Treatment of skin infections depends on the cause.
Symptoms of Skin Infections
The following features are indicative of Skin Infections:
fever
pain or tenderness in the affected area
skin redness or inflammation that gets bigger with the spread of infection
skin sore or rash that starts suddenly, and grows quickly in the first 24 hours
tight, glossy, or stretched appearance of the skin
warm skin in the area of redness
joint stiffness from swelling of the tissue over the joint
hair loss at the injection site
nausea
vomiting
red sores
itching
blisters
ulcers
pain
patches
rash
swollen lymph nodes
yellowish crusts
thin, irregular burrow tracks
scaling
It is possible that Skin Infections shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Skin Infections
The following are the most common causes of Skin Infections:
Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacteria
methicillin-resistant Staph aureus
infection with Sarcoptes scabiei mite
dermatophytes
molds
Risk Factors for Skin Infections
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Skin Infections:
cracks or peeling skin between the toes
history of peripheral vascular disease
injury or trauma with a break in the skin
insect bites and stings
animal bites
human bites
ulcers from certain diseases
use of corticosteroid medications or medications that suppress the immune system
wound from a recent surgery
children aged 2 to 5 years old
warm or humid climate
broken skin
crowded living conditions
lack of access to water
weakened immune system
diabetic patients
elevated abnormal sweating
industrial workers
Prevention of Skin Infections
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Skin Infections. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
washing hands daily with soap and water
applying a protective ointment or cream on wounds
covering wounds with a bandage
inspecting your feet daily if you are suffering with diabetes
moisturising the skin regularly
carefully trim fingernails and toenails in case of diabetes
wearing footwear and gloves to protect hands and feet from any injury
do not share personal care products
avoid touching blisters
using antimicrobial soap
washing cuts and scrapes area properly
maintaining hygiene
cleaning all clothes and linen properly
Occurrence of Skin Infections
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Skin Infections cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Skin Infections can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Skin Infections can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Skin Infections
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Skin Infections:
Physical examination: To check redness, swelling, abscess or other skin problems
Blood culture test: To check for bacteria in the blood
Complete blood count: To count total number of blood cells
Biopsy: To diagnose skin diseases or infections
Lab bacterial skin sample test: To determine if methicillin-resistant staph aureus is the cause
Skin examination: To looking for the signs of mites
Doctor for Diagnosis of Skin Infections
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Skin Infections:
General Practitioner
Dermatologist
Pediatrician
Podiatrist
Chiropodist
General practitioner
Complications of Skin Infections if untreated
Yes, Skin Infections causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Skin Infections is left untreated:
blood infection
bone infection
inflammation of the lymph vessels
inflammation of the heart
meningitis
shock
tissue death
spreading of infection to other body parts
kidney inflammation or failure
permanent skin damage
scarring
impetigo
large painful fissures may develop
thickening and yellowing of the nail can occur
jock itch
ringworm
toenail fungus
Procedures for Treatment of Skin Infections
The following procedures are used to treat Skin Infections:
Surgery: To treat severe cases of cellulitis
Medicines for Skin Infections
Below is the list of medicines used for Skin Infections:
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Skin Infections:
Maintain skin hygiene: Use antimicrobial soap and keep skin clean and hygienic
Use personal care products: Do not share personal care products with infected person
Maintain hand cleanliness: Wash hands thoroughly
Cool and soak the skin: Minimizes the itching
Apply soothing lotion: Calamine lotion relieves the pain and itching of minor skin irritations
Change socks regularly: Prevents athlete's foot
Don't share shoes: Lowers the risks of spreading fungal infection
Avoid tight-fitting footwear: Prevents athlete's foot and reduce recurrence
Avoid walking barefoot in locker rooms or public showers: Helps in prevention of athlete’s foot
Wash wound daily with soap and water: Help prevent cellulitis and other infections
Apply a protective cream or ointment: Helps providing adequate protection
Cover wound with a bandage: Help prevent cellulitis and other infections
Patient Support for Treatment of Skin Infections
The following actions may help Skin Infections patients:
Education and information: By knowing about the disease helps in prevention of athlete's foot
Time for Treatment of Skin Infections
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Skin Infections to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
In 1 - 4 weeks
Is Skin Infections Infectious?
Yes, Skin Infections is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
contact with infected person
contact with infected clothing, bed linen, towel and toys