Skin Infections

Overview

Skin is the largest organ of our body. It covers and protects the body in every way. However, it is the most vulnerable organ to get injured and infected. Among organisms that can infect the skin are bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Skin infection may cause the skin to become irritated, inflamed, itchy, reddened and painful. Examples of common bacterial causes of skin infections are staphylococcus and streptococcus. Viral causes are herpes virus and human papillomavirus. Fungal skin infections are commonly caused by candida and dermatophytes whereas parasitic infections are caused by scabies and lice. People who are immunocompromised or have immune system disorders such as HIV, AIDS, diabetes and undergoing chemotherapy are more prone to get skin infections. Besides that, even cuts or wounds that are not treated properly lead to infections of the skin. Skin infections are diagnosed based on an examination, skin swab, culture, and biopsy. The treatment depends on the cause of the infection.