower extremities. Wherever your lymphatic system is blocked is typically where the skin infection occurs. You will typically display a few symptoms several hours before this fiery rash occurs, typically anywhere from 8 to 48 hours. These symptoms include chills, fever, general malaise and vomiting.

When the rash presents itself, it is red, swollen and fiery looking that feels warm to the touch. This rash has borders which are clearly delineated and the appearance is that pebbly smoothness, like an orange peel. Typically the appearance of this distinct rash is enough for a doctor to diagnose erysipelas but a blood culture may be taken to rule out other conditions like sepsis. Occasionally, skin lesions or blisters may form at the rash site as well.

It is important to note that when this skin infection occurs on the body, it is typically on just one side of the face or extremities. A bilateral appearance, meaning occurring on both sides, while not rare, just doesn’t occur that often.

Treatment of St. Anthony’s Fire

The use of antibiotics is the best course of action in treating erysipelas aka St. Anthony’s Fire. Typical antibiotics used may be erythromycin, penicillin or one of the cephalosporins. In rare cases where the erysipelas is not responding to the oral antibiotics or the condition turns septic, antibiotics given intravenously at the hospital are required.

As many as 30% of the cases of erysipelas will experience one or more recurrences, simply because the lymphatic and immune systems were previously compromised leaving the person still susceptible to illness. Of course, when the lymphatic system is involved, the first case of erysipelas is laying the foundation for more episodes.

Those people with recurrences may have to stay on a course of daily low-dose antibiotics to prevent this skin infection from cropping up again. In rare cases, the erysipelas can turn into sepsis which is an infection of the blood which could then travel to the organs of the body. It is important to catch erysipelas in its early stages to avoid the rare but serious side effect of the skin infection.

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Many skin conditions that diabetics get, others can get as well. The only problem is that diabetics have more trouble with them. Fungal infections, bacterial infections and even the symptoms like itching and burning are more troublesome because of the circulatory problems.

Bacterial Infections in Diabetics

Diabetics get several different types of bacterial infections and staph is one of them. Cuts can become inflamed and the area can become warm to the touch as well as painful. Boils occur as well as styes and even carbuncles. All of these can be detrimental to a diabetic if their blood sugar is not in control. Luckily, many people with diabetes take careful control of their treatment regime and antibiotics also help in the event of bacterial infections.

Fungal Infections

Candida is a major contributor to many fungal infections in diabetics. It is a yeast type of fungus and causes rashes in the moist areas of the body like under the breasts, armpits, and fat folds. This rash has scales and blisters and can be very itchy. This type of rash could also be found around the nails, groin area, athlete’s foot and even vaginal yeast infections.

These rashes often cause extreme itching and the diabetes makes it worse. Sometimes, it is due to the reduced blood circulation and other times it is a combination of that along with environmental factors like low humidity and dry skin.

Another skin condition that diabetics get is called dermopathy. These are scaly, brown patches that are round and resemble age spots. These spots can occur on the legs and crop up due to changes in the blood vessels. Luckily, these spots rarely itch and they do not hurt.

The texture and condition of your skin can change as a diabetic because atherosclerosis, thickening of the arteries. This condition narrows the blood vessels which in turn causes the skin to become shiny and hairless as well as thin out. Toes get less blood circulation and feel cold which in turn thickens the toenails. Exercise can be painful as the muscles do not get the oxygen needed via the blood vessels. In addition, any skin injuries do not heal as quickly as before.

The fact of the matter is, diabetics are more prone to infections, specifically skin infections simply because of the slower blood circulation. By practicing preventative measures, you can avoid many skin infection problems to stay healthy. Keep your blood sugar under control, take your medications as prescribed and immediately clean any wounds. These steps can keep your skin healthy and clear.

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Types of Lice

Three types of lice are possible to contract and they are head lice, pubic lice and body lice. With head lice, the most common form, these guys infest the hair on your head. This type is the kind spread through shared brushes, combs and hats. School children get this all the time and it spreads like wildfire. Many kids will get sent home every year from school to get treated for lice. Up to several years ago, school nurses still checked each child’s head for lice.

Body lice are common in people who have poor hygienic practices. In addition, you can also live in crowded areas with others or even wear clothing that another person with body lice had. In rare instances, you may even get body lice from sleeping on a mattress in a hotel room, especially if the facility is not the kind to put a mint on your pillow. Lice in the pubic area aka crabs are irritating and you are most likely to catch this from a sexual partner. These “crabs” can also spread to your armpit hair, chest hair, eyelashes, eye brows and even a moustache or beard.

Symptoms and Treatment Options for Lice

The first thing you are going to notice with a lice infestation is severe itching. If not careful, scratching excessively can break the skin, which could then lead to bacterial infections. Some children will have mild itching with their head lice while others may do nothing but scratch. You can bet that the body lice and pubic lice are huge irritants to the skin.

The lice, by themselves, can be hard to detect. However, their eggs are quite easy to spot. These eggs are called nits and are a shiny dull white color which looks like little gobs of foreign material on your hair near the scalp. When someone does not completely treat the lice, a chronic infestation occurs. Therefore, occasionally in these circumstances, you will discover the lice eggs a bit further away from the scalp due to hair growth.

These nits are easy to spot and are quite distinguishable from other things because they adhere so strongly to the hair. You may find adult lice as well as the eggs they lay in seams of a mattress or even infested clothing. They will nestle into a hat or brush until a human host comes along.

There are a number of over the counter as well as prescription lice treatments that can help eradicate these little pests. Shampoos and creams can be effective but are best when repeated several times to ensure that both the adult lice as well as their many nits are killed. For more stubborn cases, there are stronger medications but doctors have to be careful with them as some can cause side effects in children or fetuses in pregnant women.

It is important to not only treat the body but also the clothing, bedding, furniture, grooming brushes and more which may have come in contact with the lice. If these are not treated to kill lice, you could get them again and the process starts over. Always follow the product directions as well as that of your doctor to ensure that the lice are gone for good.

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What Ringworm Looks Like

Ringworm has a distinct appearance that is usually easy to detect. It is typically a circle shaped rash on the skin which appears swollen and red round the outer “ring” edge but with healthy looking skin in the middle part. Sometimes, the round patch of skin in ringworm is itchy and flat but it can form a raised border while other times, the ringworm affected area could simply be a red, inflamed area not the least bit shaped like a ring.

Sometimes these ringworm patterns overlap creating a larger affected area. In addition, more serious cases of this tinea corporis may produce water filled blisters or even pustules within the borders or even in the center where the healthy skin is supposed to reside.

Diagnosing and Treating the Problem

There are tell tale signs of ringworm and how the rash looks is of utmost important. Therefore, other skin conditions are tested in addition to the ringworm, to rule them out. For instance, a skin yeast infection called tinea versicolor is one related problem as is certain types of eczema. Doctors typically give a person a KOH test, the ingredients being potassium hydroxide.

The most common treatment for ringworm is a general topical anti-fungal ointment that should be applied to the affected areas several times a day for about three weeks. The ringworm usually disappears in about a week and a half but the ointment should still be applied daily for the three weeks as it will ensure that it completely eradicated. Monistat and Nizoral are two of several different kinds of treatment options for the ringworm.

When your ringworm is severe, you may have to take antifungal agents orally. These will usually kill the ringworm virtually 100% of the time as long as you follow the instructions. Lamisil is just one of the many oral treatments used.

Prevention is Key

Keeping dry is important to preventing ringworm from developing whereas moist, warm environments are necessary for ringworm to thrive. Therefore, you should immediately dry off after swimming and sweating and shower quickly to remove any germs lingering behind. It is also important to wear clothing that is not tight and put good hygiene practices to task

When dealing with plants, soil and handling animals, you will again want to wash your hands thoroughly as some of the fungi do hide out in the dirt. Also, you do not want to share your personal items like wash cloths and towels with anyone as you could spread the infection or make contact with them. All in all, ringworm may be bothersome, but it is rarely fatal.

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Jock itch is related to athlete’s foot and even ringworm found on the scalp because it is often the same type of fungus. In fact, that athlete’s foot could have somehow made its way to what is housed within your jockey shorts. As mentioned before, virtually anyone can get jock itch, especially athletes who sweat a lot and the obese with the warm, moist areas between the rolls of fat. Unless you have a compromised immune system, jock itch isn’t serious but it sure is annoying and uncomfortable.

Signs and Causes of the Itchy Jockey Times

Your groin, buttock, anal region and inner thighs are all susceptible to jock itch because these are some of the major places where your sweat glands reside. You typically will notice the itching, burning sensation first and want to scratch. Next you will notice that the area is red and has a rash. The skin around the affected areas could eventually crack or peel, like lizard skin, making things quite intolerable. Engaging in activities where you might sweat will aggravate the jock itch just as much as wearing tight clothing.

The little fungi that cause jock itch are called dermatophytes which are normal residents of your skin. However, when you introduce such wet and sweaty conditions, these residents tend to outstay their welcome by laying out the itchy welcome mats for further irritation. They keep to themselves though when conditions are dry and clean.

Luckily, jock itch is not very contagious as you would have to have sex with direct contact of someone infected or share towels that harbor these fungal microscopic organisms. What happens to create a jock itchy friendly environment is that excessive sweating washes away the natural oils of the skin which repel the fungus growth. If your jock itch does not improve within a few weeks or you get a fever along with pronounced redness and swelling, it is doctor time.

Treatment of the Itch

While an ice pack down your shorts will bring you temporarily relief, you need something a bit more permanent. A doctor may take a skin culture to determine the type of infection you may have. These cultures should give the doctor a good idea of what the cause is so that it can be treated. For mild cases of jock itch, your doctor will likely recommend an over the counter remedy to treat the symptoms such as anti-fungal agent that comes in a variety of forms like lotion, powder, spray or cream.

There are also two main types of prescription strength anti-fungal medications that may be prescribed, depending on what your insurance pays. The less expensive azoles family of medications takes longer to work while the allylamines work more quickly. Either way, you may experience a few side effects just as you would with oral medications.

The best treatment is avoidance to begin with. Take a bath or shower every day and dry completely before putting on clothing. When exercising, use a towel to dry off and keep the clothing clean and dry. Most of all, do not try to share other people’s exercise equipment and change your shorts frequently.

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Just the Basics of Atopic Dermatitis

Fifteen to twenty million people in this country have symptoms that are representative of atopic dermatitis and these cases represent up to 20% of the cases that end up at the dermatologists office. Many people who have atopic dermatitis developed it early in life, with most of them before the age of five. Both females and males have equal chance of developing this itchy rash and are more than likely living in low humidity areas where there is less moisture in the air.

It is important to note that atopic dermatitis can be chronic, starting as an infant, as mentioned above. There are typically unpredictable cycles of this rash condition with it sometimes going into remission for periods of time while progressing at other times. With luck, many youngsters with atopic dermatitis grow up with fewer and fewer symptoms along with decreasing frequency of the skin condition.

While atopic dermatitis can lessen as you age, the skin is still often dry and can be irritated with ease. Therefore, it is important to always keep the skin hydrated and moisturized as outside environmental elements or even an unrelated illness could easily trigger an outbreak of the condition.

You can expect during outbreaks of atopic dermatitis to have the telltale rash over the face and trunk of the body. In addition, this rash can turn quite itchy and break out into papules which ooze fluid and crust over into blisters. Skin can also be dry, scaly and bumpy, especially in the bended areas of the body like the elbows and knees.

Causes and Skin Changes

There seems to be a tie in to both genetic and environmental factors when it comes to atopic dermatitis. For some reason, those with hay fever or asthma or have incidences of it in the family are more susceptible to forming atopic dermatitis. No one quite knows why this is the case. Some researchers suggest there may be abnormalities in certain cells in bone marrow which deal with immunological response. Luckily, atopic dermatitis is not contagious but there is nothing that can be done in terms of a cure.

When skin is in normal condition, the outer layer called the epidermis holds dead and dry skin cells which provide a protective barrier against outside irritants as well as keep the skin hydrated. When you have atopic dermatitis, moisture is lost through the epidermal layer causing cracking and dry skin. Protection of the skin is decreased and you are susceptible to all sorts of other skin conditions like fungal infections, warts, bacterial infections and even the herpes virus that causes cold sores.

Because there is no known cure for atopic dermatitis, the primary part of the treatment of it is spent alleviating the symptoms. Steroid creams can help in reducing the swelling and irritation. There are also anti-itch creams to alleviate the itching so that you scratch less. Keeping the home humid will help to keep skin from drying out as well, as it could exacerbate the atopic dermatitis.

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Athlete’s foot is most noticed on the soles of the feet as well as in between the toes. The skin may look a bit cracked with a dry, almost powdery appearance. It can spread to the sides of your feet as well as to the toenails. Most over the counter remedies like foot sprays and ointments do work but for the more stubborn infections, a prescription from the doctor may be in order.

Symptoms of Athlete’s Foot

There are several different signs of athlete’s foot and you may only experience one of them or you could be unlucky enough to experience them all. For instance, you could have burning, itching or stinging on the soles of your feet as well as in between toes. You could develop blisters that itch excessively or the skin on the soles of your feet and between your toes could crack and peel.

Your toenails could become discolored and they could grow thick and ragged too. Your feet could become overly dry on the sides and soles that no lotion or dry skin treatment can cure. The toenails could even pull away from the bed of the nail or even fall off.

Causes and Risk

The dermatophytes, these little fungi, shoot up these little extensions which infect the outward most layer of the skin. In retaliation, the skin layer will end up producing more skin cells which are pushed to the surface to create a scaly, thick area. As the fungus spreads, so do the scales and infection on the skin.

Humid, warm, moist conditions are best for this type of fungus to thrive on your feet. This could be from excessive sweating due to physical activity or tight shoes. Going barefoot will spread the fungus onto various surfaces whether it is a rug, bed sheets, floor mats or shower stalls. You could essentially re-infect yourself after spreading the fungus which sloughs off the skin.

Contracting it from another person is possible especially of you share shoes, socks or even a bed. Pets can pick up the fungus on their own paws and pass it on to you. Public places like swimming pools, gyms, saunas, locker rooms and the like where warm, humid conditions are the norm and people walk barefoot are primary places to pick up the foot fungus that causes athlete’s foot.

Treatment and Prevention

For mild cases of athlete’s foot, over the counter medications are fine like anti-fungal lotions, powders, sprays or ointments. Lotrimin and Lamisil are two suggestions to look for. However, if your athlete’s foot is stubborn, your doctor may prescribe an oral anti-fungal medication like Diflucan or prescription Lamisil.

The best defense against athlete’s foot is wearing protective shoes in public places like the swimming pool or locker room. Keep your feet dry and if they sweat, change your socks and shoes and allow to air dry as necessary. As a preventative, if your feet naturally sweat, you might want to consider dusting them with an anti-fungal powder daily.

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Most cases of folliculitis clear up within a few days because they are superficial but there are instances when this skin infection runs deeper than the hair follicle and needs additional treatment. The superficial form of folliculitis occurs often after a shave or even a soak in the hot tub. When you shave, sometimes the stubble of hair becomes ingrown, forming the small pimple-like formations. It’s itchy and red but within a few days, it clears.

With the hot tub version of folliculitis, a special bacterium called pseudomonas auruginosa is often found in hot tubs, pools used for therapy, water slides and even loofah. It is the water that is typically contaminated due to improper chlorine levels and the folliculitis is most prevalent where your swimming suit adheres to the skin.

Signs and Symptoms

As mentioned above, superficial folliculitis forms these groups of red bumps around the infected hair follicles that appear like a red rash. These bumps eventually form tiny pimple-like formations that often fill with pus, similar to a blister. Eventually these bumps break open, weep out the pus and crust over. There is itchiness and sometimes, the area is slightly tender to the touch.

There are more serious cases called deep folliculitis as well which could form into a boil or worse, a carbuncle which is a cluster of boils. Signs that you may have or are forming a boil caused by deep folliculitis include a big swollen area, typically infected by staph bacteria. This area forms a tender, red mass filled with pus which eventually forms a solid white head. If you are lucky, it ruptures and drains out the infection. If you are unlucky, the infection gets worse and more boils form requiring medical intervention.

Causes

As mentioned before, hot tubs and shaving are two causes of folliculitis. However, there are several other instances where folliculitis can occur such as excessive sweating, adhesive from band aids or surgical tape which is used to cover wound dressings and even acne and dermatitis. These things can temporarily damage the hair follicle which in turn causes a skin infection.

Treatment

With superficial folliculitis, you can use anti-itch creams to soothe the itch or even use warm compresses which will help bring these red bumps to a pimple white head. From there, you can gently exfoliate the area, rinse and then apply antibiotic cream. Your folliculitis should disappear within a few days with self-treatment.

However, if you have a deeper case such as a boil or carbuncle, your doctor should be the one to lance it and allow it to drain on sterile gauze. Once drained, it can be treated with antibiotic ointments and covered until healed. In extreme circumstances, oral antibiotics and repeated lancing may be necessary if the infection lingers on in the hair follicle. If this occurs, there may be some scarring and hair loss in the area.

Overall though, folliculitis is just a troublesome skin infection that easily goes away with self-treatment. By avoiding the causes of it, you can avoid the issue all together.

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