Skin Infections: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment

Skin infections are conditions where bacteria, viruses, or fungi invade the skin, leading to symptoms like redness, swelling, itching, or pain.
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Skin Infection Prevention | Antibiotic Creams For Skin Infections | Bacterial Skin Infections | Fungal Dermatitis | Skin Lesion Care
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Skin Infections FAQ


Image credit: verywellhealth.com

What is a bacterial skin infection?

Bacterial skin infections occur when bacteria enter through the surface of the skin. They can cause symptoms such as swelling and inflammation. Treatment may include topical or oral antibiotics. Experts classify bacterial skin infections as skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) or acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).

What causes a skin infection?

Skin infections occur when germs infect your skin or the soft tissues below the skin's surface. There are four main types of germs that can infect your skin: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Anyone can develop a skin infection.

Can anyone develop a skin infection?

Anyone can develop a skin infection. In fact, skin infections are the third most common medical concern that healthcare providers treat in an ambulatory center (which includes places such as urgent care, surgical centers, emergency rooms, and doctors' offices). Common infection symptoms include a rash, swelling, redness, inflammation, or abscesses.

What are the symptoms of a skin infection?

The symptoms depend on the type of infection. Some symptoms that are common to many skin infections include rashes, swelling, redness, pain, pus, and itching. How are skin infections diagnosed? To diagnose a skin infection, your health care provider will do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. You may have lab tests, such as a skin culture.

Skin Infections References

If you want to know more about Skin Infections, consider exploring links below:

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