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One of the topics you would be interested in knowing is how to treat cellulitis at home using remedies.
Cellulitis 1is not an infection that spreads from person to person but still needs medical treatment. The infection spreads to our lymph nodes and bloodstream and becomes life-threatening if proper medical attention is not given.
If you have been diagnosed with cellulitis infection, make sure you seek medical treatment if there is a rapid change in the rash and if you have a fever.
Even if you do not have a fever and if your rash is swollen, red, and rapidly expanding, it is safer to treat cellulitis soon before you end up with serious complications that will make it life-threatening.
How to treat cellulitis at home is one of the topics that will be good to know, especially if you have cellulitis.
1. About Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection resulting from swollen skin and is painful to touch. It usually happens when a cut in the skin lets bacteria enter through it. Commonly found in the lower legs, cellulitis infection occurs on the face, arms, and other areas.
This bacterial infection is caused by bacteria streptococcus and staphylococcus 2that enter the skin through a cut or a crack and cause cellulitis. If your staphylococcus infection is severe, the medical condition is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
It can be difficult to treat MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) because it can become resistant to antibiotics prescribed for staph infection. MRSA 3occurs mostly in patients who are in hospitals for a long period.
2. Signs and Symptoms of Cellulitis
It is important to understand the signs and symptoms of cellulitis so that you can go for early treatment before the infection develops or spreads and prevent complications in the body.
The following symptoms are helpful to diagnose if your skin infections point towards developing cellulitis.
- Blisters
- Chills
- Fever
- Pain
- Part of the skin that tends to expand
- Skin Dimpling
- Spots
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Warmth
How to treat cellulitis at home? It is one of the topics that can interest anyone battling health conditions due to the bacteria responsible for causing cellulitis and want to prevent it.
Leaving an active infection untreated can lead to bigger complications, especially if the infection spreads to the deeper layers of the skin called the fascial lining.
Necrotizing fasciitis is an emergency condition causing inflammation in the deep layers of the skin. It can cause damage to your lymphatic drainage system and cause permanent swelling in the affected limb area.
In severe cases of cellulitis, there can also be circulatory problems that can be life-threatening to the patient.
A healthcare professional can prescribe antibiotics and give you prevention tips to prevent cellulitis, the bacteria causing cellulitis, and other infections.
3. Factors that Increase the Risk of Cellulitis
Before we probe into the natural remedies that will help treat cellulitis and how to treat cellulitis at home, let us have an idea of some of the factors that can increase the risk of cellulitis.
3.1. Having a History of Cellulitis
If you have had cellulitis earlier, then there is a chance that you might develop cellulitis again.
If you have a history of cellulitis, utmost care must be taken if you get rashes and cuts so that the bacteria does not enter your body and cause cellulitis again.
3.2. Lymphedema
Permanent swelling of arms and legs can happen, usually after surgery. When you have lymphedema, the lymphatic system4 is slow in removing the fluids from your tissues.
This stagnant fluid inside the body is a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. You might need surgical incisions to drain the fluid or find other ways to reduce the risk of skin infection.
3.3. Overweight
Being obese increases the risk of getting cellulitis, and the treatment might fail if you are obese.
3.4. Various Skin Conditions
Many skin conditions like eczema, shingles, and athlete’s foot invite bacterial infections due to the cuts they cause on the skin.
3.5. Weakened Immune Systems
Certain medical conditions like diabetes, and leukemia weaken the immune system and increase the risk of cellulitis infection. Certain medicines also leave you with a weakened immune system.
3.6. Wound
Any open wound, injury, or surgical incision is an invitation for the bacteria to enter the body.
If you have an open wound on the skin, treat it by applying antibiotic ointments or getting a dressing done so that bacterial infection does not happen.
4. Different Types of Cellulitis
Cellulitis is mainly of five types, and they are:
4.1. Breast Cellulitis
Breast Cellulitis occurs when the breast’s skin gets affected because of stasis of the lymphatic fluid in the breast’s lymphatic system.
High risk of breast cellulitis among:
- Women with breast cancer, who have had a surgical incision done recently
- Breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy
- Obese women with large breasts
- Women who have a history of lumpectomy are at high risk of getting this cellulitis.
Symptoms of breast cellulitis:
- Swollen skin on the breast
- Fever
- Chills
- Pain in the breast
- Rashes that spread over the breast
4.2. Facial Cellulitis
This cellulitis occurs in all age groups and will result in serious complications if not treated properly. This happens when an insect bite transmits the bacteria responsible for causing cellulitis or fungus.
Symptoms include:
- Swelling and redness of the face
- Itchiness
- Fever
- Body ache
- A decrease in appetite
Facial cellulitis is usually treated with antibiotics.
4.3. Orbital Cellulitis
This cellulitis occurs inside the sockets of the eyes and is mainly caused by the bacteria Streptococcus and Staphyis coccusis aureus. Those with eye injuries, sinus infections, middle ear infections, and teeth infections are at risk of getting this cellulitis.
Often, this starts as sinus infections and then spreads behind the orbital septum. If untreated orbital cellulitis can lead to blindness.
The symptoms of orbital cellulitis are:
- Pain in and around the eye region
- Swelling of the eye area, pain
- Tenderness around the eye area
- Inability to open the eye, vision loss
- Discharge from the eye
4.4. Periorbital Cellulitis
This infection is common among children and occurs around the eyelids or the skin around the eyes. Children below the age of two are more prone to getting periorbital cellulitis though adults can get it too.
You are prone to getting periorbital cellulitis if you get insect bites and eye injuries. It also happens when bacteria attack the soft tissue around your eyes or react to a style.
Symptoms of periorbital cellulitis include:
- A cut or a scratch near the eye
- Redness or swelling around the eye
- Tenderness of the skin in the affected area
- Redness in the white part of the eye
4.5. Perianal Cellulitis
The staph and strep bacteria are the main cause of perianal cellulitis though other bacteria can cause it. This infection is again common in boys and girls, and this cellulitis occurs around the anal region.
This infection happens around the anus area if there is a cut or a scratch. Children can scratch the area and spread the infection to the anus.
Symptoms of perianal cellulitis are inflammation around the anus area and painful bowel movements due to swelling in the area.
5. How to Treat Cellulitis at Home
Suppose you have been diagnosed with cellulitis and taking antibiotics prescribed by your healthcare professional. In that case, you can also do some home remedies to make the skin heal well and relieve the inflamed skin.
5.1. Apple Cider Vinegar
A cup or two of apple cider vinegar added to your bath is a good way to calm the swelling caused by cellulitis.
Apple cider vinegar can also be diluted and applied to the area of the skin where there is an infection.
Apple Cider vinegar is good to ward off infection and a good method if you are looking for how to treat cellulitis at home.
5.2. Calendula
How to treat cellulitis at home? Applying calendula is soothing if your skin is inflamed or tender.
Boil the calendula flower in water and dip cotton in it after 10 minutes. Keep it on the infection and repeat it a few times daily.
Calendula flower enhances blood flow and is a good way to cure cellulitis at home.
5.3. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a good skin moisturizer that helps ease pain in the infected area. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties in coconut oil due to medium-chain fatty acids help treat cellulitis.
If you are looking for how to treat cellulitis at home, try using coconut oil on the infected area to relieve the pain caused by cellulitis.
5.4. Dandelion Tea
The dandelion flower has a lot of medicinal benefits. The roots of this plant have antimicrobial properties, and other parts of the flower and plant are said to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Drinking dandelion tea is a good way to fight cellulitis if you are looking for how to treat cellulitis at home. Have dandelion tea twice or thrice a day, and you will see a difference.
5.5. Epsom Salt Bath
A 20-minute bath using Epsom salts is one of the good ways to treat cellulitis at home.
Add Epsom salts to your bath water, as the magnesium in them will help calm the pain and redness caused by cellulitis. You might find taking a bath using Epsom salts refreshing and rejuvenating.
5.6. Fenugreek Seeds
Soak a handful of fenugreek seeds overnight and grind them to paste the next day. Apply it to the affected area and leave for a couple of hours.
The antibacterial properties of fenugreek seeds5 destroy the staph bacteria and the staph infection caused by it. Its analgesic properties ease the pain caused by cellulitis.
5.7. Ginkgo Biloba
This herb can be made into tea, and drinking this tea is good for blood flow and metabolism. It will help accelerate your cellulite healing because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
This can be one of the options if you are looking for how to treat cellulitis at home.
5.8. Garlic
Make a paste using a few pods and apply it to the skin infection area. Adding garlic to your daily diet is also a good way to fight cellulitis from within, and this is one of the good ways if you are looking at how to treat cellulitis at home.
5.9. Grapefruit Seed Extract
Add a few drops of grapefruit seed extract to water and have it daily. A grapefruit seed extract has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that reduce pain and inflammation.
It works well against the staph bacteria, which is responsible for cellulitis.
5.10. Honey
You will need organic or manuka honey for this. Apply it to the affected area. After a couple of hours, wash it off.
The antibacterial properties will keep away the bacteria that cause cellulitis and speed up the healing.
5.11. Hot and Cold Compress
A hot water bottle or an ice pack can be used on the affected area. Leave it for 15 minutes. It gives instant relief from cellulitis pain, and inflammation.
5.12. Oregano Oil
This is one of the essential oils used if you are looking for how to treat cellulitis at home.
Mix 3-4 drops of oregano oil with a carrier oil, either olive oil or coconut oil, and apply it to the affected area. The antibacterial properties of oregano oil are good for wound healing and will accelerate healing.
5.13. Pineapple
Including pineapple in your daily diet regime can help if you are looking for ways to treat cellulitis at home. The pineapple enzymes are good for fighting cellulitis hence have it daily using different recipes.
5.14. Personal Hygiene
Personal hygiene is always important and even more important if you have cellulitis. The chances of getting an infection will be less if you keep your skin clean.
Drink lots of water and stay hydrated, so your skin does not crack or peel.
Shower daily, clean your nails, change your bed sheets often, and do not share your hygiene products.
Maintaining good hygiene benefits immune systems too in the long run.
5.15. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil, like coconut oil, has excellent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and can be included in your list of how to treat cellulitis at home.
The antimicrobial properties of tea tree oil help to reduce redness and swelling. You must mix two drops of tea tree oil with one drop of coconut oil and then apply it to the affected area.
5.16. Turmeric
Mix turmeric with honey or tea tree oil and apply it to the skin infection area. After leaving it for a while, wash it off. This will help fight the infection and the swelling and is a good way to take care of your skin.
Turmeric has medicinal properties and works well with honey’s healing properties. Applying turmeric paste is one of the remedies to treat cellulitis at home.
5.17. Vitamins C and E
Vitamin C and E supplements are good ways to heal cellulitis if you notice symptoms. They improve the texture of your skin; while Vitamin C is good for boosting your weakened immune system, Vitamin E will remove the skin rashes and improve the condition of your skin.
You can use this method if you want to try how to treat cellulitis at home.
5.18. Wearing Compression Stockings
Wearing compression stockings is good for reducing the swelling in the legs, but if you have active cellulitis, it is better to wait till the infection is gone and then use it.
These support stockings might help prevent fluid buildup if you have edema.
5.19. Yogurt
Yogurt has anti-inflammatory properties and is one of the good options if you want to know methods of how to treat cellulitis at home.
Applying yogurt to the affected area will reduce the swelling and pain. The probiotics in yogurt will help increase the good bacteria to fight the bad bacteria.
You can also mix a bit of honey with it before applying.
In The End
If you have been diagnosed with cellulitis and are looking for tips on how to treat cellulitis at home, the options mentioned above will be good to be given a try.
You should also take care if there is a wound, scratch, or injury by covering it properly, keeping the area around the wound clean, treating other conditions like athlete’s foot and eczema, taking a non-steroidal medicine to ease the pain, and keeping the affected area elevated.
It is always better to review your medical conditions and get in touch with a healthcare professional before deciding on any treatment.
With proper medication and rest, cellulitis is a curable medical condition. It is better to treat it so that you do not get it again and it does not cause serious complications.
FAQs
1. What is the fastest way to get rid of cellulitis?
Antibiotics are prescribed to treat cellulitis as fast as possible. However, it depends on the person and how the treatment responds.
2. Does cellulitis go away on its own?
Yes, cellulitis infection can go away on its own. However, it will take longer to recover without treatment. Also, there is a risk of the infection to get worsen.
3. What is the main cause of cellulitis?
Cellulitis infection is caused by bacteria streptococcus and staphylococcus that enter the skin through a cut or a crack.
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- Algammal, Abdelazeem M., et al. “Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): one health perspective approach to the bacterium epidemiology, virulence factors, antibiotic-resistance, and zoonotic impact.” Infection and Drug Resistance (2020): 3255-3265. ↩︎
- Polomska, Anna K., and Steven T. Proulx. “Imaging technology of the lymphatic system.” Advanced drug delivery reviews 170 (2021): 294-311. ↩︎
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Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology