Skin Infections and Fungus

Your skin is the barrier that helps to protect you from germs and other harmful pathogens in the environment, but sometimes it can get infected. The treatment of these infections depends on the cause of the infection. If your skin becomes infected by a bacterial, fungal or viral infection, you need to see a doctor for the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Bacterial Infections:

• Leprosy- is a chronic bacterial disease of the skin and nerves in the hands and feet and, in some cases, the lining of the nose.
• Carbuncle- an infection that forms a lump, which occurs deep in the skin and may be red, swollen or contain pus and may need to be drained.
• Staph and Cellulitis- this infection often begins with a little cut, which gets infected with bacteria. These staph infections range from a simple boil to antibiotic-resistant infections to flesh-eating infections.
• Impetigo- is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection. It can appear anywhere on the body but usually attacks exposed areas.
• Boil- is a skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or oil gland.
• Pilonidal cyst- occurs at the bottom of the tailbone (coccyx) and can become infected and filled with pus. Once infected, the technical term is pilonidal abscess.

Fungal Infections:

• Ringworm- caused by microscopic fungi and does not have any relation to worms, but is called "ringworm" because the infection can produce ring-shaped patches on the skin that have red, wormlike edges.
• Athlete's foot- a common infection of the feet caused by fungus that may last for a short or long time and could come back after treatment. The medical term is tinea pedis.
• Candidiasis (yeast infection)- an infection caused by a group of yeast.
• Sporotrichosis- a subacute or chronic infection caused by the soil fungus Sporothrix schenckii and is more common among gardeners who work with roses, moss, hay, or soil.
• Fungal nail infections- occur when a fungus attacks a fingernail, a toenail, or the skin under the nail, called the nail bed. (link nail problems)

Viral Infections

• Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that causes raised, pearl-like nodules on the skin.
• Shingles- a painful, contagious viral infection characterized by a rash. This infection is caused by the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster).
• Chickenpox- one of the most commonly reported childhood diseases, this is a highly contagious viral infection in which a person develops extremely itchy blisters all over the body.

If you need treatment for a skin infection, or are not sure if you have an infection and want to prevent the infection from becoming worse or spreading, call Rappaport Dermatology to schedule an appointment.