Our bodies go through a lot in life, which is why it is so important to learn about our bodies, so we can recognise any changes. While a bacterial skin condition may seem a little scary, they are often extremely treatable with topical or oral antibiotics. A bacterial skin condition is not always a major cause of concern, but it is always best to spot it early so you can get it treated by a doctor. Within this article, we will discuss some of the most common bacterial skin conditions, their symptoms, and how to treat them.
Cellulitis
The first condition we are going to discuss is cellulitis. Cellulitis is a skin infection that can become serious if it goes untreated, which is why it is so important to be aware of the symptoms so you can spot them early and seek treatment. As cellulitis is a skin infection, some of the most common symptoms are redness and swelling of the skin. The skin can often feel hot to the touch, and it may be painful or tender too. Bruising and blistering can also occur in a case of cellulitis, so if you notice any unusual blisters or bruises, you should go and see a doctor. As well as the obvious symptoms on the skin, cellulitis can present itself in other ways too. You may suffer from headaches, fever, or chills when you have cellulitis. Some cases of cellulitis can be an emergency, so if you notice the skin turning black, you have a severe fever, or redness and swelling around your eyes, then you need to phone an ambulance.
In terms of treatment for cellulitis, if the case is mild, then it will be treated with an antibiotic tablet. Cellulitis can spread, so it is always best to get it treated right away in order to prevent the infection from spreading further. Before you are prescribed an antibiotic, your doctor may treat the infection directly by applying a cool, wet dressing to try and draw out some of the heat from the infection. If your cellulitis is severe and has spread throughout the body, surgery could be needed. It is important to remember that surgery is only required in emergency cases, otherwise antibiotics should treat the infection just fine.
Impetigo
The next skin infection to discuss is impetigo. While impetigo is very contagious, it is not usually serious, but even so, you should still consult a doctor if you notice any of the symptoms. Impetigo is most common in younger children, but you can still get it at any age. The starting symptoms of impetigo are blisters or red sores, which can quickly burst to leave crusty patches on the skin. As the blisters can pop quickly, you may not notice them at first, so it’s important to recognise the patches afterward. The patches will be golden-brown in colour and can often look like cornflakes stuck to the skin. They can quickly get bigger and spread to other parts of the body, so you need to act fast. If your child has impetigo, you may notice them scratching at the patches or complaining of pain, but just try your best to stop them scratching and seek advice from a doctor.
As impetigo is so contagious, your doctor may suggest a phone consultation, as opposed to an in-person appointment. During the phone consultation, your doctor will go through all the symptoms with you and make sure it isn’t something more serious like cellulitis. Once you have a diagnosis, your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic cream that you can pick up from your local chemist. The cream can be directly applied to the infected area and should treat the impetigo within a few days. In a serious case, antibiotic tablets may be required, or if the impetigo keeps on coming back, then your doctor may prescribe an antiseptic nasal spray to clear the bacteria.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a bacterial skin condition that affects the hair follicles. As most people have hair all over their body, it means that folliculitis can affect anywhere that hair grows, like the head, chest, back, arms and legs. An infection, a blockage, or even just an irritation can cause folliculitis, so it is important to know the symptoms, so you have an idea of what to look out for. Pus-filled blisters or white-headed pimples are often the first sign of folliculitis, and you may notice these developing around hair follicles. These pimples and blisters will usually also come with itchy, burning skin, and it is likely the infected area will be painful and tender to the touch. Additionally, if there aren’t obvious or individual pimples, then you may find that you start getting large swollen bumps around the hair follicle. These bumps will be quite large and firm, and you must try to avoid squeezing them like a pimple.
In terms of treatment for folliculitis, there are some that can be done at home without any antibiotics. Applying a warm, moist compress to the infected area can provide some pain relief, and it can also help the area drain any pus. You can also buy some soothing lotions and apply them directly to the skin to try and ease some of the redness and pain. However, if you notice that the infection is quite severe, then it is always best to seek advice from your doctor. Your doctor can take a look at the infected are and provide some antibiotics if needed.
Erysipelas
Erysipelas is a form of cellulitis, and it is a potentially serious bacterial infection that affects the skin. In most cases, the people who are usually affected by erysipelas are infants and older people, but any age group can be affected by the condition. Like cellulitis, erysipelas can present themselves as red or swollen skin, and you may find that the skin is finely dimpled. Most of the time, erysipelas affects the lower limbs, but it can also be present on the face too. When it does occur on the face, you will likely find that the infection spreads in an almost butterfly-like way, across the bridge of the nose and the cheeks. If erysipelas goes untreated, then it can lead to more serious complications like gangrene, abscesses, or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
Treatment for erysipelas is so important, so if you notice any of the above symptoms, then you must get them checked out as soon as possible. When it comes to general treatment for this condition, cold packs and elevation of the infected area can be useful as they can help to reduce swelling and inflammation. Compression stockings can also be helpful for erysipelas as they can provide a bit more support for the limbs. In more severe cases of erysipelas, you will likely be prescribed antibiotics. Once on antibiotics, it is likely the general signs of illness will clear up in a couple of days, but it is still important you complete the full course of antibiotics. Often, people will stop taking antibiotics at the first sign of recovery, but completing the full course ensures that the infection is actually gone.