What are skin infections?

Sometimes the skin gets infected and inflamed due to microorganisms due to many reasons. The most common types of skin infections are-

• Viral- Shingles, Warts, Herpes simplex
• Bacterial- Cellulitis and impetigo
• Fungal- Yeast infection and Athlete’s foot
• Parasites- Head and body lice, scabies

Causes

• Various kinds of bacteria, fungus, viruses and parasites cause skin infections.
• Scratches or wounds may cause infections.
• Skin that is already weak and unhealthy is more prone to infections.
• Some other underlying disease may show itself as skin infections.
• Allergies

Symptoms

There is a wide variety of skin infections and they need to be diagnosed on the basis of the signs and symptoms. Some of the general symptoms seen are-

• Reddish rash
• Swelling
• Itching
• Pain and discomfort
• Warmth
• Scaly skin
• Blisters, pimples and boils
• Weeping or oozing lesions

Treatments

• The treatment can be determined only after the identification of the proper disease and the causative agent.
• The treatment would also aim at providing symptomatic relief.
• Antibiotics cant be used if the infections is viral.
• Anti-fungal and antibiotic medications can be prescribed depending upon the causative agent.

Prevention

• Maintaining a good skin care and personal hygiene is important.
• Use of mild soaps and cosmetics
• Use of hypoallergenic products
• Identification of any allergens and avoiding them
• Use of moisturizers and sunscreens

What you can expect when you visit our clinics

1. Stop by our front desk to visit a certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. No appointment is required.
2. Your medical practitioner will examine your medical background, go over your medical issues, perform an examination and supply you with an individualized plan for treatment. This might consist of non-prescription items or a medical prescription.
3. Towards the end of your visit to our clinic, your medical attendant will give you an overview, an invoice and some instructional material may be given.
4. The overview of your clinic visit can be forwarded to your primary health care provider with your authorization.