Skin Infection

Skin Infection

Skin is a complex organ; an average square inch of skin contains 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels, and more than 1,000 nerve endings. Despite being just a few millimeters thick, skin makes up around one-seventh of our body weight.

Skin layers:

The skin has three basic levels — the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis: Epidermis-Main roles: makes new skin cells, gives skin its color, and protects the body.

Dermis-Main roles: makes sweat and oil, provides sensations and blood to the skin, and grows hair.

A skin infection occurs when parasites, fungi, or germs such as bacteria penetrate the skin and spread. When this happens, it can cause pain, swelling, other types of discomfort, and skin color changes. A skin infection may be mild or serious. Skin infections are different from rashes. A rash is an area of swollen or irritated skin. While rashes can be symptoms of some skin infections, a person with a rash does not necessarily have an infection.

There are four types of skin infection:

▪bacterial

▪viral

▪fungal

▪parasitic

Cellulitis:This common bacterial skin infection occurs when bacteria infect the deep layers of skin and nearby tissues. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, doctors diagnose 14.5 million cases of cellulites in the United States each year: Before causing complications, cellulites appear as swollen skin that is a different color from a person’s usual skin tone. The area is sometimes warm and tender to the touch.

Treatment: The most typical treatment is oral antibiotics. Some people require this medication intravenously. A person should also rest, elevate the affected area, and cover it to aid healing.

Herpes: The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is responsible for causing a herpes gladiator infection on the skin.

According to the New York State Department of Health, 30–90 percent of all people are exposed to HSV-1 by adulthood, but many never developed symptoms. After infection, a person will always have the virus in them, similar to herpes that occurs on the genitals and around the mouth. No symptoms may occur for several months or years between flares.

Symptoms-When herpes gladiator flares, it can cause:

▪Swollen glands

▪fever

▪a tingling sensation in the affected area

Treatment-some cases of herpes require no treatment. However, a person with an active infection should avoid activities, such as sports and sex, that put them in direct contact with others.For people with moderate to severe infections, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication

Scabies:

 Scabies is another parasitic skin infection.

When a person has scabies, tiny mites burrow into the upper layer of skin to lay their eggs. An infestation affects the outer layers of the skin.

Symptoms-When infected with scabies, the most common symptoms are:

When infected with scabies, the most common symptoms are:

▪intense itchiness

▪a pimple-like rash

The rash can appear nearly anywhere on the body. Some of the most common sites include the:

▪Elbows▪wrist▪armpits.

Treatment-Scabies treatment involves medications called scabicides. These kill adult mites, and some also kill the eggs. Tested and approved scabicides are only available by prescription. Also, it is important to keep the living environment clean and to wash and bag clothing and bedding for 2–3 weeks. What it looks like?

Scabies causes a pink, pimple-like rash that may contain small blisters and areas of scaling. Additionally, a person with scabies may notice burrows in the skin.

The infection is most likely to appear on the hands or feet.

Aging skin:

As we get older, our skin changes; it becomes thinner and more easily damaged. Also, the process of healing slows. Overall, we have less skin, and it is less elastic. There are a number of reasons why the skin goes through these changes. One important factor is exposure to UV rays, which also increases the risk of skin cancer. When to see a doctor “It is especially important to contact a doctor if the rash occurs alongside a fever or symptoms other than itchiness or pain.

Many skin infections require medication or other forms of treatment.

Prevention-Since many skin infections are easy to contract, people should use caution in public area.

For example, wearing shoes in public bathrooms and showers can help prevent athlete’s foot. Avoiding physical contact with people who have scabies or an active herpes infection can prevent exposure. It is also important to care for wounds carefully.

Takeaway-Skin infections are a very common occurrence throughout the world. Anyone is at risk, and these infections can spread easily. It is important to take precautions .If an unexplained rash appears, seek medical attention as soon as possible.