Skin Infections Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
The skin is the largest organ in the human body. Because of that skin infections can occur in various areas of the body. Skin infection is basically an inflammatory condition of the skin due to germs that enter the layers of the skin.
There are several types of skin infections, namely:
- bacterial infection
- viral infection
- fungal infection
- parasitic infection
Symptoms
Symptoms of skin infections vary widely depending on the cause and severity. The most common symptoms are signs of redness and itching on the skin. In addition, freckles, nodules, pus, or changes in skin color are often found to become darker.
Reason
Bacterial infections of the skin are often caused by Streptococcus beta hemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, and mycobacterium types such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (which causes skin tuberculosis) and Mycobacterium leprae (which causes leprosy). Bacteria generally cause skin infections due to the presence of open sores on the skin which are passageways for bacteria.
Viral infections of the skin can be caused by the Varicella virus (which causes chickenpox and shingles), Poxvirus (which causes Molluscum contagiosum ), Measles virus (which causes measles), and Coxsakie virus (which causes hand-foot and mouth disease / Singapore flu). This kind of virus is very easily transmitted from one person to another. That is why, viral infections of the skin are generally experienced by someone who has had contact with sufferers of the viral infection before.
Fungal infections of the skin can be caused by Malasezzia furfur (causing tinea versicolor), Dermatophyta fungi, and Candida (yeast). A person is more susceptible to yeast infections if they sweat a lot, or use shoes and clothes that don’t absorb sweat easily.
Parasitic infections can also occur on the skin. Parasites that infect the skin include Sarcoptes scabiei (causing scabies), hookworms, Pediculus humanus capitis (or often called fleas), and so on. Parasitic infections of the skin often occur in groups of children living together (eg in dormitories), and in environments where the level of hygiene is low.
Diagnosis
The most important thing for establishing a diagnosis of skin infection is a doctor’s examination of the condition of the skin. Through this examination, a dermatologist can generally estimate the germs that cause infection. For example, a wound that is circular in shape has scales on it, and the skin in the center of the wound looks healthy, meaning it leads to a fungal infection of the skin.
Likewise, other signs of infection that vary in type and shape. In some cases, the doctor needs to take a skin scraping and examine it under a microscope to determine the germs that cause skin infections.
Treatment
Treatment of skin infections also depends on the cause of the infection. Viral skin infections will generally clear up on their own within a few days to a few weeks. This infection does not require special treatment. You are usually advised to increase your body’s resistance so that the virus attack passes soon.
Bacterial skin infections generally require treatment with antibiotics. Antibiotics can be administered topically or by mouth/orally. The choice of the type of antibiotic and how to use it requires further instructions from the doctor and should not be done haphazardly.
In skin infections due to fungus, if the infection is mild and not too extensive, treatment can use antifungal creams or ointments which are sold in limited quantities in pharmacies. However, if the infection is extensive or severe, then it is possible that the sufferer will need to take pills/tablets of antifungal medication according to a doctor’s prescription. Treatment of fungal infections on the skin usually takes longer to recover, which is at least 2-3 weeks.
If there is an infection due to parasites on the skin, antiparasitic treatment must also be according to the doctor’s instructions and prescription. In addition, to be able to completely eliminate parasitic infections, those who live with sufferers must also be treated.
In addition to these treatments, to relieve itching symptoms due to skin infections, people with skin infections can take antihistamines, such as chlorpheniramine maleate and cetirizine.
Prevention
In order to avoid skin infections, maintaining healthy skin is a very important step. There are several things you can do, such as:
- Immediately change sweaty clothes, socks or shoes to avoid fungal infections.
- If there is an open wound on the skin, protect the injured area with clean gauze so that bacteria do not multiply in the wound.
- Avoid sharing razors, towels, or combs.
- Use mild soap and have a neutral pH for bathing.
- Maintain a standard routine of keeping your skin clean every day, such as bathing, washing your hair, washing your hands and feet, changing dirty clothes into clean clothes when you are at home, and other hygiene measures.