Bacterial Skin Infections

There are many different symptoms and conditions associated with bacterial skin infections depending on the bacterial strain. This means they can show up and appear differently on the body.

Although, bacterial skin infections will most often cause a rash, redness and irritation, swelling, blisters, boils, red lumps, warm and tender skin, enlarged lymph nodes, and sometimes a high fever too.

There are many different types of bacteria that can infect the skin. Thus, there are several types of bacterial skin infections known today, far too many to list here. However, the most common bacterial skin infections include:

• Cellulitis
• Erysipelas
• Impetigo
• Bacterial Folliculitis
• Furuncle (Boils)
• Erythrasma
• Hot Tub Folliculitis
• Carbuncles
• MRSA Skin Infections

As mentioned above, there are too many bacterial skin infections to list here, which is why it’s important to visit a board-certified dermatologist if you think you might have a bacterial skin infection for a professional diagnosis.

Treatment for a bacterial skin infection depends on the breaks in the skin, type of skin infection caused and bacterial strain causing it. In most cases, bacterial skin infections can be easily treated with antibiotics.

Bacterial skin infections can be contracted in many different ways. However, most bacterial skin infections are caused by a harmful bacteria strain entering the body through a break in the skin, such as an open wound or scratch.

If the bacterial skin infection is contagious, such as a staph infection, it can be passed through skin-to-skin contact or through the sharing of an infected object. For staph bacteria for example, if the bacteria is on a towel or clothing, it can spread to the next person who touches it.

Typically, a serious bacterial infection or skin infection will cause the skin to show symptoms like a rash, hives, swelling, boils, bumps, or redness. If this occurs, it’s best to visit a board-certified dermatologist for a thorough skin evaluation and diagnosis.

You can take these steps to protect yourself from a common bacterial skin infection:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Keep cuts and scrapes clean
• Do not share personal items (such as towels, clothing, cosmetics, or bandages)
• Regularly clean sports equipment
• Avoid using public hot tubs, saunas, or whirlpools