This is a kind of skin infection. The infecting agent is usually the staph bacteria, but not always. The cause is the bacteria, but there are certain things that increase a person's risk of developing an infection.

Those things include shaving and wearing tight clothing, because of friction and rubbing. Poor hygiene may be involved. People with weakened immune systems and health problems like diabetes are more likely to have carbuncles and infections of all kinds. The Solutions for the Carbuncle The solutions should target several areas. They should- • Decrease inflammation • Reduce the risk of bacterial overgrowth on the skin • Support immune system strength • Provide some immediate relief of the symptoms You need several tactics to target all of those things. You should see a doctor if the carbuncle does not drain or healing has not occurred within two weeks. Never squeeze or try to cut the carbuncle open on your own. These suggestions should help speed healing. • Alternate warm and cold compresses-the warm ones reduce pain, the cold ones reduce inflammation • Use a cleanser containing active manuka honey-it has natural anti-bacterial activity • Take a dose of active manuka honey by mouth. You can purchase it over the internet. It tastes good and it supports the strength of your immune system. • Take a good multi-nutritional supplement-total balance is the one I recommend • Take omega-3 fish oil-some brands have proven anti-inflammatory activity. 

See resource box for one example. • Use a Cellista Collagen Retinol deep cleansing mask (that has the proper ingredients) for immediate relief. With regular use, it may also help prevent carbuncles Why the Deep Cleansing Mask Works - Proper Ingredients The mask works to provide immediate relief for carbuncles, because of the ingredients it contains. Kaolin, Shea butter, active manuka honey, allantoin and Cynergy TK are some of the medicinally active ingredients. Kaolin, Shea butter, allantoin and Cynergy TK have anti-inflammatory activity, which will help reduce the swelling, redness, itching and pain of carbuncles. The mask should also help to promote drainage. What are the Benefits of Regular Use? The mask is designed to be used on the face, but it could be used on any area of the body. If used on the face every two weeks, the benefits include: • Fewer pimples and other infections, because of active manuka honey • Reduced redness, because of the anti-inflammatory ingredients • Better hygiene-cleaner skin, which is accompanied by a reduced risk of carbuncles • Pimples and other infections heal quickly, because of manuka • Removes blackheads and cleans out clogged pores, because of kaolin's gently pulling action Additional Recommendations Remember that staph infections are contagious. You should change bandages regularly and dispose of them properly. You should avoid touching other areas of your skin after cleaning the carbuncle. You should also protect family members from the infection by cleaning surfaces and clothing regularly. Carbuncles can be very painful. By following the above recommendations, you should be able to avoid them in the future. 

Skin care products are a multi-billion dollar a year industry. But it's not all beauty and external, superficial perfection. Research has manifested that there's great danger in those very skin care products you may be using on a daily basis. There are many inherent, potential problems with both using and sharing skin care products. Whether it's a facial cleanser, an acne treatment, an eye cream or an anti-aging wrinkle cream, one has to understand that the skin, including the facial skin, comprises the largest organ of the human body. As dermatologists, or skin specialists, know, this means a lot can go wrong when misusing skin care products. One of the main issues to be warned about is the expiration date of the product. Most products, whether probiotics of shea butter body cream, for example, have printed dates of expiration. This means that you shouldn't use the product after the date even if it looks clean to the naked eye. Invisible surface contaminants can accumulate on the products and cause serious infections. The infections can be made worse by the sharing of your skin care items for the simple fact that another individuals' personal hygiene has to be taken into consideration. He/she may not wash and disinfect as thoroughly as you do. Or you may be the one at fault and then the other person can get a skin infection from you after sharing. Infections can manifest in the form of rashes or blisters. Itching and burning are common sensations. If this happens to you, even if you don't know why, you should immediately seek medical attention. Moreover, even something as innocuous seeming as a rejuvenating skin care mist -- where you don't physically have to touch any applicator directly onto your skin -- can be as big a culprit as an acne cream. 

The skin harbors highly contagious germs even on those of us who keep immaculate hygiene. We create and absorb germs and bacteria in many ways: by breathing, sneezing, coughing, eating, rubbing our skin after unknowingly touching surfaces that are dirty. It's physically impossible not to attract germs. Many of these germs actually grow on the cosmetics and body creams and lotions that we use every day. Furthermore, the environment that surrounds us makes us accumulate many contaminants. Air pollution, household chemicals and fumes, toxins around us, including in the very water we apply to our skin, are all noxious culprits. These chemical infectants land on our skin and if we decide to unwittingly share an exfoliator for example with a family member or friend we can easily and quickly transfer the infectants to another. It's also very important to be aware that even the simplest, most mundane skin products such as eye pencils or lipstick can pose substantive hazards vis-a-vis infection and contamination. In a word, every product that's used on one individuals' skin and then also used on another is a bad idea. Extensive medical research has proven this countless times. So please remain very watchful. Cellulitis is a skin infection brought by certain types of microorganism. The bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus and Group A Streptococcus are usually responsible for this kind of infection. These bacteria are part of the body's natural external flora and pose no threat to health while still on the outside of the body. Streptococci and Staphylococci can enter the skin to cause cellulitis infection through scrapes, cuts, wounds, blisters, insect bites and ulcers and find their way into the dermal and subcutaneous layers of the skin. Cellulitis caused by the Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci is rapid spreading because of the enzymes produced by the bacteria that breaks down the cellular components responsible for localized infection. 

This makes the cellulitis infection from Staphylococci more localized and most often occurs with an open wound or a cutaneous abscess. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus has also been found to cause community-acquired cellulitis in medical facilities that is not responsive to monotherapy. Cellulitis infection commonly affects the legs though it may occur on any part of the body. It is usually unilateral, meaning only the right or the left half of the body may be affected. Symptoms may start out as a small tender area with swelling and redness. As it develops, pain may also be experienced along with the appearance of red streaks coming from the infected area. Lymph nodes near the infected area may also start to swell. As the cellulitis infection goes deeper into the skin and enters the lymph nodes and the bloodstream, a widespread infection can cause fever, chills fatigue and muscle aches. Very rare cases of cellulitis infection may be caused by Necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacterium that causes deep-layer infection that needs extreme and immediate medical treatment. Cellulitis infection may be categorized into types according to the body part that is infected. Types of cellulitis are facial cellulitis, breast cellulitis, orbital (eye) cellulitis, periorbital (eyelid) cellulitis, hand/arm cellulitis, perianal cellulitis and lower leg/foot cellulitis. Depending on the severity of cellulitis, self-care treatment at home and medical treatment are options. Self- medication: • Resting and as much as possible immobilizing the infected area • 

Elevating the infected area will help in reduce the swelling and irritation most especially for arm and lower leg cellulitis. • Drinking plenty of water helps prevent dehydration and helps clean the body system. • Over-the-counter pain killers and fever relievers to alleviate the symptoms and speed up the recovery. Medical Treatment: • Staying in a hospital for infections that are not too serious is unnecessary. Keeping confined inside the home while taking the prescribed antibiotics for 7 to 10 days may be enough to help cure the cellulitis. When symptoms get severe or worsen, contact a physician right away to receive hospital treatment. • If the cellulitis infection is severe and are located in sensitive areas such as the eyes, hospitalization may be essential. Intravenous antibiotics must be administered for infections that have been rapidly spreading and deteriorating your skin, for very old or very young patients, and for those who are experiencing secondary symptoms such as chills or even vomiting.