Skin Infections
Skin infections are caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi that enter the skin and cause inflammation.
They can be mild or severe, and they can affect any part of the body.
The most common types of skin infections are:
- Bacterial infections: These are caused by bacteria, such as staphylococcus aureus (staph) and streptococcus pyogenes (strep). They can cause a variety of symptoms, including boils, absesses, impetigo, follicultis and cellulitis.
- Viral infections: These are caused by viruses, such as herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV) and molluscum contagiosum. They can cause a variety of symptoms including blisters, warts, verrucas and cold sores.
- Fungal infections: These are caused by fungi, and can cause athlete's foot, ringworm, discoloured nails and patches of hairloss.
- Scabies: this is caused by the scabies mite and leads to small burrows in the skin which leads to intense itching especially at night.
If you have a skin infection, it is important to see a doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment. The type of treatment that you will receive will depend on the type of infection, the severity of the infection, and your overall health. Treatment options for skin infections include:
- Antibiotics: Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections.
- Antifungals: Antifungals are used to treat fungal infections.
- Antivirals: Antivirals are used to treat viral infections.
- Topical medications: Topical medications, such as creams and ointments, can be used to treat mild skin infections.
- Cryotherapy: A very cold liquid nitrogen spray can treat viral warts, verrucas and molluscum
The goal of treatment for skin infections is to make the correct diagnosis with the correct test and to eliminate the infection and prevent it from coming back. The outlook for people with skin infections is good, especially if the infection is diagnosed and treated early.
