Skin plays a vital role in preventing direct contact of bacteria with the body by acting as a barrier. But when skin ruptures due to scars, sunburns, open hair follicles, surgeries, wounds, insect/animal bites, it becomes vulnerable to many types of skin infections. Gardening or coming in contact with the polluted or contaminated soil and sharing common baths/ swimming pools can also cause serious skin infections. These infections can be regional or generalized spreading all over the body. Some infections are mild and some are more serious, requiring complete medicinal protocol. In some infections, only skin becomes infected while others go deep to the tissues under the skin, making condition worse. Staphylococcus and streptococcus are the major culprits of skin infections. Now a day, MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria are causing serious infections as they are resistant to many antibiotics.
Minor skin infections include Carbuncles (a red, swollen, and painful cluster of boils that are connected to each other under the skin), Ecthyma (same as impetigo but it occurs deep in the skin), Erythrasma (superficial skin infection that causes brown, scaly skin patches, caused by “Corynebacterium minutissimum” bacteria), Folliculitis (common skin condition in which hair follicles become inflamed), Furuncles (A boil (or furuncle) is an infection of a hair follicle that has a small collection of pus under the skin), Impetigo(painful and itchy sores on the superficial skin) and Lymphadenitis (enlargement in one or more lymph nodes, usually due to infection).
Major skin infections include Cellulitis (a red, swollen area that feels hot and tender to the touch, mostly on the lower legs), Erysipelas (superficial form of cellulitis), Skin abscess (collection of pus in the tissues that is painful, red and swollen), Lymphangitis (swollen and tender lymph nodes mostly in the groin, armpits or elbows), Skin wounds (a draining, painful ulcers that are associated with fever, chills and nausea).
Depending on the severity and condition, the bacterial skin infections are usually treated with topical or oral antibiotics. Those infections which show resistance to topical/ oral antibiotics are treated with intravenous (injected into the blood) antibiotics.
At Rao Dermatology, the derma experts fight with all types of infections for the patient’s relief. If you are facing any skin infection issue, feel free to knock at our door. We have various treatment options for you.
