The skin is our largest organ and is responsible for protecting our internal organs and soft tissue from environmental viruses, bacteria, dirt, debris, and other contaminants. This puts the skin in danger, and while it can protect itself, cuts, sores, and wounds can often lead to infections and other problems.
Types of Skin Infections
- Bacterial Skin Infections
- They frequently begin as small, reddish bumps that gradually grow in size. Some of these bacterial infections are minor and treatable with antibiotics. Patients who are older or have illnesses that compromise their immune systems, such as diabetes, cancer, or HIV/AIDS, are more vulnerable to these issues. Cellulitis, impetigo, and warts/boils are examples of common bacterial skin infections.
- Viral Skin Infections
Infections caused by a virus, that are known to cause localized lesions and rashes. These can range from mild to severe, they are accompanied by a high fever, fatigue and general laziness. These infections easily spread and are highly contagious, some common viral infections include shingles, herpes zoster, chickenpox, molluscum contagiosum, warts, measles, and certain diseases of the mouth or hands. - Fungal Skin Infections
Skin infections caused by contact of a fungus, usually from being in contact with a fungus from a damp, dark area, or as a result of poor hygiene. Often times, if an individual were to wear, wet, sweaty socks, for a long period of time, especially under tight shoes, it would cause the production of fungus similar to athlete’s foot. These fungal issues are known to infect the skin and nails, causing red, bumpy, inflamed rashes. Other ways to contract a fungal infection is by walking barefoot, in an area used by a lot of people like a locker room, or communal shower. These infections include athlete’s foot, yeast infections, ringworm, hair/nail fungus, and diaper rashes. - Parasitic Skin Infections
Skin infections caused by a parasite, most commonly a small or even microscopic insect or worm-like organism, that may burrow into the skin, in order to live and lay its eggs to reproduce. These infections can easily spread to other organs and parts of the body through the blood, so they are quite dangerous. They can even be life threatening in severe cases. They include lice, bedbugs, scabies and different types of larva migrans.
Other milder skin infections are abscesses, acne pimples, warts, and other bumps or irritations.
Treatment
Depending on the type of infection the skin is treated with different methods. Generally, we will recommend some combination of antibiotics, anti-fungal creams, topical creams or ointments, and certain antivirals