What Causes Skin Infections?

What Causes Skin Infections

Skin Ailments
January 28, 2021 , Last updated: July 17, 2024

Being the largest organ of our body, the skin performs essential functions like covering and protecting our body from environmental factors. But what happens if this shield of our body is infected? It can lead to visible impact on the skin, which may affect the functioning of the concerned body part. This is what skin infections do to our skin. They are caused by a wide variety of pathogens. Let’s understand skin infections in more detail.

Causes of Different Types of Skin Infections

  • Bacterial skin infections:

    This type of skin infection occurs when bacteria enter the body through a break in the skin, like a scratch or a cut. Now, not every scratch or cut on your skin will lead to an infection. But the risk of developing an infection increases if you have a weak immune system. Bacterial skin infections generally start as small, red bumps on skin that gradually increase in size.

    The different types of bacterial skin infections are as mentioned below:

    • Carbuncles
    • Impetigo
    • Cellulitis
    • Leprosy
    • Boils
    • Staph infection

     

  • Fungal skin infections:

    The constitution of our body along with various environmental and lifestyle factors can play a role in the development of fungal skin infections. Fungi mostly thrive in warm and moist environments. Therefore, fungal skin diseases are most likely to develop in the areas of the body such as feet, groin and the folds of skin. The symptoms commonly include scaly skin, irritation, redness, itching, swelling and blisters. Lifestyle factors have a close relation with fungal infections. For instance, if you are a runner and sweat a lot, you are at risk of developing a fungal skin condition called Athlete’s Foot. Wearing wet or sweaty clothes for a long period of time can also increase the risk of fungal skin infections.

    Let’s look at the different types of fungal skin infections:

    • Athlete’s Foot
    • Ringworm
    • Yeast infection
    • Oral thrush
    • Nail fungus
    • Diaper rash

    Read more on fungal infections here: https://www.drbatras.com/fungal-infections-of-the-skin-hair-or-nails

  • Viral skin infections:

    Such infections are mostly caused by 3 major groups of viruses viz. human papillomavirus, poxvirus and herpes virus. These infections range from mild to severe. Some viral skin infections can be contagious. The symptoms usually involve redness of skin, skin rash, itching, tiny bumps on skin and sores.

    Some of the common viral skin infections are as listed below:

    • Chickenpox
    • Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
    • Measles
    • German Measles (rubella)
    • Warts
    • Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
    • Molluscum Contagiosum

     

What Causes Skin Infections?

 

  • Parasitic skin infections:

    Parasites on the skin are usually small worms or insects that burrow into the skin to reside there or lay their eggs. Parasitic skin infections can spread beyond the skin to the bloodstream and the organs. The symptoms generally include itchy skin, sores, pimply rash and crusty patches.

    Different types of parasitic skin infections are as follows:

    • Bedbugs
    • Lice
    • Scabies
    • Cutaneous Larva Migrans

Treatment of Skin Infections

The treatment of skin infections depends on the type, causes and severity of the infection. Certain types of viral skin infections may improve on their own within a few days or weeks. Topical or oral antibiotics may be prescribed to people suffering from bacterial skin infections. Over-the-counter sprays, medicated creams and anti inflammatory drugs are generally used for fungal or parasitic skin infections. Symptoms of skin diseases should not be ignored. They can spread beyond the skin and into the bloodstream. It can then become life-threatening. If you are looking for a natural and safe medium to treat skin infections, homeopathy can be helpful.

Homeopathic Treatment for Skin Infections

Homeopathic medicines are made from natural ingredients and are therefore free from side-effects. Homeopathic treatment does not suppress the flare-ups and symptoms but goes to the root cause of your skin infection and treats it, thus providing long-term relief. Skin treatment in homeopathy also effectively treats the underlying conditions responsible for developing or aggravating your infection, such as low immunity. Homeopathic treatment helps to reduce the severity of the symptoms as well as the possibility of recurrence.

An article published in the Indian Journal of Drugs in Dermatology mentions a study on homeopathic treatment for various types of warts. It found that 18 of 19 people with plantar warts were cured in, on average, 2.2 months. The most common remedy used was Ruta, which was prescribed to 12 of the 19 patients. Thuja was prescribed for 3 patients and antimonium crud was prescribed for 2 patients.

Dr Batra’s® has treated more than 1.41 lakh patients with skin problems over the past 35 years. Our team of expert homeopathic doctors along with skin specialists will determine a homeopathic treatment for you based on the unique causes and symptoms of your skin infection. Book an appointment with us on https://www.drbatras.com/book-an-appointment and leave your worries about your skin infection to our homeopathic specialist.

Dr. Sejal Borivali
Authored By

Dr. SEJAL VIVEK PAREKAR

BHMS