|
The skin is the body’s largest organ. It helps to protect you from heat, light, injury, and disease. But, when there’s a break in the skin, tiny germs can enter. This can lead to a skin infection. Three main types of infections are
bacterial,
fungal, and
viral.
Breaks in your skin can be caused by:
- Injuries (like cuts)
- Burns
- Bites or stings
- Tattoos or piercings
- Skin diseases that cause scaling and swelling (psoriasis), or itching (eczema)
Even scratching or strong pressure can break the skin and lead to infection.
High-risk groups
Healthy people can get skin infections, but certain groups are at higher risk. This includes people who:
- Are elderly.
- Are paralyzed or have limited movement (for example, if you use a wheelchair).
- Have diabetes, cancer, AIDS, or other immune system problems.
- Are in the hospital, which raises the risk for infection by bacteria that resist treatment.
Treat wounds early
Common symptoms of skin infections may include:
- Redness, warmth, and pain around the wound
- Pus (a smelly, yellow fluid coming from the wound)
- Fever
See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms and they don’t go away within three to five days of
treating them yourself.
Skin infections can be more than just a bother. They can lead to serious problems like:
- A pus-filled pocket under the skin (abscess)
- Joint or bone infection (septic arthritis)
- An infection of the entire body (sepsis)
Treating skin infections early can help to prevent complications later.
Also of Interest
|
