logo d_uribe holmgren

Skin infections

Hautinfektionen Infecciones de la piel
SKIN conditions

Skin Infections

The skin is like a protective shield that is colonized by a variety of bacteria and fungi. These are part of the skin’s natural flora. However, if the skin is injured or our immune system is attacked, these bacteria and fungi can become attackers penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin causing an infection.

But it is not only our own bacteria that can cause a skin infection. There are also a number of pathogens such as viruses, parasites, bacteria or fungi that can cause skin diseases reacting as redness, rash, itching, blisters.

Some common diseases and their treatments

Herpes

Viral disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) are mainly two types:

  • The HSV-1 usually causes cold sores or blisters on the lips, mouth and around the face. It is transmitted mainly through direct contact, such as kissing an infected person or sharing utensils and personal items.
  • HSV-2 is commonly associated with genital herpes and is transmitted primarily through sexual contact. However, both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can infect both the oral and genital regions.
 

The treatment can be reviewed in mucosal diseases.

Warts

Warts are bumps on the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They are very common and can appear anywhere on the body, but usually appear on the hands, feet and genital area. Warts are contagious and can be spread from person to person through direct or indirect contact with infected skin. Although warts are generally harmless, they can be uncomfortable and unsightly.

There are different types of warts, among the most common are:

  1. Common warts: they are the most frequent, have a rough surface and can appear on any part of the body.
  2. Flat warts are small and flat, with a smooth texture. They usually appear on the face, hands or legs.
  3. Genital warts are transmitted by sexual contact and mainly affect the genital and anal areas. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
  4. Plantar warts appear on the sole of the foot, are flat and painful when walking. They are usually covered with a thick layer of skin.
  5. Filiform warts are thin and elongated, with a thread-like appearance. They usually appear on the neck, face and armpits.

Older people in general are more prone to developing warts due to decreased immune system function and cumulative exposure to the human human papillomavirus (HPV) throughout their lives.

Some treatments:

  • Topicals with salicylic acid: this works by removing the top layers of the affected skin, which helps to dissolve the wart and promote its detachment.
  • eCO2 Laser + PDT Lamp: The Co2 laser penetrates the wart and selectively destroys the infected tissue, allowing new healthy skin to form. And the PDT lamp destroys the infected wart cells

Ticks

They are external parasites that attach to the skin and feed on people’s blood.

When a tick attaches to human skin, it can cause irritation, redness and itching at the site of the bite.

In addition to local symptoms, ticks can cause a disease called Lyme disease, which if not well treated can progress and affect the nervous system, joints, heart and other organs.

It is treated mainly with systemic antibiotics.

Fungal Infections

Fungi are microscopic organisms that can cause skin diseases known as fungal infections or cutaneous mycoses. These infections are quite common and can affect different parts of the body, such as the feet, nails, groin, scalp and other areas of the skin.

The most common fungal skin infections are usually dermatophytes and yeasts. These fungi thrive in warm, moist and dark environments, such as shoes, public swimming pools, gyms and shared showers.

Treatment is determined according to the type of fungus. Some options are

  • Antifungals are used to treat fungal skin infections such as ringworm and candidiasis. They can be administered orally or topically.
  • Laser: The energy of the laser light penetrates and destroys the structure of the fungus. In these cases it is best to mix the action of 2 different and complementary lasers: Laser eCO2 Diode Laser

Schedule an appointment

Want to see more about skin diseases?

Subscribe to our newsletter

Be among the first to receive the latest news.

agenda-tu-cita