Skin Infections

Your skin's function is to protect your body from infection. Unfortunately, sometimes the skin itself becomes infected. A wide variety of germs causes skin infections, and symptoms can vary from mild to severe.

Types of skin infections

Some common types of skin infections are:

• Bacterial: Cellulitis, impetigo and boils
• Viral: Shingles, warts and chickenpox
• Fungal: Athlete's foot, yeast infections and nail fungus
• Parasitic: Body lice, head lice and scabies

Symptoms of a skin infection

The symptoms of a skin infection also vary depending on the type. Common symptoms include redness of the skin and a rash. You may also experience other symptoms, such as itching, pain, and tenderness.

Signs of a more severe infection include:

• pus
• blisters
• skin sloughing, breakdown
• skin that becomes discoloured and painful

Skin infections can spread beyond the skin and into the bloodstream. When this happens, it can become life-threatening.

Therefore, it is vital that you make an appointment with Dr Matilda Mphahlele immediately if you suspect that you have a skin infection.

Once Dr Matilda Mphahlele has assessed and diagnosed your condition, she will devise a treatment plan that will help you recover from the infection.