Impetigo – What is It and How Can it Be Cured?
Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection. It can be treated with antisptic or antibiotic cream.
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection. It’s quite common, but if it isn’t treated quickly, it can become serious.
Cellulitis occurs when a bacteria such as streptococcus or staphylococcus enters your body through:
They are both forms of bacteria. They are found on your skin, nose and throat. Normally, they are harmless, but they can cause infections.
For example, strep throat is caused by Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus causes boils and abscesses.
Cellulitis mostly affects the skin. You might find that an area of your skin becomes:
You might also feel generally unwell with a fever, chills and fatigue.
Yes, anyone can develop the infection, but some people are more at risk than others. You are at a greater risk If you have:
It’s also a bigger risk if you have had cellulitis before. Or do you suffer from oedema (swelling in your legs).
Yes. Get urgent help if you notice:
Sometimes, if the infection isn’t treated quickly, bacteria may enter the bloodstream, and this could cause blood poisoning and sepsis, which is a life-threatening condition. Another very serious but rare complication is necrotising fasciitis, better known as flesh-eating disease.
If there are no complications, then the infection can be treated with antibiotics. You’ll be advised to rest at home and drink plenty of fluids. If you are in pain, you can take over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
It’s not possible to prevent cellulitis, but there are things you can do to protect your skin.
Remove dirt and bacteria from your skin each day with a wash or a shower. Afterwards, treat skin with moisturiser, which will help to prevent it from becoming cracked and dry.
If you have an insect bite or a graze, then clean the area with warm soapy water, dry thoroughly and then apply an antiseptic cream to the affected area. Do the same if you have a cut, but once the skin is dry, cover it with a clean dressing.
Dry skin conditions like eczema can make your skin itchy. Try to avoid scratching as this may break the skin and leave you at risk of a bacterial infection like cellulitis. Use an emollient or moisturiser to sooth the itching.
The most common treatments for eczema are emollients, steroid creams, lotions and gels. These treatments may help with the itching, which will stop the skin from breaking and making bacteria easier to enter your body. Your GP may also recommend treatments if your eczema doesn’t respond to over-the-counter treatments.
VSM pharmacy can give you help and advice if you are worried about skin issues. We stock a variety of moisturisers and emollients suitable for dry skin conditions.
We also have antiseptic creams and mosquito and insect repellent. If you need pain relief, we have a range of over-the-counter medicines and tablets.
And of course, we are here to help you with treatments prescribed by your GP.
Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection. It can be treated with antisptic or antibiotic cream.
It may be that you’ve never heard of molluscum contagiosum. But in fact it’s a common virus that produces raised spots on your skin. If you want to know more about the consition and how you can treat it, read on…
