While many skin infections get better with time, treatment is often required to prevent spreading of the infection as well as additional complications. Most skin infections can be effectively treated using natural remedies such as turmeric, apple cider vinegar, boric acid, hydrogen peroxide and Echinacea root. Additionally, applying a poultice to the affected area also treats and eliminates infection. Effective poultice remedies include bread, charcoal and flaxseed, charcoal and garlic and onion. Keeping the affected skin clean and dry is also crucial.

Common Skin Infections - Causes and Treatments

Just as the name suggests, a skin infection is quite literally an infection of the skin. Typically, such an infection involves the colonization of foreign species on the skin at any level. The infecting organism generally invades the skin and then multiplies, causing a growing infection and spread of the condition. The pathogen or infecting organism typically interferes with the normal functioning of the host and can lead to additional issues such as chronic wounds, gangrene, the loss of a limb and even death if left untreated.

The exact symptoms of a skin infection are determined more specifically by the actual cause or type of infection. Nonetheless, many skin conditions cause fairly standard symptoms including redness, tenderness and swelling of the affected and adjacent skin. Itching, irritation and pus-filled lesions are also common of skin infections. Some severe infections may even cause fever, chills and sweats, extreme tenderness and swollen lymph nodes.

Common skin infections can be categorized into roughly four groups. Generally speaking, the categories identify the underlying cause of the disorder. The common types of skin infection include bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic. Common bacterial infections include cellulitis and impetigo while shingles, warts and herpes simplex represent viral skin infections. Athlete’s foot and yeast infections are fungal, and body lice, head lice and scabies are parasitic.