When germs, bacteria, parasites, virus or fungi penetrate your skin and spread to other parts of the skin, you will experience skin infection. Skin infections cause swelling of the skin, skin discoloration, discomfort, irritation and pains. Skin infections could be severe or mild. It can be cured by the Skin Infection Treatment.
Types of Skin Infections
There are four different types of skin infections, they include:
1. Bacterial Skin Infection
Bacterial skin infections are caused by the penetration of bacteria into the skin. They often start as small, red bumps and develops in size. Bacteria skin infections may be severe or mild. Mild cases can be easily treated with topical antibiotics. Severe cases require oral antibiotics. Examples of bacterial skin infections are cellulitis, boils, impetigo, and folliculitis
Symptoms of bacterial skin infections
- Cellulitis – It occurs mostly on the legs though could appear in any part of the skin. It is reddish and warm to the touch. It is usually painful.
- Boils – Boils are firm, reddish tender bumps. Boils usually grow from the hair follicles. It swells and gradually pus accumulates underneath the swelling.
- Impetigo – Occurs mostly in very young children. A bullous form of it causes large blisters while non-bullous form causes a yellow, crusted appearance on the skin. Severe cases cause oozing sores.
- Folliculitis – It occurs at the hair follicles. It is reddish in color. It is a swollen bump in the form of a pimple.
Treatment of bacterial skin infections
Bacterial skin infections can be treated with topical or oral antibiotics. The type of antibiotics used depends on the severity of the infection or strain causing the infection. If the strain of bacteria is resistant to skin infection treatment, the infection may require intravenous antibiotics.
2. Fungal Skin Infection
Fungal skin infections are caused by fungus. They mostly occur to people who live in swampy areas. They occur in damps areas of the body such as armpit or feet. Fungal skin infections include ringworm, yeast infection, nail fungus, athlete’s foot, diaper rash, and oral thrush.
Symptoms of fungal skin infections
- Ringworm – Symptoms include red, itchy, and scaly patches. The patches develop blisters or begin to ooze. They become more reddish in color and takes the form of a ring.
- Yeast infection – Common in women. Symptoms include irritation, itching, and discharge around the private organ.
- Nail fungus – Symptoms include scaling under the nail, white or yellow streak on the nail, the odor coming from an infected nail, brittle or thickened nail, loss of the nail.
- Athlete’s foot – Itching, burning and stinging between the toes, blisters, dry skin on the toes, discolored, thick, and pulling off of toenails.
- Diaper rash – Occurs mostly in babies. Redness and burning sensation in the affected skin area.
- Oral thrush – Soreness or burning in the mouth, white or yellow patches of bumps on the cheeks, tongue, gums, or lips. The skin at the corner of the mouth becomes dried and cracked.
Treatment of fungal skin infections
Fungal skin infections can be treated with over-the-counter antifungal sprays and creams. Oral and topical creams can also be used if the condition of the infection is not improving. Medicated creams and ointments can as well be used.
3. Viral Skin Infection
Viral skin infections are infections that are caused by the virus. It could be mild or severe. There are different types of viral skin infections which include measles, chicken pus, warts, herpes, Molluscumcontagiosum.
Symptoms of viral skin infections
- Measles – Widespread skin rashes, sore throat, reddish eyes, white spots in the mouth, fever, cough.
- Chicken pus –Itchy rashes, red or pink bumps all over the body, bumps turn blisters filled with fluids, fever, loss of appetite, headaches.
- Warts – Rough, grainy growths on your fingers and toes. Holes in the bottom of your foot that is surrounded by hardened skin. Growths on the face, arms, and thighs. Grows on the mouth, nose, and neck. Growths under and around the toenails and fingernails.
- Herpes – Occurs mostly in the genitals and around the mouth. Swollen glands, tingling sensation in the affected area, lesions or blisters, fluid-filled blisters surrounded by discolored patches, fever.
- Molluscumcontagiosum – It mostly affects children and occurs in the arms, legs, face, torso, abdomen, inner thigh, genitals. Whitish or reddish skin coloration, the appearance of small groups of painless lesions, bumps shaped like a dome, bumps filled with a waxy material.
Treatment of viral skin infections
Treatment depends on the severity and cause of infections. Some viral skin infections may improve on their own and disappear within days or weeks. The immune system fights off the virus in such cases. Severe viral skin infections can be treated with antiviral medications. Vaccines can also be given to little children to fight against viral diseases. In special cases where antiviral medications are not having any effect, your doctor may suggest other ways of viral skin infection treatment.
4. Parasitic Skin Infection
Parasitic skin infections are skin infections that are caused by parasites. They are usually small insects or worms that enter into the skin to live there or lay eggs. And able to spread beyond the skin to internal organs and bloodstream. They are, however, not life-threatening but should be treated on time to prevent the infection from getting worse. Parasitic skin infections include bedbugs, lice, scabies.
- Bedbugs – Bedbugs lives in clustered places and dirty furniture. Bedbugs normally don’t cause diseases but you may have allergic reactions from their bite. Scratching the affected area too much could lead to infection.
- Lice – Lice can be contacted by someone with lice. It could be found on the head, body or pubic parts. They lay eggs and start to itch when the eggs are hatched.
- Scabies – Scabies are caused by mites that enter into the body and lay eggs. It can be contacted by an infected person. Symptoms include itching, sores, rashes, patches on the skin.
Treatment of parasitic skin infection
Parasitic skin infections can be treated with topical medications and antibiotics. Corticosteroid creams can also be used to treat and clear off infections. Chemical treatments and oral medications are used to treat severe cases. Herbal and natural remedies can also be used to treat parasitic skin infections.
