Abscesses can develop in various parts of the body and in some cases, surgery may be necessary to drain the pus. You may also need to take some natural antibiotics.
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What are abscesses
An abscess is a pouch with infection or pus that can occur anywhere on the body, but mainly affects the skin, and it is very often caused by a bacterial infection.
An abscess is a collection of pus in the affected area, and pus is a thick fluid that usually contains white blood cells and dead tissue, germs (bacteria). The usual cause of an abscess is an infection with bacteria.
Certain bacteria are more prone to the formation of pus and these contain toxins that can damage body tissues. These bacteria include: Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. The infection causes the immune system to activate white blood cells to fight bacteria.
In this “battle” part of the tissue dies which gives rise to the formation of a cavity that fills with pus. The cavity becomes larger if the infection continues.
Symptoms of abscesses on the skin
- Appearance of a thin membrane that encloses pus, cellular debris, microorganisms, and dead tissue.
- Sharp pain in the affected area of the skin with swelling, tenderness, and severe redness. In other parts of the body, it can cause fever, drowsiness and other symptoms of generalized infection.
- Increasing pain sensation under the skin Consult your doctor
Treat an abscess naturally
An herbal treatment can help reduce an abscess, however, since a chronic abscess can signal a deep-seated disease, consultation with a dermatologist specialist is recommended. The provider may need to open the abscess to release purulence and promote healing.
Other natural measures to treat abscesses
Follow basic hygiene rules and wash hands and nails thoroughly before treating abscesses or touching your skin.
Internal application
What plants to use to treat this skin problem: The following herbs and plants are for internal use to stimulate the immune system
- Liquid echinacea extract: you can consume the equivalent of 1 g of dried root, 3 times a day.
- Garlic: Consuming garlic can help you keep your immune system in optimal condition to deal with infections and skin conditions.
- Turmeric: Helps to heal inflammation and infection, which are the main causes of abscesses on the skin. You must take the turmeric drink, which can be made by mixing turmeric powder with a little milk or water. You can drink this drink three times daily. This will help you in healing the infection internally.
External application
External application to treat infection and promote healing of abscesses
- Tea tree: Apply a tea tree-based cream or gel, as directed on the label.
- Lavender: Apply 1 drop of pure essential oil to the abscess, once a day.
- Rue: You can use rue for the treatment of abscesses, applying the crushed leaves on the area.
- Onion: Onion helps heal skin abscess. Take the raw onion and cut it into slices. Place these slices on the affected skin and wrap the area with a cloth. After three hours, remove the onion and replace it with fresh onions. You should continue to apply this remedy until the abscess bursts. The onion contains substances that have antiseptic properties.
- Epsom salts: Fill a bathtub with hot water and mix Epsom salt into the water. Soak in water for 15 to 30 minutes four times a day. The hot water will help treat the skin infection. You can also wet a cloth with hot water and apply on the affected skin.
- Hot compresses: Apply heat to the skin affected by the abscess. The application of heat increases blood circulation in the affected skin area. These compresses help the body in fighting the infection that has led to the abscess formation. When heat is applied to the skin, the white blood cells are concentrated in to the affected area, which helps heal the abscess.