The impetigo is a bacterial skin infection which happens in children, but also in adults. Your child can get impetigo via direct contact with an infected person or object. The impetigo can be caused by Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria and Straphylococcus aureus bacteria. This infection can result in a rash which looks like swollen, raised, itchy and oozing red sores. The rash typically happens near the mouth and nose, but also it can happen on other areas of the body.
The childhood impetigo may start with a blister or group of blisters. Parents are worried about this condition, because it looks scary, but they should know that it is treated. The contact with the sore or things which have been on the sore can spread the infection to other people. The sore is itchy, so you should prevent your child from scratching it, because he or she can easily spread to other parts of the body. In the most cases, impetigo is mild condition and it is manageable with a topical antibiotic.
If the impetigo is not treated, then there is a risk that infection will get worse. Also, there are home remedies which can help your child to manage his or her symptoms and aid in the healing process. If your child suffers from childhood impetigo, then you should talk with his or her doctor before you use some of the below mentioned home remedies, so in this way you will avoid any possible side effects on your child. Here are some home remedies for childhood impetigo:
Garlic good for childhood impetigo
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This home remedy has historic place for the natural treatment of viral, bacterial and fungal infections. The garlic extract may suppress both bacteria strains that cause impetigo. You should cut garlic on slices and put the slice directly on the impetigo sores of your child. This can sting a little. Also, you can press garlic cloves and then, apply it topically. Also, you can incorporate garlic in your child’s diet. If your child is very young, you should avoid using garlic as home remedy for his or her impetigo, because it can cause skin irritation.
Chamomile
This natural cure takes part of lot of skin products. It is used to moisturize the skin and reduce the inflammation. There was one study done in 2011 in which was shown that it is effective against Staphylococcus. In another study done in 2014, was shown that the chamomile could directly fight skin infections on animals. You can make a chamomile tea and use it as a skin wash. Also, you can apply a used and cooled chamomile tea bag directly on sores.
Aloe Vera good for childhood impetigo
This plant takes part in many moisturizing skin products. You can use it as home remedy for the impetigo of your child. There was one study done in 2015 in which was tested Aloe Vera extract in a cream alongside neem oil. I the results were shown that it is effective against Stahylococcus aureus as an antimicrobial when tested in a lab. We know that this is a common bacteria which cause childhood impetigo.
This natural cure can counter the dryness and itching of childhood impetigo. You can apply Aloe Vera gel directly from an Aloe Vera plant leaf to the skin and this will work best for your children. Also, you can try an ointment that has a high amount of Aloe Vera extract.
Grapefruit seed
The grapefruit seed can help to manage the childhood impetigo. There was one study done in 2011 in which was shown that the grapefruit peel extract had antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus. You can find the grapefruit seed in form of liquid extract or tincture form. You should dilute it with water and then, apply this home remedy topically to the sores of childhood impetigo to your children.
Saline solution
You can buy saline solution from local chemist, but you can make it at home. You should boil one cup of water with a teaspoon of salt and let the liquid to cool completely. You should cleanse each sore with this homemade saline solution. You should do this natural treatment several times per day to alleviate symptoms. Between each cleanse, you should cover weeping sores with gauze and or waterproof dressing.
Ginger
This home remedy has a long medical history. It is a seasoning which has many health benefits. There are some studies in which are shown that it has antimicrobial properties. There was one study done in 2012 in which was found that some components of ginger worked good against Staphylococcus. You should put a slice of ginger on the impetigo sores of your child. You should aware your child that it might sting a little.
Also, you can make ginger juice and make a poultice from this juice and apply it topically. Also, you can add ginger to the diet of your child. But, you should know that if you have young children, this home remedy can cause skin irritation, so you should avoid the usage of it.
Neem
This is an Indian tree which is closely related to mahogany. The oil extracted from the bark is a very popular home remedy for many skin problems. In one study done in 2011 was shown that this home remedy has good effect against the Staphylococcus bacteria. In other study done in 2013 was shown that this home remedy has similar results against the two strains of bacteria that are cause for childhood impetigo. You can use the neem oil product, but you should be careful while you are using it and always follow the label directions.
Eucalyptus
This is one of the most used home remedies for different skin problems. It can be found in essential form. There was one study done in 2014 which was done on rats in which was noticed that it has antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus. Also, there was another study done in 2016 in which is found that it has inhibitory bioactivity effects on Steptococcus pyogenes. You should use this home remedy only topically. It has been shown that this home remedy is toxic, so ingesting it can be dangerous. You should dilute a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil in water (2 – 3 drops per ounce).
You should apply this home remedy as a topical wash on impetigo sores. The topical use of properly diluted eucalyptus essential oil is generally safe. In some cases, contact dermatitis is reported as side effect, but this is very rare case. If you have very young children, then you should avoid the usage of this home remedy on them, because it can cause skin irritation or dermatitis.
Tea tree
Nowadays, tea tree is one of the most used home remedies for many different skin problems. This is including the effectiveness in the treatment of childhood impetigo. In 2017 was done one study in which different skin conditions have been treated with the tea tree. You can easily find this home remedy as an essential oil. You should dilute a few drops in water (2 – 3 drops per ounce) and you should apply this home remedy as a topical wash on impetigo sores. You should avoid the usage of tea tree oil on young children because it can cause skin irritation or dermatitis.
Honey
Honey has sweet taste, but also it has many health benefits which are reason why it has been used a long in the traditional medicine. It has antibacterial properties. In one study done in 2016 was noticed that it has antimicrobial properties, so it is possible to use the honey as home remedy for antimicrobial skin conditions, including impetigo. But, this has not been demonstrated in human studies. The two most effective choices are manuka honey and raw honey. You should apply either type of hone directly on the childhood impetigo sores and let it stay there for twenty minutes. You should rinse it with warm water.
Wash all bedding
It is very important to wash all bedding on daily basis, so this can help to reduce the potential for re – infection and remain quarantined to avoid spreading of this highly contagious infection.
Avoid processed and sugary foods
You should remove the processes and sugary foods from your child’s diet because they have an impact on the brain and they can be cause anxiety and behavioral problems.
Usnea
This home remedy is not well – known around the world. It is a type of lichen. It can be used topically as home remedy for childhood impetigo. You can easily find herbal extracts of usnea. There are some studies done in 2012 and 2013 in which are shown that usnea is effective home remedy against Streptococcus and Staphylococcus. You should mix a few drops of usnea extract or tincture with water and apply it topically on the impetigo sores. The undiluted extract can be painful for open wounds.
