Possible skin infection. Alternatives to antibiotics?

[PrettyCandles]

I've got a couple of insect bites on my ankle which turned into huge blisters (one of them's 1.5cm! and no, I didn't scratch, honest). The blistsers have burst and look all yucky. Anyway, I took them to the GP today and he said that it's a localised skin infection as a result of the bites and that I should take antibiotics. I'm not keen on taking antibiotics at the moment, for various reasons, and asked if there was a topical antibiotic I could use. His response: "You don't need antibiotics, just keep it clean and it'll be fine." - Er, what? Weren't you just writing me out a scrip for them a moment ago? Anyway, apart from Savlon, which I think would probably make me go through the roof right now, what can I use? I have a vague recollection that Teatree and Lavender oils antibacterial, but I'm not sure.

He's right, most minor infections will sort themselves. But doctors make a mistake between understanding when you just want an opinion, and when you are actively insisting on treatment; his only treatment would be to give you antiBs.

Teatree oil has proven antiseptic properties so a good one to try. So does TCP, though. I don't know about Lavender, smells nicer than teatree, at least.

tea tree works brilliantly for these Put it on neat with a cotton bud and it dries it out and clears it really fast

Does it sting? (big girl's blouse that I am)

I don't think T-Tree stings at all, def. smells more than it stings.

Thanks (I shan't ask you to hold my hand when I try it tonight).

Tea tree oil is excellent - used it on DS when he had infected bites at 9 months old.

You could fill a basin with warm water and put in a few drops of tea tree and a few drops of lavender - very healing and anti-bac. I used to have a bath in this every night after I had DS. They afterwards just dab neat tea tree oil on bites - it's fantastic and I think it smells really clean!