Eczema can be an extremely irritating, uncomfortable and even painful skin condition. Throw in an eczema staph infection and treatment can become even more complicated.
Discover the various types of eczema staph infections like furuncles, impetigo and cellulitis and how you can protect your or your little one’s skin.
What is a Staph Infection?
According to the Mayo Clinic, staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria, a type of germ commonly found on the skin or in the nose .
Although most staph infections results in skin infections, bacteria invading into other organs can cause life threatening forms of staph. This is why treating a staph infection is extremely important.
If you believe you might be suffering from an eczema staph infection, please seek medical professional help immediately.
ILW Recommends: Skin Infections and Eczema: The Fundamentals
Types of Eczema Staph Infections
The most common forms of eczema staph infections include: Furuncles (boils), impetigo, and cellulitis.
Furuncles (which are also known as boils) are caused by both bacteria and fungi. Normally, these boils start growing from a hair follicle, where it quickly becomes infected.
Although most cases of these boils are found on the face and neck, they can appear anywhere. These boils are usually very red, raised bumps that are tender and can break open and weep fluid.
Another common form of a staph infection which usually develops on eczema prone skin is impetigo.
This type of infection causes skin to break and weep, while yellow-colored crust forms on the open wound. These wounds are often painful, irritating and red.
It’s also important to keep in mind that this form of infection is actually contagious and must be treated by a doctor.
Lastly, cellulitis is a deep infection that is characterized by swollen and red skin which can be painful and tender to touch. It can also cause a rapidly spreading rash, dimpled skin, blisters and fevers.
Left untreated, this infection can also spread to the lymph nodes and bloodstream making it extremely life-threatening. However, unlike impetigo, this infection is not contagious.
How to Heal from an Eczema Staph Infection
Prior to trying any natural treatments or remedies, it is imperative to seek medical advice. As mentioned, some forms of staph infection can be life threatening or contagious. It’s important to receive a diagnosis or rule it out prior to treating skin yourself.
For most cases of eczema staph infections, doctors will prescribe an antibiotic to eliminate the bacteria and fungi. They may also choose to drain the fluid.
Once skin is starting to heal and there is no longer weeping, you can begin to use natural treatments like this Organic Manuka Skin Soothing Cream
emollient to help moisturize and prevent further infection. This cream is not only soothing and nourishing, but its manuka oil and manuka honey contents offer anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
or dry wrapping
can also be a wonderful form of relief for more advanced forms of eczema. Both these processes involve using a natural emollient as well as an eczema wrap or bandage to help penetrate the treatment.
Lastly, if you’re not able to avoid infection from natural treatments alone, we suggest taking a deeper look into your or your little one’s diet. Diet is actually a key trigger for many eczema sufferers and could be the reason for your flare ups.
To determine whether food might be the culprit, we suggest trying an elimination diet
. This diet involves removing top allergens from your diet for a month and reintroducing them slowly to observe a reaction.
“Staph Infections.” Mayoclinic.org, 2019, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/staph-infections/symptoms-causes/syc-20356221
Laura is a contributor and content developer for It’s An Itchy Little World. She is in no way a medical professional. Her comments, suggestions, and reflections are not intended to replace any medical advice. Always seek the help of a medical professional before undertaking any diet or lifestyle changes. Please see It’s An Itchy Little World’s disclaimer for information about affiliate links and more.