How to Treat Cellulitis Without Antibiotics

Everything you need to know about this bacterial infection and natural ways to heal it.

Specialty: MBBS, Family Medicine

Dr. Bhakti Kapse is a General Practitioner with over 10 years of experience in family medicine. She obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S) from Government Medical College, Nagpur. She is skilled in diagnosis and... more

  • What Is Cellulitis?
  • What Causes Cellulitis?
  • What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Cellulitis?
  • What Are The Different Types Of Cellulitis?
  • Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Cellulitis
  • How To Treat Cellulitis Naturally
  • Prevention Tips
  • Potential Complications Of Cellulitis
  • Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Cellulitis?

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin and the tissues beneath it, which is caused by bacteria. This infection usually affects the deeper layers of the skin like the dermis and subcutaneous tissues.

What Causes Cellulitis?

Cellulitis is mainly caused by the Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacteria. This infection occurs when these bacteria enter the skin via cuts or cracks. Skin injuries or wounds like cuts, insect bites, and surgical sites are the common sites that may harbor an infection.

Some factors can also increase your risk of getting infected. They include:

  • Weakened immunity
  • Diabetes
  • A family history of cellulitis
  • Skin conditions like eczema and athlete’s foot
    • Diabetes

Now, let’s look at the different symptoms that may result from cellulitis.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Cellulitis?

The most common signs and symptoms of cellulitis are:

  • The affected area becomes tender and painful to touch.
  • Red and inflamed skin.
  • A growing skin sore or rash.
  • The skin looks tight, glossy, and may even be swollen.
  • The affected area feels warm.
  • A pus-filled abscess in the affected area.

A more serious cellulitis infection can cause the following symptoms:

  • Chills and tremors
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Muscle aches
  • Frequent sweating

And if you happen to notice any of the symptoms listed below, you must be careful as these are the signs that your infection is spreading.

  • Drowsiness and weariness
  • Lethargy
  • Blistering of the skin
  • Red streaks on the skin

Cellulitis can occur anywhere on your body, and based on the same, it is classified into different types.

What Are The Different Types Of Cellulitis?

Cellulitis is mainly classified into five types:

  • Orbital Cellulitis: When the infection occurs inside the sockets of the eyes, it is termed as orbital cellulitis. Eye injuries, sinus infections, and infections of the middle ear or teeth increase the risk of orbital cellulitis.
  • Perianal Cellulitis: A cellulitis infection in the anal region is referred to as perianal cellulitis. This infection is quite common in children, and more so in boys than girls.
  • Periorbital Cellulitis: This infection develops around the eyelids and is more common in children. Those suffering from insect bites and eye injuries are more prone to developing this infection.
  • Facial Cellulitis: This is a facial infection that affects people of all ages and may lead to serious complications if left untreated.
  • Breast Cellulitis: Breast cellulitis affects the skin on the breasts. Women with a history of lumpectomy or those who have breast cancer are at a higher risk of developing this infection.

Cellulitis can be quite unpleasant to deal with. To help you get rid of this condition, we have put together some of the best home remedies for cellulitis that can help in speeding up your healing.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this twice daily, preferably every morning and evening.

Why This Works

Given the wonderful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil, it’s no surprise that it can help in treating cellulitis. This oil is quite effective against a wide range of microbes, and can hence be used to fight the bacterial infection causing cellulitis (273/' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' >1). The anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil can also help in reducing the swelling and redness in the affected area (2).

Why This Works

Oregano essential oil possesses amazing antibacterial properties that can help in getting rid of the staph bacteria responsible for causing cellulitis (484421' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' >3). Additionally, the wound-healing potential of oregano oil can help reduce the symptoms of cellulitis and accelerate healing (4).

Why This Works

Coconut oil has excellent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of medium-chain fatty acids (645831' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' >5), (6). It also helps in keeping your skin well moisturized. These properties not only help treat cellulitis but also prevent its recurrence.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this 2 to 3 times every day.

Why This Works

A hot or cold compress can provide instant relief from the symptoms of cellulitis. While a hot compress can reduce the pain, a cold compress can reduce the pain and inflammation (7), (8).

Why This Works

Turmeric possesses amazing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties due to the curcumin present in it (9), (10). The medicinal properties of turmeric, combined with the healing properties of honey, one of the best home remedies for cellulitis.

What You Have To Do

Add a cup of Epsom salt to your bathwater and soak in it for 15 to 20 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this every alternate day for effective results.

Why This Works

The magnesium in Epsom salt helps reduce the inflammation, swelling, and pain associated with cellulitis (11).

Why This Works

The major constituent of garlic, allicin, is known for its exceptional antimicrobial properties (12). The antimicrobial properties of garlic help prevent further infection, and its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the swelling and pain often associated with cellulitis (13).

Why This Works

Fenugreek seeds are a rich source of flavonoids that can help reduce the pain and inflammation with their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties (14). The antimicrobial properties of fenugreek can help in destroying the staph bacteria responsible for causing cellulitis (15).

Why This Works

Apple cider vinegar, with its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, can help combat the inflammation caused due to cellulitis and also ward off the bacterial infection (16), (17).

What You Have To Do

Consume 1000 mg of vitamin C and 400-899 IU vitamin E daily.

How Often You Should Do This

You must consume the given dosage of vitamin C twice daily and vitamin E once daily.

Why This Works

Supplementation with vitamins C and E is an alternative therapy for cellulitis. The intake of these vitamins promotes healing and improves the condition of your skin. Vitamin C boosts your immunity, while vitamin E promotes your overall health and the healing of your skin (18), (19). It also aids collagen formation and regeneration of new skin cells.

Why This Works

Both manuka honey and organic honey are quite popular for their natural healing and antibacterial properties (20). The application of honey to the affected area will not just speed up healing but also ward off the bacteria responsible for causing cellulitis.

Why This Works

Ginkgo biloba is also known as the maidenhair tree. It exhibits anti- inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help combat cellulitis naturally (21), (22). Ginkgo biloba can also stimulate your metabolism and improve your blood circulation, which further accelerates your recovery.

Why This Works

Dandelion is a flowering plant that is widely used for its medicinal benefits. The roots of this plant possess antimicrobial properties, and its other constituents exhibit anti-inflammatory activities (23), (24). Therefore, consumption of dandelion tea is one of the most effective home remedies for cellulitis.

Why This Works

Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) exhibits antimicrobial activities against a wide range of pathogens (25). They can help in eliminating the staph bacteria responsible for cellulitis. Additionally, grapefruit seed extract is also anti- inflammatory and can help reduce the pain and inflammation (26).

Why This Works

Yogurt is a natural source of probiotics, i.e., it helps increase the number of good bacteria in your body to fight cellulitis. It also possesses anti- inflammatory properties that help reduce the swelling and pain in the affected area (27).

You can follow any of the above remedies to treat cellulitis. In addition, you can also follow a dietcontaining foods like beans, bell peppers, berries, cashews, citrus fruits, egg whites, green vegetables, tomatoes, red and white meat that have essential amino acids and micronutrients that help in collagen formation. This helps in regeneration of new skin.

Listed below are a few tips to prevent contracting the infection and avoid recurrence.

Prevention Tips

Despite taking these precautions, if you end up developing this skin condition, make sure that you treat it as early as possible. Otherwise, it can lead to certain complications.

Potential Complications Of Cellulitis

If left untreated, cellulitis can spread throughout your body and lead to the following complications:

  • Blood infection
  • Bone infection
  • Inflamed lymph vessels
  • Gangrene

Cellulitis, a bacterial infection, affects multiple layers of the skin and needs to be treated as early as possible to avoid the risk of gangrene or sepsis. It develops when certain bacteria enter the deeper layers through cuts or cracks on the skin and may present symptoms such as redness, inflammation, tenderness, expanding sore or rash, pain, and pus formation. You may be able to treat cellulitis without antibiotics using certain home remedies like coconut oil, yogurt, honey, turmeric, dandelion, essential oils, etc. However, if you notice symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, dizziness, blisters or red streaks on the skin, and chills, you should seek medical treatment as these indicate that the infection is spreading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which areas of the body are mostly affected by cellulitis?

Although cellulitis can affect any part of the body, it most commonly occurs in the lower legs and damaged and inflamed areas of the body.

How long does it take to cure cellulitis?

If you begin your treatment right away, cellulitis may go away in just three days. But if your symptoms begin to worsen, it may take 7-10 days or even longer for you to heal completely.

What is the best cream for cellulitis?

A good anti-itch or antiseptic cream can help treat cellulitis. However, you must apply the cream gently and remember not to rub it on your skin as it may aggravate the condition. For mild cases of cellulitis, your doctor may prescribe a tetracycline agent like doxycycline. But if you are looking for a natural alternative, you can follow any of the remedies listed in this article.

What are the medicines used to treat cellulitis?

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics such as penicillin to recover from cellulitis. Nonetheless, to accelerate your recovery from this infection, you can supplement it with any of the remedies given in this article.