Skin helps to protect us from the germs, but sometimes it can get infected by microorganisms. Signs of a severe infection include are pus, blisters, skin sloughing, breakdown, dark, necrotic-appearing skin, or skin that becomes discolored and painful. Some common types of skin infections are,
Bacterial: Cellulitis and impetigo. Staphylococcal infections can also affect the skin.
Viral: Shingles, warts, and herpes simplex
Fungal: Athlete's foot and yeast infections
Parasitic: Body lice, head lice, and scabies
Treatment of skin infections depends on the cause. Bacterial infections are treated with topical antibiotics which are applied directly to the skin or with oral antibiotics. Some types of viral skin infections may improve on their own within days or weeks.