Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Tea Tree Oil and Treatment of Boils

Staphylococcus is the bacteria that is usually found in the pus of a boil. The head is filled with bacteria and the white blood cells fighting the infection (pus). A boil usually starts as a tender area, becoming hard and swelling, and eventually softening and forming a head.

A boil is an inflamed area, usually based in a hair follicle, and can be caused by a physical condition such as diabetes, acne, or severe dermatitis and can also result from low immunity, irritations, an illness, stress, food allergy, poor diet, shaving, plucking hairs or poor hygiene.
The bacteria involved are those usually present on healthy skin, so the boil is an indication of low resistance to infection.
Dab it on with a piece of clean cotton, do not rub or otherwise irritate the boil. A drop or two of tea tree oil may also be applied directly to the boil. Wash with tea tree oil soap and apply antiseptic cream containing tea tree oil. Do not cover with a bandaid.

Apply hot packs for up to 20 minutes at a time, throughout the day, as the heat draws more white blood cells, thereby helping to fight the infection. It is advised not to lance the boil, because bacteria can spread to nearby skin and create new boils.
Procedure to be followed periodically throughout the day:
Dab some tea tree oil soap each time you handle the gauze or touch the boil.
It's important to learn to listen to your body and recognize when tea tree oil treatment will be enough, and when you need the help of a doctor. You should visit a doctor if this occurs, also if there is fever or lethargy. If there is a boil on the neck, check the lymph glands for swelling and tenderness.

Sometimes a boil's bacteria can spread to a lymph node that is nearby.

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