Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that inflames the connective tissue under the skin. Cellulitis usually occurs on or near breaks in the skin such as lacerations, burns, bug bites, and blisters. It is vital to recognize and treat cellulitis early. It usually leaves the skin feeling tender, hot, or itchy. Cellulitis sufferers may also have fever, fatigue, or chills. Left untreated, this simple bacterial infection might turn deadly.
Occasionally, the superficial redness may be a sign of a bacterial infection on the deeper layers of skin. Once the bacteria penetrate your skin, it may enter your bloodstream and lymph modes, and proceed to spread rapidly throughout your body. Occasionally, the bacteria can even penetrate down into the “fascial lining” of your skin. This is when the infection can turn very serious.
Those most susceptible to cellulitis are those with a weakened immune system, such as the elderly and people suffering from diabetes and HIV. Typically, doctors will prescribe antibiotic ointment, an oral antibiotic, or a combination of the two to treat cellulitis symptoms. If the doctor suspects that that the bacteria have entered the bloodstream, they may even require hospitalization to administer an intravenous antibiotic.
Since antibiotics kill “good” bacteria along with the “bad,” and weaken the immune system, they are associated with numerous unpleasant side effects. When the antibiotics kill the natural intestinal flora, patients usually suffer diarrhea. Patients commonly also experience fungal infections in the mouth, digestive tract, or vagina. Less common, but more serious side effects include abnormal blood clotting, the formation of kidney stones, sensitivity to the sun, and deafness. Elderly patients who take antibiotics may suffer from an inflamed bowel, which may lead to severe diarrhea. Because of these side affects, doctors sometimes avoid the use of antibiotics in people with reduced kidney or liver function.
Many users have testified that true colloidal silver is an effective cellulitis treatment. If the claims are true, then it has major advantages over antibiotics because it does not weaken the immune system, does not interact with other medications, and has no known side effects when taken at the correct dosage. Based on testimonials and tests conducted by independent laboratories, colloidal silver appears to work as a natural antibiotic by cutting off the bacteria’s oxygen supply. Colloidal silver users believe that reason it is able to kill the bacteria that causes cellulitis while leaving the bacteria that help regulate the body’s natural function is because “good” bacteria have a thicker cell wall. When using colloidal silver to treat cellulitis, patients usually apply the product directly to the infected area to kill any superficial bacteria and take the silver orally to kill any internal infection and prevent the cellulitis from reoccurring.
Patients should be aware, however, that not all colloidal silver products are the same. In fact, some products that are marketed as colloidal silver are actually ionic silver solutions, which are much less effective. True colloidal silver has a high silver particle density and small particle size, helping ensure maximum effectiveness. Sufferers of cellulitis should be cautious, however, as some companies give misleading information about density and particle size. To test whether or not a product in ionic silver or not, simply note the color of the liquid. If it is perfectly clear like water, it is certainly not true colloidal silver.
