Skin Bacterial Infections

Skin Bacterial infection

Skin Bacterial Infections

The skin of all of us has a great number of bacteria which normally present on it without causing any harm to our skin. These bacteria are called commensals. Under certain circumstances, these bacteria may harm our skin leading to various bacterial infections of the skin. Other harmful bacteria other than Commensals may cause serious skin diseases.

There are several skin diseases caused by bacterial infections, these diseases include:

Impetigo

Impetigo is an infectious bacterial infection of the skin characterized by the appearance of fluid-filled bumps on the skin which may rupture after few days later forming a brown crust. It may affect any part of the skin, except the palms of hands and sole of foot as they are covered by thick keratinized layer. Some cases of impetigo heal spontaneously within two weeks without leaving behind any disfigurement.

Erysipelas

Erysipelas is the bacterial infection of the deeper layers of skin, the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue. It is characterized by a plaque or large well-defined area of bright red painful elevated skin. It comes mainly over the limbs, face or the abdominal wall. The lesion may heal spontaneously within three weeks leaving behind an area of slight pigmentation and scales.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is the bacterial infection of the tissues just below the skin, or the subcutaneous tissue. Cellulitis is characterized by an ill-defined red and painful swelling of the skin. Cellulitis may lead to serious complications, if it is not treated properly.

Intertrigo

Intertrigo is the bacterial infection of the skin folds. Skin folds are those present in the back of ear, the armpits, the under of the breast in women, the groin area, the cleft of buttocks and between toes. Other skin folds may be present exclusively in obese people due to thick fat layer. Intertrigo is characterized by longitudinal painful and may be wet skin fissures at the angle of the skin fold.

Angular Cheilitis

Angular Cheilitis is the bacterial infection of the skin present at the angle of the mouth and the adjacent tissues. It is characterized by redness of that skin with exudates formation, which dries up later forming a crust.

Furunculosis or skin boils

Furuncles or boils are caused by the bacterial infection of the hair gland and the surrounding tissues. Boils are characterized by red painful bumps, which grow in size and become filled with pus. They usually appear on the face, neck and buttocks.

Carbuncles

Carbuncles are a group of boils adjacent to each other. Carbuncles are developed when a group of hair glands adjacent to each other are infected. They are characterized by red painful hard lumps, or extended bumps, that discharge pus from many openings.

Erythrasma

Erythrasma is a form of chronic bacterial skin infection caused by a certain species of bacteria, called c. minutissimum. It is characterized by red brown or brown scaly patches over the skin. Erythrasma usually affects the skin folds, such as armpits and groin.