7 Natural Remedies For Impetigo

Impetigo is a kind of common and contagious skin infection that mostly affects young children and infants. The infection appears as sores that can occur around the mouth, nose, hands, and feet.

If you see a doctor, they will most likely prescribe your child with an antibiotic and tell you to keep the child home from school or other activities for at least 24-hours.

Impetigo shows itself with itching red sores on and/or around the aforementioned areas. The infection is very easily spread to other parts of the body with fingers or fabrics.

The sores burst rather quickly and will ooze and harden with a yellowish-brown scab-like crust.

# Aloe Vera

Chances are if you have a skin condition, aloe vera can be helpful in some way, shape, or form. Aloe is known to help with anything from minor burns and bug bites to acne. To use aloe vera to help Impetigo, simply gently apply the gel to the sore like using your finger or a cotton swab.

# Honey

Honey, for a very long time throughout history, has been used as an anti-bacterial. This sugary golden glaze can be used one of the sores for just that reason. Raw or Manuka honey works best for Impetigo. To use, you should put the honey directly on the sore and let it sit for twenty minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

# Preventive Measures

If your child does not yet have Impetigo and you’ve been hearing about it going around, there are easy things that can be done to help keep your child from getting the infection.

You can make your own antibacterial soap using a tablespoon of coconut oil, 30 drops of tea tree essential oil, 10 drops of peppermint essential oil, ½ cup of castile soap, ½ cup of distilled water, and a teaspoon of Vitamin E oil. You put the concoction in a soap dispenser and use it as you would usual soap.

Slightly changing your and your child’s eating habits is a good way to build the immunity system of both you and your child. By including more fruits and veggies into your diet, you’re getting more vitamins and minerals that can help exponentially to fight off Impetigo as well as other illnesses.

Many harmful things like bacteria and germs live under fingernails. The short fingernails are, the less chance there is of the germs and bacteria causing health problems.

# Green Tea

Green tea is another ageless remedy for many things. This type of tea can help to stave off bacteria and germs from collecting within the body. With Impetigo, you can apply a few drops of warm tea to the sores or the tea can be drunk like it usually would. Green tea, while it can kill bacterias is also remarkable for building immunity systems.

# Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil contains lauric acid, which keeps the skin from being a good host of bacteria and other pathogens. You can use the oil like a lotion on the areas that Impetigo has affected, dab on a cotton ball with a drop or two of lavender essential oil (another antibacterial and antiseptic), or you can find ways to add it to your diet (this helps with the third paragraph of suggestion three) by putting on toast, crackers, popcorn, or other recipes containing coconut oil.

Coconut doesn’t only help with Impetigo, however. When eaten, it builds your immune system, helps to detoxify your body, and it battles off bacteria, germs, and fungi.

# Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is another cheap over the counter helper. This is used for detoxification, skin care, calming acid reflux, and nasal congestion. Apple cider vinegar, when dabbed on Impetigo sores can calm inflammation and bacteria.

# Garlic

Garlic is another one of those ancient illness fights that families have been adding to their food or taking supplement pills for ages. Impetigo is no exception for this bacteria fighter and immunity builder.

There are a couple different ways to battle Impetigo with garlic. As mentioned, you can add it to your diet as a spice or seasoning; alternatively, peel and crush garlic and add two tablespoons of olive oil to form a paste to apply to itchy skin. You can also crush garlic with a mortar and pestle and apply to sores multiple times a day.