- 1. Furuncle
- 2. Folliculitis
- 3. Erysipelas
- 4. Infectious cellulitis
- 5. Impetigo
- 6. Ectima
- 7. Scalded skin syndrome
- Possible complications
Pyoderma is an infection of the skin caused by bacteria that may or may not have pus. These injuries are mainly caused by S. aureus and S. pyogenes and cause skin lesions that form crusts, blisters, being well defined or extensive, and for this reason they must always be observed by the doctor so that the treatment can be started as soon as possible.
When the treatment of this type of skin lesion is not done with the correct antibiotics, the lesions can get worse and reach the bloodstream spreading through the body, which is very serious. So, whenever a skin lesion that itches, hurts, the area becomes red and crusts, blisters or flaking appears, medical help should be sought as soon as possible.
Some examples of bacterial skin infections are:
1. Furuncle
The furuncle is a very painful, rounded lesion that can appear anywhere on the body, the region also has itching, malaise and low fever.
How to treat: Antibiotic ointments such as Furacin, Nebacetin or Trok G, for example, should be indicated under medical advice. Learn more names of furuncle ointments.
2. Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a very common skin infection due to obstruction of the hair follicle by an ingrown hair, but when it becomes deep it can become a boil with the formation of pus.
How to treat: Usually in the mildest cases, exfoliating the skin with exfoliating products is enough to unclog the follicle, but if there are signs of inflammation such as intense redness and swelling, you should go to the doctor because it can also turn into a boil, and it is necessary to use an antibiotic ointment, and in the most severe cases in larger lesions, taking antibiotics may also be recommended. Learn how to treat folliculitis so it doesn't become a boil.
3. Erysipelas
In the case of erysipelas, in addition to extensive redness in a region of the skin, there are also other symptoms such as headache, fever and joint pain. The areas most affected are the ends of the skin and the face, and in some cases blisters may form on the skin.
How to treat: Rest is recommended, take painkillers and antibiotics such as penicillin or procaine. When erysipelas is not severe, treatment can be done at home, but there are situations in which hospitalization is required with antibiotics applied directly into the vein. Learn more about the treatment of erysipelas.
4. Infectious cellulitis
Infectious cellulitis is a skin disease caused by staphylococci that affect the deeper layers of the skin causing symptoms such as intense redness, swelling, very hot skin and a high fever.
How to treat: Antibiotic remedies, such as Amoxicillin or Cephalexin, should be used for 10 to 21 days. In the most severe cases, the infection can spread throughout the body, requiring hospitalization. Learn more details of the treatment of infectious cellulite.
5. Impetigo
Impetigo is caused by staphylococci or streptococci , being more common in children, and may present with blisters or not. The most common is to affect the region of the mouth and nose, forming dry honey-colored crusts.
How to treat: The doctor may recommend the use of saline solution to soften the scabs and then apply an antibiotic ointment such as neomycin, nebacetin, mupirocin, gentamicin, retapamulin or Cicatrene for 5 to 7 days, until the wounds have healed completely. See more care needed to cure impetigo.
6. Ectima
The ectima is very similar to impetigo, but it affects the deeper layers of the skin and can leave scars, the most common is that it happens as a complication of a poorly treated impetigo.
How to treat: In addition to keeping the place always clean and dry, using saline and antiseptic lotion, it is necessary to use antibiotics in the form of ointment, as indicated by the doctor, and if there are no signs of improvement in 3 days, the doctor can recommend taking antibiotics. Find out more details of ectima treatment.
7. Scalded skin syndrome
This skin disease is more common in children who have severely affected skin, with large areas of flaking, fever, chills and weakness.
How to treat: It is essential to use antibiotics through the vein and then in the form of pills or syrups, and moisturizing creams to protect the skin.
Possible complications
Bacterial skin infections can become serious, spread over larger areas, and even reach the bloodstream, which is very serious. However, this only happens when the use of antibiotics is started too late, when the person does not use the antibiotics correctly, or when the antibiotic recommended by the doctor is not the most suitable for each type of infection.
To avoid this type of complication it is recommended:
- Go to the doctor as soon as you notice any change in the skin; Use the antibiotic prescribed by the doctor, respecting the doses, times and number of days; After starting the medication use, if there are no signs of improvement within 3 days, you should go back to the doctor, especially if there are signs of worsening.
The signs of improvement are the reduction of symptoms, redness, normalization of temperature, and better appearance of wounds. The signs of worsening, on the other hand, are when the lesions appear to be bigger and worse, other symptoms appear, such as fever, increased blisters or pus, which were initially not present in the medical evaluation.
