Skin infection can occur at any age, and particularly when the skin becomes broken. The more serious skin infections are listed here , generally medical help is required if the condition is extensive and spreading, if the regional lymph glands become swollen and painful , if the person becomes toxic ( poisoned by the infection ) and feverish, or if the face or scalp is involved , simple skin infections , however respond well to homoeopathic treatment.
Cellulitis is a diffuse inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue of the skin, it appears as redness, swelling, pain and a raised temperature. Erysipelas is very similar , but is an inflammation caused by a bacteria called the “Streptococcus” and spreads through the skin and “subcutaneous” tissues .
Impetigo is an inflammatory, pustular skin disease usually caused by another bacteria called the staphylococcus, honey colored crusts which form on the skin are typical.
Symptoms and Medicines :
- Bluish –red pustular eruptions – Antimonium tartaricum
- Starts as a light-red discoloration but affected skin soon becomes livid, purple and swollen and feels bruised and sore swelling appears early in the development of the condition – Apis mellifica
- Skin appears bright red and swollen, skin is smooth and tense pain is sharp and throbbing , may also be head ache, fever and swollen glands – Belladonna
- Infection starts on nose and spreads to right cheek, large blisters form which when they burst discharge a stinging fluid – Cantharis
- Large yellow blisters, a high temperature pain extends from gum to ear – Euphorbium
- For recurring and chronic cases that involve nose and face, slightest irritation to skin brings on the condition – Graphities
- Mainly left sided , the area becomes bright red but soon , becomes dark blue/purple , feels drowsy and weak – Lachesis
- Infection of the skin around the joints, useful in the early stages of cellulites- Manganum aceticum
9. Infected skin looks dark , red and swollen and itches and tingles . small skin blisters appears at the start of the infection , scalp face and genitals are the most common areas involved – Rhus tox
SKIN ULCERS :
Skin ulcers usually occur on the legs when the circulation is poor , often as a result of varicose veins. Any injury to skin with poor blood supply is likely to become an ulcer and is normally treated with antiseptic dressings and support bandages. Self help included raising the legs above the level of the heart when resting , taking a daily walk, eating nutritious diet and avoiding standing . If you are applying your own dressings you can use “ Hypericum and Calendula ointment “. A number of homoeopathic medicines can be used to aid healing , but medical advice is often needed.
Symptoms and Medicines :
- Burning pain that is helped by warmth and is worse between midnight and 2 am – Arsenicum album.
- Poor circulation and the leg is cold , the area feels sore and bruised . ulcer is surrounded by a deep bluish –red area – Hamamelis
- Edge of the ulcer looks clean cut – Kali bichromicum
- Skin around the ulcer is bluish purple , ulcer is painful when walking or being tightly wrapped – Lachesis
- For when there is infection with foul smelling pus – Mercurius solubilis
- Ulcer bleeds easily , pain as if a splinter is there – Nitric acid
ITCHING AND SKIN IRRITATION :
Skin irritation can occur without a rash and is occasionally caused by underlying disease, so if it persists consult your doctor , it can be a problem during pregnancy , when the skin temperature is slightly raised and a cool bath or shower may give relief. In older women the skin may be itchy because it is rather dry , but using moisturizing creams and lotions can help relieve the problem.
Symptoms and Medicines :
- Skin is dry , itchy and is aggravated by warmth – Alumina
- There is itching of the vagina and vulva – Caladium saguinum
- There is itching all over the body – Ichthyolum
- Itching made worse by undressing – Rumex
BUNIONS : This condition ten times more common in women than in men , is a painful enlargement at the junction of the big toe and the foot , it is probably caused by wearing badly fitting shoes.
Symptoms and Medicines:
A tearing pain in the big toe may also suffer from gout —-benzoic acid
ALLERGY RASHES:
These rashes are known by several different names , but urticaria , nettle rash, poison ivy and hives are those most frequently used . A skin eruption , sometimes involving the whole body , may develop quite quickly in response to eating foods such as strawberries and shellfish , the rash that appears on the skin consists of multiple , very itchy pink welts which are smooth and slightly raised , the rash is not contagious or infectious , but if the allergy response involves some swelling around the throat or mouth , if the swelling affects the breathing or if the woman has collapsed , urgent medical attention should be sought straight away .
Symptoms and Medicines:
- A typical nettle rash with intense itching , very irritable – Anacardium
- Rash resembles measles – Antimonium crudum
- Feels as if skin is burning and becomes very restless , allergy is caused by eating shellfish – Arsenicum album
- Rash accompanied by diarrhea, occurs after excitement , rash develops overnight , rash is worse after bathing – Bovista
- Chronic urticaria that is worse from drinking milk , feels better in the open air – Calcarea carb.
- Rash is often accompanied by fever and constipation – copaiva
- Chronic allergic rashes which become worse at the start of winter – Dulcamara
- Urticaria after eating strawberries – Fragaria
- Chronic and recurrent urticaria – Hepar Sulp
- Nerve rash from stress and anxiety – Kali bromatum
- Rash becomes itchier after exertion – Natrum muriaticum
- Rash is red , swollen and intensely irritable , rash is better from warmth – Rhus tox
- Rash after milk or milk products , rash is worse in the warmth of the bed – Sepia
- Rash appears after eating shellfish – Terebinthina
- Intense intolerable itching that is often related to temperature changes, itchy swellings of the fingers , face becomes blotchy – Urtica urens .
