Staphylococcus Aureus ("Staph") Infected Eczema

NEWS VIDEO ON STAPH INFECTED ECZEMA

Many people with eczema have been testing positive for staph infection. Make sure you get tested for staph first thing, because using corticosteroids on eczema that has too much staph will make the staph infection worse. This is because steroids suppress inflammation, but inflammation fights infection.

Best not to buy or use lotions that are in tubs or jars, because if you have a staph infection (and many people with eczema are testing positive for too much staph), when you dip your hand into the jar, rub the cream on your body over the infection and then dip your hand back into the jar, you'll contaminate the cream with staph ... and after treating for staph end up recontaminating yourself. If you've been diagnosed with staph and didn't use a waxing/popsicle stick/spatula, I'd suspect it's contaminated.

The barrier lipids are ceramides (the most prominent), cholesterol and free fatty acids.  These make up the mortar in the brick and mortar construct.  Staph extrudes an enzyme called ceramidase, and cermidase eat ceramides ... thereby degrading the barrier and making for more eczema and a better environment for the staph. 

Remember good bacteria fight bad bacteria and the acid mantle also fights staph, so get your probiotics and preserve your acid mantle.

See, also the role Vitamin D plays in fighting infection. Oral Vitamin D May Help Prevent Some Skin Infections - 10/06/2008

See, article Protein calprotectin helps starve staph bacteria talking about how staph craves the metals zinc and manganese. Vanderbuilt University. (research calprotectin)


Articles on Staph and Eczema

Ceramidase Activity in Bacterial Skin Flora as a Possible Cause of Ceramide Deficiency in Atopic Dermatitis In the present study, we provide evidence that CDase is present in the skin of patients with AD, secreted from P. aeruginosa and/or related strains, suggesting that such exogenous enzymes may be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. The enzyme activities may result in ceramide deficiency, thus disturbing the permeability barrier function of the stratum corneum while accelerating the immune reaction and eventually resulting in the predominance of S. aureus in the skin of patients with AD. The finding that the skin of patients with AD is colonized by ceramidase-secreting bacteria thus suggests that microorganisms are related to the deficiency of ceramide in the horny layer of the epidermis, which increases the hypersensitivity of skin in AD patients by impairing the permeability barrier.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: What is Staphylococcus aureus (staph)?. This articles says to avoid sharing personal items, such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or uniforms, that may have had contact with the infected wound or bandage. Wash sheets, towels, and clothes that become soiled with water and laundry detergent. Use a dryer to dry clothes completely.

Regimens: Bleach in Bath Can Ease Child’s Eczema New York Times

Staphylococcus Aureus As A Causative Agent Of Atopic Dermatitis/ Eczema Syndrome (ADES ) And Its Therapeutic Implications The Internet Journal of Dermatology

Staphylococcus Aureus Colonization in Patients with Atopic Eczema National Institute of Health

Testing for Staph

The test is simple and is covered by insurance companies. You can get it done by a doctor or dermatologist. They just take a cotton swab to the skin and then send the test off to the lab (painless). You should have the results within a couple of days. If you do end up testing positive for have staph and your doctor gives you antibiotics for it, don't get upset. Just follow the doctor's advice, but definitely take care to preserve your acid mantle and take probiotics. Remember that antibiotics can produce rashes as a side effect, so don't get confused here, and don't be afraid to use a corticosteroid to suppress the inflammation from a possible antibiotic rash side effect while you are being treated for staph.

Bleach Baths for Treating Staph

See why bleach baths can help clear up eczema; and, yes, you can close your eyes and go underwater and it's safe for adults, children and babies. No long-term side effects.and note that staph doesn't become resistant to bleach like it does to antibiotics.

• What is a bleach bath? Can it treat chronic eczema symptoms? - Mayo Clinic
• Bleach baths clear rash and banish flare-ups of skin disease - Northwestern University
• Bleach Baths May Help Kids With Eczema - WebMD
  
• Study: Baths with Bleach Help Kids' Eczema - Time
• Surprising New Treatment For Childhood Eczema - Medical News Today
• Regimens: Bleach in Bath Can Ease Child’s Eczema - New York Times
• Bath in diluted bleach relieves kids' eczema - USA Today
  
• Hard to Control Eczema - About.Com
• Can Bleach Cure Eczema- Discovery Health

General application: pour 1/2 cup of household bleach in the bath and fill.  Soak for 10 minutes twice weekly. Rinse off after the bath.

Please also refer to the Bacteria and Bath web pages.