Skin Infections

Many skin infections are caused by Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacteria that enter the body through a break in the skin. These infections spread easily by skin to skin contact and can spread to other parts of the body. Many systemic infections also involve skin symptoms.

Bacterial infections are treated with topical and/or oral antibiotics.

• Cellulitis is a deep bacterial infection that affects the skin and the tissues underneath. It typically presents as red, swollen, and painful skin that feels warm to the touch. Fever may also accompany cellulitis. This infection can permanently damage the skin.
• Impetigo is a common bacterial infection in children. It is highly contagious and characterized by red sores or blisters that rupture, ooze, and form honey-colored crusts.
• Folliculitis is an infection of hair follicles. It manifests as small, red, and painful bumps or pustules around the hair follicles, usually caused by Staphylococcus or a fungus. It can affect any part of the body that has hair including the scalp, face, neck, thighs, buttocks and armpits. It can be a mild superficial infection or become a deep infection. Folliculitis is common in people with acne. Shaving increases the risk of developing this skin condition. Often it goes away without treatment. Improperly maintained hot tubs and swimming pools can harbor bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, leading to a condition known as “hot tub folliculitis.”
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staphylococcus infection that is antibiotic-resistant and can cause a serious skin infection that can quickly turn into a life-threatening infection of the deeper tissues. It may be acquired in a hospital or other healthcare setting and in a community setting. The infection typically begins with a painful boil. It is difficult to treat, requiring specific medical interventions and stringent infection control measures.

Viral infections are also common.

• Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infections cause oral or genital sores. HSV-1 typically leads to painful blisters or sores around the lips and mouth (cold sores), while HSV-2 affects the genital area. It is likely the most common viral skin disease.
• Another common viral infection is caused by the Varicella-Zoster Virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles. Chickenpox is marked by an itchy, blister-like rash, fever, and fatigue. Shingles is a painful red rash with blisters caused by this virus that lives in the body for decades and can be reactivated. One out of three people will develop shingles at some time in their lives
• Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a poxvirus and is characterized by numerous small, pink nodules, most often on the face, genitalia, or the rectal area. It is generally harmless and self-limiting.
• The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for warts, which are rough, raised growths caused by various strains of HPV and can affect the skin and the mucous membranes as genital warts.
• Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness that primarily affects young children, although it can also occur in adults. It is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands and feet. The disease is typically mild and resolves on its own within a week or two.

Fungi thrive in warm, moist areas of the skin, making fungal infections both easy to contract and easy to spread. Typically, these infections do not penetrate beyond the surface of the skin. Fungal infections are treated with antifungal creams, ointments, or oral medications, depending on the infection’s severity and location.

• Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis, is a fungal infection of the skin on the feet, presenting as an itchy, red, and scaly rash, often between the toes. This infection is caused by dermatophytes, a type of fungus.
• Tinea Cruris or jock itch is a fungal infection of the skin of the genitals, inner thighs and buttocks. It causes a red, itchy, often ring-shaped rash in these warm moist areas.
• Tineas capitis, commonly known as scalp ringworm, is fungal infection that affects the scalp and hair follicles.
• Another common fungal infection is ringworm (tinea corporis), characterized by red, circular, and scaly patches with a clear center
• Fungal infections of the nails are caused by ringworm fungi.
• Candidiasis is a yeast infection that occurs in moist areas of the body and presents as a red, itchy rash with white patches. Candida species are the usual cause of this infection.

Parasitic infections include scabies (mites) and lice infestations where the parasites burrow into the skin and lay eggs.