First, let’s be clear on the fact that cellulite and cellulitis are 2 separate and totally different conditions. In term of cellulitis, it is a bacterial infection which occurs in the dermis (deep layer of your skin) together with other subcutaneous tissues (soft and fat layer of tissue). All of them happen under your skin.
Normally, there are several types of bacteria which exist on your skin and might cause no harm at all. However, when they invade deeper into your skin, there will be infection.
The condition for bacteria to enter are through injuries such as bites, grazes and cuts. Also people who have been suffering from conditions such as psoriasis or eczema are more prone to cellulitis.
After going through this article, you will be equipped with necessary information about cellulitis such as the symptoms, the causes as well as some of the home remedies that you can try in order to treat cellulitis naturally.
Contents
What Causes Cellulitis?
On your skin, you might easily find streptococci as well as staphylococci groups but they normally bring no harm. However, it is a different story if they can penetrate your skin and trigger an infection.
In order to get access to the deeper layer of your skin, the bacteria will require a route such as a break on the skin surface. And it can be created from:
- Cuts
- Grazes
- Bites
- Burns
- Ulcers
- Other skin conditions such as psoriasis, athlete’s foot or eczema.
Also there are cases which people might suffer cellulitis but are still unable to identify the skin’s break.
What Are the Symptoms of Cellulitis?
Even though, symptoms might occur at any body’s part, your legs are usually the most popular location. When incur cellulitis, the infected area will be like:
- Inflamed, tender
- Warm
- Red
- Swollen
- Painful
There might be blisters on some cases. Also the sufferer will experience nausea, shivering, chills or even fever.
Additionally, there might be swollen lymph glands as those will become tender. In case the cellulitis occurs at the legs, it is more likely that the lymph glands at your groin area will become tender or even swollen.
Other Risk Factors of Cellulitis
People who are having leg swelling or edema will be more vulnerable to cellulitis.
People who are having weakened immunity due to radiotherapy or chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS or even elderly people.
People who are suffering from diabetes. In case, diabetes isn’t controlled or treated well, their immunity will become weaker, thus lead to circulatory problems and eventually skin ulcers. Also poor control over the levels of blood glucose will be the advantage for bacteria to develop and grow faster at the infected tissue, thus amplify the quick progression in case the infection attacks the bloodstream.
People who are having problems with blood circulation such as poor circulation are more prone to skin infections.
People who are having other infections on skin such as shingles or chicken pox which can trigger blisters. In case the blisters break, they will give the perfect condition for bacteria to penetrate your skin.
People who incur lymphedema in which the skin tends to be swelling and vulnerable to crack. Because skin’s cracks are the perfect entrances for bacteria to penetrate your skin.
People who have suffered from cellulitis are highly more likely to incur it again compared to other normal people.
People who are drug addicts but don’t have the access to the supple of clean needles regularly will be more vulnerable to incur infection in the deep layer of skin.
In most of the cellulitis cases, they are rather mild and often heal themselves within couples of day or week; however, there are times when the condition can escalate to severe infection as well as other dangerous issues. As the matter of fact, if cellulitis is left unattended, it has the potential to be fatal.
Therefore, it is suggested that you have the doctor consult on appropriate diagnosis and treatment, in case the infection might become severe or it does not improve within couples of day or just because you have other medical conditions at the same time.
Home Remedies for Cellulitis
Tea Tree Oil
This essential oil deserves to be at the top of the home remedies for cellulitis due to its incredible effects such as anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial [1].
You just need to use a cotton swab to dab the oil onto the infected skin areas. But you need to make sure that all the infected areas are well-covered. Then you maintain the oil for few hours because rinsing off using water.
Another method would be mixing few drops of tea tree oil with a teaspoon of gel from Aloe Vera as well as some honey. After that, you can put the mixture directly onto the infected skin areas for several hours before washing off using water.
You can practice those methods for 1 to 2 times every day in order to get well soon.
Coconut Oil
Another essential in the list is none other than coconut oil. Excellent in dealing with bacteria due to its medium-chain fatty acids, coconut oil can also improve the process of healing and maintain the softness of your skin [2]. That is why it is no doubt that coconut oil is place at the second on the list.
You can take some coconut oil and put it directly onto the infected skin areas. After few hours, you can cleanse the oil off using water.
You need to practice at least several times every day until you see improvement in your condition.
Turmeric
Turmeric possesses significant capability in controlling inflammation as well as cellulitis due to its wonderful antiseptic and antibiotic effects [3].
You just need to take a teaspoon of turmeric powder into some milk and have them boiled. Then you can add in some honey to make the combination taste better.
You can wait for the tea to cool down and then drink. Remember to practice every day until the condition is improved.
Activated Charcoal
This ingredient can be of significant help in case of cellulitis due to its natural effect in eliminating toxins as well as chemical impurities.
You can take a teaspoon of activated charcoal and then mix it with some water to create a paste. After that, you take a piece of cotton towel to wrap the paste and then put onto the infected skin area for couples of hour. Also it is suggested that you practice this overnight and then have it removed by the next morning and follow with water rinsing.
Garlic
The last recommended ingredient would be garlic due to its popularity in antibiotic, antifungal and antibacterial effects. That’s why garlic is often regarded as one of the top treatment for problems related to infection, inflammation or bacteria [4].
First, you can start with eating raw cloves of garlic every day. However, if you are worry about its smell and taste, you might opt for another method. You can take some cloves of garlic to crush and then fry using coconut oil. After cooling down, you can apply that oil directly onto the infected skin area for about 2 to 3 hours before washing off using water. You need to practice for 2 to 3 times per day in order to obtain significant improvement.
Does Cellulitis Require Antibiotics?
In case of severe cellulitis, the doctor will prescribe specific antibiotic based on the site and the cause of the infection. In most of the cases, your condition will improve quickly once you take antibiotics.
In case of mild cellulitis, you can try those natural remedies above at home; however, you still need to maintain contact with the doctor in order to keep the situation under control. Also you can try warm compress on the infected skin area as well.
Sometimes, when the cellulitis become fatal, you might need to remain in the hospital and take antibiotics intravenously which is through the vein.
For community-acquired MRSA infections, even antibiotic treatment cannot completely treat. Therefore, you need to monitor closely within the first 2 – 3 days for signs such as swelling, redness or skin pain. If they do not improve and there are blisters or even pus that appears on the skin rash, you might need to see the doctor immediately as those signs can indicate that you have community-acquired MRSA infection.
How to Prevent Cellulitis
- Prevent yourself from getting skin injuries by wearing protective gloves when you are working outdoors or even gardening, wearing trousers as well as long sleeves when you are hiking. Also you should not walk barefoot outdoors. And you will need to wear protective padding on both knees and elbows when you are skating.
- You have to have minor wounds on skin treated promptly by wiping away any dirt gently, washing using antibiotic soap, putting on antibiotic ointment and then covering using clean bandage.
You have to seek proper medical attention in case of deep puncture wounds or when you are injured deeply at foot, hand or joint or even have animal bites.
