What causes a skin infection?

by admin on January 12, 2010

>Living on the surface are the skin are many different types of bacteria, and when the skin is broken, or punctured for any reason, the bacteria can then enter the resulting wound, and cause a skin infection.

One type of bacteria which you may be familiar with already is the Staphylococcus, which itself has some 30 different types of bacteria causing different types of illness. For example, one kind of staph infection causes urinary tract infections or UTIs, another causes boils and folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicles. Of course people with existing skin diseases like eczema are more likely to suffer from skin infections because their skin is already damaged, allowing the infections to enter more easily.

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Staph infections are spread through contact with contaminated items, but it is most often spread by skin to skin contact, and from one area of the body to another by touch. It helps to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, not just a quick 2 second wash, but a thorough washing so that the bacteria are killed by the soap. Also show or bathe regularly, or in other words, pay attention to your personal hygiene.


Skin infections can be spread amongst people, especially those who live in close groups, like students, and who share items, like towels or clothing, or bed linen. Warm environments can encourage the spread of staph infections, as can a person’s excessive sweating.

Impetigo is another bacterial skin infection which affects the top layer of the skin, forming a honey colored crust. Your doctor will probably treat impetigo with a topical antibiotic, rather than having you take oral antibiotics which can affect the stomach causing upsets.

Of course there are plenty of other skin infections, and if you notice a skin wound that gets warm and red with swelling after a couple of days, then you probably have an infection in that wound. You may have a fever, and there may be pus leaking from the wound. You may need to take a course of antibiotics to treat this, so you should see you doctor, and get the infection under control as soon as possible.

Should you get a skin infection in an area that you usually shave, then avoid shaving for a few days, if possible, to let the skin recover. If this isn’t an option, then try using a clean disposable razor, or else clean your electric razor thoroughly each time after you have used it.

If you suspect you have a skin infection and it is painful, you can use clean hot compresses on the area, or soak the infected area in warm water to encourage healing. A warm compress can be used on a sty which is an infection of an eye lid. In this case, put the clean warm compress over your closed eye. If this skin infection doesn’t clear up in a few days, then see your doctor.

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