Treatment of streptoderma in adults

Streptococcal pyoderma, better known as streptoderma, is a common skin disease, and in recent years it has been diagnosed more and more often. The disease is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy one, and the direct causative agent is a pyogenic microbe - streptococcus. Treatment of streptoderma in adults should be comprehensive, since it is quite difficult to defeat this disease. In addition, there is always a risk of the pathology becoming chronic. How to correctly build a treatment regimen to forget about the problem forever?

How long does it take to treat streptoderma?

The total duration of therapy for streptoderma does not have clearly defined terms. Healing occurs differently in different patients, depending on many factors:

• from the person’s age (the older the patient, the more difficult the healing process);
• depending on the degree of neglect of streptoderma;
• from a specific organism and the state of its immune defense;
• from a person’s health in general, the presence of chronic pathologies.

In a young, previously healthy patient, if the treatment is prescribed correctly, streptoderma can be cured in one or two weeks. If you do not see a doctor in time, or if you are elderly, the healing process can take up to a month or even longer.

How to quickly cure streptoderma?

Even with minor manifestations of streptoderma, it is advisable to carry out the most extensive treatment possible: the disease is contagious, it quickly spreads throughout the patient’s body, and is also transmitted to other healthy people.

In order to "tame" streptoderma in a short time, you need to follow several important rules. The first is careful observance of personal hygiene standards. If you ignore them, the treatment may be in vain, and the disease will drag on.

What are these hygiene standards:

• you should not allow the wounds to get wet or exposed to water, but healthy areas of the skin (feet, genitals) can and should be washed (or at least wiped with a damp cloth);
• if you experience itching, you should not scratch the skin or even touch the wounds, so as not to cause additional infection and the spread of the painful process;
• You cannot use other people’s towels and dishes – all household items must be individual for the patient;
• wounds and other minor skin lesions should be regularly lubricated or sprayed with an antiseptic recommended by a doctor.

In addition to the above rules, the room where the patient is located must be thoroughly wet cleaned daily, and bedding should be washed frequently and ironed with a hot iron.

All these measures will help speed up the patient’s recovery.

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Treatment regimen for streptoderma

If the patient feels satisfactory, and only isolated streptoderma lesions are found, the doctor may limit himself to prescribing local medications. In other, more complex situations, immunostimulating treatment, physiotherapy, etc. are additionally prescribed.

To avoid the spread of the disease to healthy areas of the skin, the area around the wounds should be treated with disinfectants in the morning and evening (alcohol solutions are suitable - for example, salicylic or boric). If there are erosive surfaces or bullous elements, then lotions based on 0.25% silver or 2% resorcinol are applied to them. After opening the blisters, antimicrobial treatment is carried out with further application of ointments with an antibiotic (for example, with tetracycline). Read more about the drugs used in the treatment of streptoderma in this article.

If there are pronounced signs of an inflammatory process, then short courses of hormonal external agents such as Triderm or Lorinden can be used. Long-term use of such agents for streptoderma is prohibited, since the risk of trophic disorders in the skin increases significantly.

In case of severe itching, it is important to take measures to alleviate the patient's condition. If this is not done, then further scratching and tissue damage will lead to the spread of infection and the expansion of pathological foci. Therefore, additional antihistamine treatment is required - for example, using Suprastin, Claritin, or other antiallergic medications.

If the temperature rises or there are changes in the lymph nodes, antibiotic therapy (penicillins) is prescribed.

The treatment regimen for streptoderma is supplemented by general recommendations, which include:

• limitation of water procedures;
• preference for using natural fabrics in clothing;
• compliance with certain conditions in everyday life;
• adherence to a low-allergen diet;
• limiting contact with healthy people during the entire incubation period.

Is it possible to cauterize streptoderma?

Many experts recommend cauterizing streptoderma lesions with the following external preparations:

• 2% methylene blue solution;
• brilliant green solution (“zelenka”);
• Fucorcin (Castellani paint);
• 2-3% boric acid;
• Furacilin solution.

Cauterizing agents based on aggressive acids and alkalis should never be used for streptoderma.

A good preparation for treating wounds and cauterizing them is a pharmacy tincture of calendula. It is used locally as an antiseptic. Among other things, calendula actively promotes the tightening and exfoliation of streptoderma lesions. The effectiveness of the tincture is explained by the biologically active components present in the flowers and buds of calendula. Flavonoids and carotenoids, saponins and astringents, essential oils and organic acids have a pronounced antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effect. The frequency of application of the product for streptoderma is determined by the doctor on an individual basis.

Physiotherapy for streptoderma in adults

Once the acute symptoms of streptoderma are behind us, it is time for additional types of treatment, such as physiotherapy. Physiotherapy for streptoderma is most often represented by the following methods:

• UFO of the affected area of the skin (prescribed for isolated foci of infection);
• Ultraviolet irradiation of blood (prescribed for large-scale lesions, chronic streptoderma).
• UFO for streptoderma, quartz treatment is not prescribed:
• in case of skin hypersensitivity to ultraviolet radiation;
• in severe mental disorders;
• in epilepsy;
• in case of syphilitic lesions, immunodeficiency syndrome;
• with increased photosensitivity of the skin;
• in the post-stroke period.

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Vitamins for streptoderma in adults

Minerals and vitamins are essential for the prevention and treatment of most skin problems. A deficiency of such substances can itself cause peeling, cracks and rashes on the skin. And low immunity against the background of hypovitaminosis often contributes to the transition of the acute form of streptoderma to chronic.

What vitamins are most often lacking in the body of a patient suffering from streptoderma?

• Vitamin A – takes part in the processes of differentiation of epithelial cells of the superficial skin layer. With a lack of retinol, the skin becomes dehydrated, peels, and the risk of developing pyoderma increases.
• Vitamins B2 _and B6 _are especially necessary for long-term and difficult-to-heal skin lesions, as well as for chronic streptoderma.
• Vitamin C is an excellent immunostimulant that stimulates the body's own antimicrobial activity. But a lack of ascorbic acid significantly prolongs the wound healing process.

Treatment of streptoderma without antibiotics

Treatment of streptoderma does not always require systemic use of antibiotics. More often, external treatment of the affected areas with antibacterial or disinfectant agents is sufficient.

Taking antibiotics orally may be indicated in cases of complex streptoderma, when it is widespread, when the deep layers of the skin are involved, or when the disease frequently recurs.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies for the treatment of streptoderma:

• Prepare a rosehip infusion: keep four tablespoons of rosehip berries in a thermos in 0.5 liters of boiling water overnight. Drink ¼ cup before each meal.
• Drink tea made from currant and raspberry leaves with lemon throughout the day.
• Take 1 teaspoon of aloe juice twice a day half an hour before meals.
• Eat one whole grapefruit per day.
• Add half a teaspoon of propolis to a glass of warm milk, dissolve and drink before going to bed.
• Take a pharmacy tincture of propolis, 5 drops in tea, compote, water, up to 2 times a day.
• Take 30 drops of echinacea tincture from the pharmacy in the morning on an empty stomach, with water.

Herbal treatment

Plant components can also be used for external treatment of streptoderma. However, you should first consult a doctor: many specialists do not advise neglecting drug therapy, since the pathogen can remain deep in the skin even with apparent external healing. If this happens, there is every chance of relapse of streptoderma.

If the doctor does not object to herbal treatment, then you can try the following recipes:

• Prepare a decoction based on oak bark: pour 3 tablespoons of bark with 0.5 liters of boiling water, boil for 25 minutes, cool and filter. Apply as a lotion up to three times a day every day.
• Prepare an infusion of chamomile flowers: pour 1 tbsp of flowers with 200 ml of boiling water, leave for half an hour. Filter the infusion and use as a compress at night.
• An infusion is prepared from sage leaves: 1 tbsp of raw material is poured with 200 ml of boiling water, infused for 15 minutes, filtered and used to prepare lotions.
• Prepare a celandine infusion: pour 2 tbsp of celandine with 0.5 l of boiling water and leave for an hour. Then filter the medicine and use it for compresses.

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Homeopathy for streptoderma in adults

Many patients prefer homeopathic treatment to traditional medical prescriptions. Homeopathic preparations act gently and do not cause side effects. But we must not forget: no real homeopath will recommend any remedies without a personal consultation with the sick person. The effect of homeopathy is based on the individual characteristics of the patient, and each treatment plan is made for a specific situation and person.

For streptoderma, the following homeopathic preparations can be considered:

• Sulfur 3, 6, 12;
• Conium 3;
• Thuja 3x;
• Caustic 3;
• Silicia 3;
• Graphite 3;
• Spongia 3x.

The dosage and treatment regimen are determined by the doctor during an individual meeting. The possibility of combining homeopathy with traditional drug treatment is also assessed separately.

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Diet for streptoderma

Nutrition for adult patients with streptoderma should be completely reviewed and adjusted. It is recommended to drink plenty of liquids (fruit drinks, clean water, tea), as well as adjust the healthy composition of food.

It is necessary to ensure sufficient protein intake: it is good if the diet includes lean meat and fish, cereals, vegetables, fruits, and greens. Sweets (chocolate, cookies, candies, baked goods and jams, ice cream and cakes, etc.) are strictly prohibited.

The skin clears up faster on a predominantly plant-based diet, with the use of herbal infusions and clean drinking water.

In the acute period of streptoderma, all seasonings and spices, as well as onions, garlic, vinegar, mustard, horseradish, etc., are excluded from the diet. The emphasis is on plant foods, fermented milk products, cereals, cottage cheese, eggs, lean meats and fish.

If you have a tendency to food allergies, you need to carefully examine the menu and exclude suspicious products to prevent potential allergens from entering the body.

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Is it possible to wash if you have streptoderma?

In case of streptoderma, you should wash very carefully so as not to wet the affected areas of the skin. It is best to wipe healthy skin with wet wipes or gauze until the pathological foci disappear. In a humid environment, the infection will spread faster, and recovery will become impossible.

Is it possible to go for a walk if you have streptoderma?

Walking in the fresh air, especially in sunny weather, is useful for streptoderma - this will contribute to a speedy recovery. However, one should not forget about the high contagiousness of the disease, so any contact of the patient with other healthy people should be excluded until complete recovery. It is better to walk in deserted places - in the park, in the forest, etc.

Can you eat sweets if you have streptoderma?

If the patient really wants to be cured of streptoderma, he must completely reconsider his diet, and, in particular, give up sweets in any form. If it is absolutely unbearable without sugar, then occasionally it is allowed to add its substitutes to dishes - for example, stevia or xylitol.

If you ignore this advice, streptoderma will spread more aggressively, and it will be much more difficult to cure, since the pathogen lives and reproduces more actively in a carbohydrate environment.

The average daily consumption of xylitol is limited to 30 g. The product is added to prepared dishes and drinks cooled to a warm state. If you add xylitol to hot products, a not very pleasant bitter taste may appear.

Prevention

Preventive measures to prevent streptoderma in adults are quite simple:

• Generally accepted standards of sanitation and hygiene should be observed;
• you need to lead a healthy lifestyle, not smoke or abuse alcohol, eat wisely and nutritiously;
• It is important to seek medical help in a timely manner and treat any problems in the body.

Let's look at these recommendations in order.

Every day you need to wash yourself with warm water and soap: it is great if it is tar or resorcinol soap. Hands are washed regularly: after coming in from outside, after visiting the toilet, before eating. Also, nails are regularly trimmed, underwear and socks are changed daily. At least once a week, bedding is changed. By the way, underwear - both underwear and bed linen - should be selected from natural, non-synthetic fabrics.

A healthy lifestyle includes more than just physical activity. You need to walk outside often, toughen up, eat only fresh and high-quality food (avoid chemical additives, processed foods, and foods of unknown origin). It is great if your diet consists of 60-70% plant foods, grains, and legumes.

If any damage to the skin occurs, it should be immediately treated with disinfectants. In addition, you need to control the amount of sugar in the blood, monitor your weight. If you have chronic pathologies in the body, it is important to periodically visit a doctor and undergo a course of treatment.

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Is there a vaccine against streptoderma?

There is no vaccine that can prevent streptoderma in adults and children. Since scientists deal with a wide variety of streptococci, it is technically very difficult to develop such a serum. Moreover, it is considered unlikely that such a vaccine against streptoderma will appear in the near future.

Sick leave for streptoderma

As a rule, a sick leave is issued to a patient for the period of his "infectiousness", that is, the duration of the sick leave can be approximately 7-14 days. Approximately the same amount of time is needed for a high-quality cure of the disease.

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Forecast

If the treatment of streptoderma was started in a timely manner, and the therapeutic regimen itself was composed correctly, then the disease is cured within one or two weeks. In other situations, the problem can drag on for several months:

• the process may become chronic;
• the process may be delayed due to constant scratching of the lesions, their damage, exposure to moisture, nutritional errors, etc.;
• The disease can be difficult to treat due to the patient's weakened immune system.

In some cases, the lack of effectiveness of therapy means that the diagnosis was incorrect, and the disease is not related to streptoderma. In such a situation, it is necessary to conduct a full detailed diagnosis of the skin problem.

In general, contrary to the opinion of many, the treatment of streptoderma in adults is not so difficult. The main thing is to seek help from a competent doctor and follow all his instructions.