Impetigo
Impetigo is a highly contagious skin condition that affects the face, neck and hands.
It is a bacterial infection that begins with injury to the skin or skin-to-skin contact with someone else who has impetigo.
After treatment, Impetigo generally clears up within a week. Without treatment, the condition takes two to three weeks to heal.
Impetigo signs and symptoms:
Impetigo begins as fluid-filled spots which burst, crust over and turn a golden-yellow colour.
More spots will appear near to the area of skin that was initially infected. These will eventually dry out and fall off.
Areas of the skin infected by impetigo are often hot, itchy and may cause swelling in the lymph nodes.
Lifestyle tips:
One of the main causes of impetigo is poor hygiene so it’s important to wash your hands regularly throughout the day.
If your impetigo is live and the spots are still weeping it must be treated at home to stop it spreading further. Make sure you don’t share towels, soap or bathwater with family members and try not touch the affected area.
To prevent impetigo, keep damaged skin or cuts clean and covered with a waterproof dressing. Certain underlying skin conditions, such as eczema or scabies, can mean you’re more susceptible to impetigo so it’s particularly important to be aware of any abrasions.
Diet tips:
To help your skin heal, it’s important to follow a healthy diet that promotes skin cell growth.
Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables will give your body the vitamins A and D which help to protect skin and rebuild healthy skin cells after damage.
Omega 3 fatty acids also aids this process and helps to reduce skin inflammation which can lead to other complications with infections. The best source of omega 3 is oily fish such as salmon and mackerel.
Akoma recommends:
As impetigo is extremely contagious, it should be treated at home.
Akoma Tea Tree Essential Oil is rich with the antibacterial ingredients that treat many skin infections. The oil also has antifungal and antiseptic properties so it’s been used across the world for years to treat impetigo.
Use a swab and apply the oil directly onto the affected area a couple of times a day to stop the infection spreading and help its recovery.
To keep clean and fresh during your recovery, use Akoma Black Soap. It is a natural antibacterial product that reduces inflammation of the skin.
Akoma Black Soap is made from raw shea butter, organic virgin coconut oil and cocoa pods that gently treat infections. It is also rich in antioxidants that improve the general health of your skin, helping it to fight off infections in future.