Staph bacteria (staphylococcus aureus) are normally found on the skin or in the nose of about one-third of the population. If you have staph on your skin or in your nose but aren’t sick, you are said to be “colonized” but not infected with staph. Healthy people can be colonized with staph and have no ill effects. However, they can pass the germ to others so it is important to get rid of the staph on your skin once you realize you have it.
Staph bacteria are generally harmless unless they enter the body through a wound or a disrupted hair follicle. When a hair follicle becomes infected it can cause a “boil” (a giant pustule) or folliculitis (those tiny pustules that you get on your thighs or buttocks or elsewhere). People who keep getting these types of infections must take steps to eliminate the staph bacteria that is colonizing their skin.
How To Get Rid Of Staph On Skin
If you are looking up how to reduce staph on your skin so that you will be able to eliminate or prevent a staph infection you might be dealing with, one of the best things you can do is use a medicated body wash to clean the staph off of your skin in the first place.
Buy Hibiclens or chlorhexidine body wash (an antibacterial soap similar to what surgeons scrub with):
• You can find this body wash to deal with staph in the “first aid” section of the pharmacy
• Use it as a body wash every day to decrease the amount of staph bacteria that might be colonizing on your skin
• Especially use it on the body parts that you would expect to harbor bacteria – feet, underarms, groin, buttocks
• Have everyone who lives with you use it as a body wash three times a week (this also goes for boyfriends or girlfriends who do not live with you)
Buy Triple Antibiotic ointment (or use the prescription cream that Dr. Minars gave you):
• Apply a small amount just inside your nostrils, behind your ears, and in your belly button 3x a day
• Do this for five days in a row
• Repeat this each month
Another step to take when you are trying to get rid of staph is to throw away any old sponges or loofahs in the shower. Do not share bars of soap (better yet, get rid of the bar soap altogether and use liquid soap from now on).
“What Kills A Staph Infection On The Skin?”
We often get asked ‘what kills a staph infection of the skin?’ The chlorhexidine in the body wash will cleanse your skin of most colonizing bacteria and help reduce the amount of staph you have on your skin. Your housemates and significant others must also wash with hibiclens because they may be “colonized” but not infected with staph. So if they do not cleanse their skin, they may keep reinfecting you.
The cream in the nostrils etc… is to kill the bacteria in the areas where it typically hides (and where hibiclens may not reach).
Contact A Dermatologist Near You About Dealing With Staph On Your Skin
If you are dealing with skin infections (like recurring staph infections) then make an appointment with an experienced dermatologist near you. A board-certified dermatologist can assess your skin and see if stronger medical intervention is required. Here at Minars Dermatology we have helped many patients deal with rashes and skin conditions including staph infections. Contact our office today about your skin concerns. 954-987-7512
