Skin infection pictures and treatments

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

• Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
• Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
• Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

Read more about our vetting process.

Was this helpful?

A skin infection occurs when parasites, fungi, or germs such as bacteria penetrate the skin and spread. When this happens, it can cause pain, swelling, and skin color changes.

Skin infections are different from rashes. A rash is an area of swollen or irritated skin. While rashes can be symptoms of some skin infections, a person with a rash does not necessarily have an infection.

There are four types of skin infection:

• bacterial
• viral
• fungal
• parasitic

Some skin infections require medical treatment. People can manage others with over-the-counter (OTC) solutions or home remedies. Read on to learn more about common skin infections.

This common bacterial skin infection occurs when bacteria infect the deep layers of skin and nearby tissues.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, doctors diagnose 14.5 million cases of cellulitis in the United States each year.

Cellulitis can lead to serious complications, and receiving early treatment is important.

Symptoms

Before causing complications, cellulitis appears as swelling that is a different color from a person’s usual skin tone. The area is sometimes warm and tender to the touch.

Cellulitis can develop anywhere on the body. In children, it commonly affects the face, and in adults, it often appears on the lower legs.

Treatment

Early treatment is key to a successful outcome. If a person does not receive treatment, cellulitis can lead to blood infections and can damage the immune system.

The most common treatment is oral antibiotics. Some people may need to take this medication intravenously.

A person should also rest, elevate the affected area, and cover the area to aid healing.

What it looks like

Cellulitis causes the affected area to swell and change color. On lighter skin, cellulitis may appear red or pink, while on darker skin tones, it may appear purple, brown, or darker than the surrounding area.

Other skin changes may not be well defined, and it may be difficult to tell where they end. The area will likely be hard and warm to the touch.

Warts are noncancerous skin growths that occur when a virus infects the top layer of skin.

Warts are contagious. A person can contract them by touching a wart directly or by coming into contact with something the wart has touched.

Symptoms

Warts are usually visible as raised areas of skin, but they can also be darker and flat. They are more likely to form in places where skin damage occurs, such as on the fingers, nails, and backs of the hands.

Treatment

A dermatologist can usually remove common warts. Typical techniques include:

• cantharidin, a substance that causes a blister to form under the wart so the dermatologist can clip it off
• electrosurgery, or burning off the wart
• excision, or cutting the wart off
• cryotherapy, or freezing the wart off

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is responsible for causing a herpes gladiatorum infection on the skin.

In 2016, HSV-1 was present in an estimated 66.6% of the world’s population under 50 years old.

Though a person can treat an outbreak of herpes, the virus always remains, which means symptoms can return at any time. The virus is also highly contagious, and a person can transmit it any time it is active, even if no symptoms are present.

Symptoms

When herpes gladiatorum flares, it can cause:

• swollen lymph nodes
• fever
• a tingling sensation in the affected area
• fluid-filled blisters that last between 4–11 days
• patches of discolored skin

Treatment

Some cases of herpes require no treatment. But a person with an active infection should avoid activities that put them in direct contact with others, such as contact sports and intercourse.

For people with moderate to severe infections, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication.

A yeast infection develops when fungus grows out of control. Yeast infections can occur across the body but are more common in skin folds, such as the armpits, or on parts of the body that clothes often cover, such as the feet.

Yeast infections are also common in other areas that trap moisture, such as the vagina and mouth.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a yeast infection are the formation of a rash and localized itchiness. Some yeast infections can cause blisters or pustules.

Yeast infections appear differently in different areas of the body. For example, a diaper rash that results from a yeast infection may appear as areas of chafed, differently colored skin and not feature any blisters.

Treatment

A person may be able to treat a yeast infection with OTC creams and ointments. Some yeast infections on the skin may require prescription medication and creams.

Anyone with a yeast infection on the skin should keep the area as clean and dry as possible while the infection resolves.

A range of creams for treating yeast infections is available for purchase online.

Lice are tiny insects that live in hair and cause a parasitic infection of the scalp. They exist worldwide and can affect anyone. Contrary to popular belief, lice can live in any type of hair, regardless of how often a person washes it.

Lice spread easily, especially in crowded conditions such as schools and nursing homes. Though a nuisance, lice do not cause serious health issues.

Symptoms

As with many other types of skin infection, itchiness is the most common symptom of lice. This typically develops around the ears and near the neck.

It can take 4–6 weeks for a person to become sensitive to lice saliva and for the itchiness to start. Even after treatment, several weeks may pass before this feeling goes away.

A person may also be able to see lice in their hair. Nits, or eggs, are small and found at the base of hairs. As a result, a person may initially confuse nits with dandruff.

When the eggs hatch, the lice are called nymphs. In this stage, a person may notice small, fast-moving mites on their scalp. Adult lice are about the size of sesame seeds, and are light gray or tan.

Treatment

A person can treat lice at home, but should speak with a doctor before doing so.

Treatment typically involves combing the lice and their eggs out of the hair and applying medication that kills the lice and their eggs.

A range of lice combs is available to purchase online.

Scabies is another parasitic skin infection. When a person has scabies, mites burrow into the upper layer of skin to lay their eggs. This causes infection and irritation.

Scabies spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact. People living in crowded conditions, such as nursing homes, are most likely to experience outbreaks.

Symptoms

Scabies causes a pimple-like rash that may contain small blisters and areas of scaling. These rashes may appear red or pink on light skin, and brown or black on darker skin.

Additionally, a person with scabies may notice burrows in the skin, and small sores and scales. These skin complaints may cause irritation and feel itchy.

Rashes from scabies can appear nearly anywhere on the body. Some of the most common sites include the:

• elbows
• armpits
• wrists
• penis
• webbing between the fingers
• nipples
• waist or beltline
• buttocks

Treatment

Scabies treatment involves medications called scabicides. These kill adult mites, and some also kill the eggs. Tested and approved scabicides are only available on prescription.

Since scabies can spread quickly within households and other indoor settings, close contacts of a person with scabies may also require medication.

A person should seek medical advice anytime an unexplained, persistent rash appears on their body.

It is especially important to contact a doctor if the rash occurs alongside a fever or symptoms other than itchiness or pain. Many skin infections require prescription medication or other forms of treatment.

Since many skin infections are easy to contract, people should use caution in public areas.

For example, wearing shoes in public bathrooms and showers can help prevent athlete’s foot, which is a common fungal infection. Avoiding physical contact with people who have scabies or an active herpes infection can help prevent exposure.

People with skin infections should take precautions and avoid physical contact until symptoms are gone or their doctor clears them to do so.

Skin infections are a common occurrence worldwide. These infections can spread easily through physical contact and can affect almost anyone.

Most infections present as rashes or small growths and typically cause irritation and itchiness. Affected areas of skin may appear pink or red on people with light skin, or as brown and black on people with darker skin.

If an unexplained rash appears, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Skin infection pictures and treatments

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

• Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
• Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
• Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

Read more about our vetting process.

Was this helpful?

A skin infection occurs when parasites, fungi, or germs such as bacteria penetrate the skin and spread. When this happens, it can cause pain, swelling, and skin color changes.

Skin infections are different from rashes. A rash is an area of swollen or irritated skin. While rashes can be symptoms of some skin infections, a person with a rash does not necessarily have an infection.

There are four types of skin infection:

• bacterial
• viral
• fungal
• parasitic

Some skin infections require medical treatment. People can manage others with over-the-counter (OTC) solutions or home remedies. Read on to learn more about common skin infections.

This common bacterial skin infection occurs when bacteria infect the deep layers of skin and nearby tissues.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, doctors diagnose 14.5 million cases of cellulitis in the United States each year.

Cellulitis can lead to serious complications, and receiving early treatment is important.

Symptoms

Before causing complications, cellulitis appears as swelling that is a different color from a person’s usual skin tone. The area is sometimes warm and tender to the touch.

Cellulitis can develop anywhere on the body. In children, it commonly affects the face, and in adults, it often appears on the lower legs.

Treatment

Early treatment is key to a successful outcome. If a person does not receive treatment, cellulitis can lead to blood infections and can damage the immune system.

The most common treatment is oral antibiotics. Some people may need to take this medication intravenously.

A person should also rest, elevate the affected area, and cover the area to aid healing.

What it looks like

Cellulitis causes the affected area to swell and change color. On lighter skin, cellulitis may appear red or pink, while on darker skin tones, it may appear purple, brown, or darker than the surrounding area.

Other skin changes may not be well defined, and it may be difficult to tell where they end. The area will likely be hard and warm to the touch.

Warts are noncancerous skin growths that occur when a virus infects the top layer of skin.

Warts are contagious. A person can contract them by touching a wart directly or by coming into contact with something the wart has touched.

Symptoms

Warts are usually visible as raised areas of skin, but they can also be darker and flat. They are more likely to form in places where skin damage occurs, such as on the fingers, nails, and backs of the hands.

Treatment

A dermatologist can usually remove common warts. Typical techniques include:

• cantharidin, a substance that causes a blister to form under the wart so the dermatologist can clip it off
• electrosurgery, or burning off the wart
• excision, or cutting the wart off
• cryotherapy, or freezing the wart off

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is responsible for causing a herpes gladiatorum infection on the skin.

In 2016, HSV-1 was present in an estimated 66.6% of the world’s population under 50 years old.

Though a person can treat an outbreak of herpes, the virus always remains, which means symptoms can return at any time. The virus is also highly contagious, and a person can transmit it any time it is active, even if no symptoms are present.

Symptoms

When herpes gladiatorum flares, it can cause:

• swollen lymph nodes
• fever
• a tingling sensation in the affected area
• fluid-filled blisters that last between 4–11 days
• patches of discolored skin

Treatment

Some cases of herpes require no treatment. But a person with an active infection should avoid activities that put them in direct contact with others, such as contact sports and intercourse.

For people with moderate to severe infections, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication.

A yeast infection develops when fungus grows out of control. Yeast infections can occur across the body but are more common in skin folds, such as the armpits, or on parts of the body that clothes often cover, such as the feet.

Yeast infections are also common in other areas that trap moisture, such as the vagina and mouth.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a yeast infection are the formation of a rash and localized itchiness. Some yeast infections can cause blisters or pustules.

Yeast infections appear differently in different areas of the body. For example, a diaper rash that results from a yeast infection may appear as areas of chafed, differently colored skin and not feature any blisters.

Treatment

A person may be able to treat a yeast infection with OTC creams and ointments. Some yeast infections on the skin may require prescription medication and creams.

Anyone with a yeast infection on the skin should keep the area as clean and dry as possible while the infection resolves.

A range of creams for treating yeast infections is available for purchase online.

Lice are tiny insects that live in hair and cause a parasitic infection of the scalp. They exist worldwide and can affect anyone. Contrary to popular belief, lice can live in any type of hair, regardless of how often a person washes it.

Lice spread easily, especially in crowded conditions such as schools and nursing homes. Though a nuisance, lice do not cause serious health issues.

Symptoms

As with many other types of skin infection, itchiness is the most common symptom of lice. This typically develops around the ears and near the neck.

It can take 4–6 weeks for a person to become sensitive to lice saliva and for the itchiness to start. Even after treatment, several weeks may pass before this feeling goes away.

A person may also be able to see lice in their hair. Nits, or eggs, are small and found at the base of hairs. As a result, a person may initially confuse nits with dandruff.

When the eggs hatch, the lice are called nymphs. In this stage, a person may notice small, fast-moving mites on their scalp. Adult lice are about the size of sesame seeds, and are light gray or tan.

Treatment

A person can treat lice at home, but should speak with a doctor before doing so.

Treatment typically involves combing the lice and their eggs out of the hair and applying medication that kills the lice and their eggs.

A range of lice combs is available to purchase online.

Scabies is another parasitic skin infection. When a person has scabies, mites burrow into the upper layer of skin to lay their eggs. This causes infection and irritation.

Scabies spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact. People living in crowded conditions, such as nursing homes, are most likely to experience outbreaks.

Symptoms

Scabies causes a pimple-like rash that may contain small blisters and areas of scaling. These rashes may appear red or pink on light skin, and brown or black on darker skin.

Additionally, a person with scabies may notice burrows in the skin, and small sores and scales. These skin complaints may cause irritation and feel itchy.

Rashes from scabies can appear nearly anywhere on the body. Some of the most common sites include the:

• elbows
• armpits
• wrists
• penis
• webbing between the fingers
• nipples
• waist or beltline
• buttocks

Treatment

Scabies treatment involves medications called scabicides. These kill adult mites, and some also kill the eggs. Tested and approved scabicides are only available on prescription.

Since scabies can spread quickly within households and other indoor settings, close contacts of a person with scabies may also require medication.

A person should seek medical advice anytime an unexplained, persistent rash appears on their body.

It is especially important to contact a doctor if the rash occurs alongside a fever or symptoms other than itchiness or pain. Many skin infections require prescription medication or other forms of treatment.

Since many skin infections are easy to contract, people should use caution in public areas.

For example, wearing shoes in public bathrooms and showers can help prevent athlete’s foot, which is a common fungal infection. Avoiding physical contact with people who have scabies or an active herpes infection can help prevent exposure.

People with skin infections should take precautions and avoid physical contact until symptoms are gone or their doctor clears them to do so.

Skin infections are a common occurrence worldwide. These infections can spread easily through physical contact and can affect almost anyone.

Most infections present as rashes or small growths and typically cause irritation and itchiness. Affected areas of skin may appear pink or red on people with light skin, or as brown and black on people with darker skin.

If an unexplained rash appears, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Atopic dermatitis – causes, stages, photos, treatment

What is atopic dermatitis?

“Dermatitis” means inflammation of the skin. And the term “atopic” means a hereditary predisposition to allergies.

Most often, this disease first manifests itself in childhood. In most patients, by the age of five, atopic dermatitis goes into stable remission, but often the disease can continue in adults. The exact causes of the disease have not been established, but modern medicine believes that atopic dermatitis is a multifactorial disease, which is based on a genetic predisposition to atopic diseases.

IMPORTANT! Information from the article cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment! Only a doctor can prescribe the necessary examinations, establish a diagnosis and draw up a treatment plan for a consultation!

A tendency to atopic dermatitis can be realized when there are provoking factors in your life:

• psycho-emotional stress;
• disturbance in the functioning of internal organs;
• adverse environment.

It has been noticed that atopic dermatitis worsens more often in the cold season, so if skin problems arise with the onset of cold weather, there is reason to think about visiting a dermatologist.

The main symptom of atopic dermatitis is itching of varying intensity. Sometimes so strong that it can disturb the sleep of the patient. Inflammation and dryness of the skin, a variety of rashes that often accompany the disease, cause very unpleasant sensations.

There are several stages of the disease:

• Infant (up to two years of age).

During this period, rashes, as a rule, are edematous redness, peeling on the skin of the face, on the extensor surfaces of the arms and legs. In more severe cases, blisters, weeping, and crusts may appear. In this stage, as a rule, there is a clear connection with food irritants.

• Children (from two to 12 years).

At the age of two years, atopic dermatitis in children manifests itself in the form of rashes on the skin of the elbows, popliteal fossae, and the back of the neck. The tendency to get wet decreases, nodular inflammatory elements are more often present, increased dryness of the skin, its peeling and irritation persists.

• Adult (over 12 years old).

In most patients, by this age, the disease goes into stable remission (no manifestations of the disease). With the continuation of the disease in adulthood, intense pruritus comes to the fore. Severe dryness of the skin, peeling persists. Rashes on the skin can be varied (bubbles, nodules, foci of redness). Most patients have a clear connection between exacerbations and psycho-emotional factors.

The above symptoms refer to periods of exacerbation of atopic dermatitis. During the “lull” the disease can manifest itself only as increased dryness of the skin.

Advice for people with atopic dermatitis

• People with atopic dermatitis have very sensitive skin. Such people do not want frequent water procedures, and they need to wash themselves with the use of special emollients and moisturizers, do not use a washcloth. After washing, it is better to remove water from the surface of the skin with blotting movements, and not with the usual wiping.
• Emollient and moisturizing cream for atopic dermatitis must be used daily. In clothes, preference should be given to cotton and skin contact with wool, synthetic and coarse fabrics should be avoided.
• For those suffering from atopic dermatitis, it is better to keep carpets, as well as objects and furniture that contribute to the accumulation of dust, in the house. Books and clothes are best kept in lockable cabinets and vacuumed regularly. Pillows and blankets are better to use not down, but from synthetic materials.
• This disease imposes some dietary restrictions. Especially in infancy. It is very important that parents keep a food diary for their baby. It will help to clearly trace the connection between the use of a particular product and the exacerbation of atopic dermatitis.
• Many children have an increased sensitivity to milk and egg whites, which disappears with age. In the future, the significance of food allergies decreases. In adults, true food allergies are extremely rare.

However, adults with atopic dermatitis should also avoid foods that are rich in histamine or increase its release in the body:

• fermented cheeses cheeses
• cheeses
• marinades
• brewer’s yeast
• alcohol, etc.

In addition, if the patient notices a deterioration in the skin condition after consuming a particular product, then this product should also be excluded from the diet. During an exacerbation of the disease, a more stringent diet is required, excluding all irritating foods: spicy, smoked, spicy, marinades, fatty, sweet, muffin, fried, citrus fruits, honey, nuts, chocolate, alcohol. The sun is a powerful factor influencing the condition of the skin.

About clinic

Euromed Clinic is a multidisciplinary family clinic in the center of St. Petersburg.

• Doctor’s house calls
• 24-hour therapist appointment
• Tests, ultrasound, X-ray
• Whole body diagnostics
• Hospital and surgery

9001 9 Vaccination

Learn more about the clinic

Is it possible sunbathing with atopic dermatitis?

Yes, but the skin must still be protected from excess UV radiation. For example, using creams with a high degree of protection (SPF30+ and above). Apply the cream to the skin every two hours. In addition, it is better not to spend the “hottest” hours in the open sun. Even people without skin problems are advised to sunbathe either before 11 am or after 4 pm.

How to treat atopic dermatitis?

• The first step in the treatment of atopic dermatitis is the identification and elimination of triggers. At the same time, antihistamines are prescribed to eliminate the itching that bothers the patient. When choosing a drug, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor so that he can help not only choose a medicine, but also calculate the dose corresponding to the patient’s age and the nature of the course of the disease.
• In addition, local anti-inflammatory drugs (creams, ointments), including hormonal ones, are used in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. The choice of drug should be approached very carefully, especially for infants. A doctor’s consultation is required. Self-medication can lead to undesirable results. The same recommendation applies to drugs for the treatment of dysbacteriosis, which is important in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
• If infectious complications occur (often associated with the presence of scratching), then antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial drugs are used for treatment.

Scalp fungus symptoms and treatment

Scalp fungus symptoms

If your hair falls out suddenly in circles or your scalp turns red and flakes , and if you experience severe itching , you may have one of the forms of fungus that develops on the scalp. If you have fungal hair loss on your scalp, it is recommended to visit a dermatologist for medical advice.

All of these skin conditions can be a sign of fungus. Children often suffer from this disease, but adults can also suffer from a fungal disease that affects the skin and hair. This is because skin fungi, in particular, thrive in the warm, humid conditions that can occur under the hair.

The fungus tinea capitis is often the cause of fungal infections of the scalp. This disease is also called ringworm of the scalp . This highly contagious fungus is spread from person to person either directly or indirectly through contaminated objects.

A weakened immune system, scalp trauma, or bacterial infections can also cause fungus to grow faster.

Another relatively common scalp fungus is canis microsporum, which can be transmitted from dogs and cats, as well as from guinea pigs.

Fungal disease of the scalp must be treated with medication because skin fungus does not heal on its own. Rather, the opposite may happen. All of these types of fungus can lead to hair loss. This usually manifests first as patches of hair loss at sites of infection.

The fungus can continue to spread and, in the worst case, even enter the bloodstream. From there, it can also infect internal organs.

In addition, scalp fungus is highly contagious. It is therefore possible, quite unintentionally, to infect family members or friends with the fungus. Skin fungi thrive in the warm, humid environment of the scalp and feed on the microscopic skin flakes that are in abundance.

Scalp fungus is a medical condition. Therefore, a visit to a doctor, in this case a dermatologist, is simply necessary!

Don’t worry: a fungal skin infection is not a sign of poor hygiene!

Transmission prevention of scalp fungus and hair loss.

Combs, hairbrushes, towels, razors should not be shared. Also, do not use bed linen, hats, scarves, etc.

Combs, scissors, towels, razors, etc. should be regularly disinfected after starting treatment. Bed linen should be boiled if possible . Toys and soft toys should also be regularly disinfected or, if possible, washed at a high temperature.

In addition, it is best to store all the above-mentioned items separately, and disinfect surfaces regularly – fungi, after all, are very tenacious.

During infection, the patient should avoid close contact with pets .

At this time, visits to the hairdresser should be avoided until the fungus has completely disappeared.

Also, blow-dry your hair after every wash. Fungi love a humid climate and thrive in it.

If it is microsporum canis, the animal should be examined by a veterinarian immediately. Baskets, blankets, etc. should be disinfected or discarded and replaced with new ones.

Other types of fungi that may affect the scalp

Most skin fungal infections are caused by so-called dermatophytes, which are specific fungal infections of the skin. Tinea capitis and microsporum canis are examples of this type of fungus.

However, yeast can also infect the scalp and thus lead to hair loss.

The genus malassezia refers to a yeast that naturally occurs on healthy skin, including the scalp. However, it may happen that these yeasts suddenly multiply uncontrollably due to certain circumstances, for example, with a weakened immune system.

Typical symptoms of this disease are:

• Yellowish greasy dandruff
• Itchy patches, usually reddish brown
• Increased hair loss

90 011 Malassezia is one of the causative agents of the so-called seborrheic dermatitis, a skin rash that may appear on the head or face.

Another type of head fungus – trichosporon . With this fungus, small nodules form near the hair follicles. In severe cases, the hair shaft can break off, which in turn leads to increased hair loss.

No matter what fungus you are infected with, fungal scalp hair loss should definitely be in the hands of a competent doctor in the field!

Scalp fungus treatment

How to treat scalp fungus?

Fungal infection of the scalp causes severe itching. This is accompanied by scaly and reddened scalp. In the future, round, bald patches appear.

After collecting the patient’s medical history, the dermatologist will take skin and hair sample . Based on these samples, a culture is prepared in the laboratory to determine which fungus is causing the infection.

If it is well defined, antifungal antimycotics are used in most cases. As a rule, these are drugs that are taken orally. Most often, antimycotics are prescribed in combination with special remedies for scalp fungus (shampoos and tinctures), which are applied to the affected areas. Treatment of the fungus of the scalp is carried out for at least three months until complete recovery.

In parallel, some home remedies such as apple cider vinegar, turmeric or garlic can be used to promote healing.

If it is well defined, in most cases, however, home remedies alone are not enough to successfully and permanently fight the fungus.