7 Skin Conditions Caused by Bacteria ...

Impetigo is one of the skin conditions caused by bacteria and is more common in kids, but also occurs in adults, especially those who care for small children. Impetigo is characterized by oozing patches of skin that continue getting larger without treatment. It can crop up after a scrape, bite or skin irritation. As a child, I once got impetigo from a cat scratch. Impetigo is highly contagious so be careful around someone who has it.

This bacterial skin infection is pretty common and can crop up anywhere on your body, though experts say it’s more common on the arms and legs. Cellulitis is caused by a venous disease, diabetes, eczema, an injury, obesity or pregnancy. It isn’t generally a problem as long as you get treatment for it. Untreated, cellulitis can progress to blood poisoning, a tissue infection or heart problems.

When you come down with folliculitis, you will likely experience inflamed hair follicles. The condition can happen anywhere you grow hair, including your head, face, arms, legs, armpits or groin. It occurs when bacteria get into the hair follicle and cause an infection and inflammation. If you have an ingrown hair or suffer from acne, be sure to treat it and keep it clean to kill off any icky bacteria that might get in.

Acne is perhaps the most common skin issue and is something that affects many people. Acne can be caused by many things, but bacteria that makes its way into the skin of your pores is one way. It’s important to keep your skin clean all the time to keep that bacteria from getting in. Use a good quality facial cleanser that is created for people with acne prone skin.

A staph infection is nothing to take lightly. It is caused by bacteria and you can pick it up in a variety of locations, such as health care facilities and exercise gyms. Some, such as MRSA, are very hard to treat and can lead to scary or dangerous health complications. If you suspect a staph infection, see your doctor immediately so you can start treatment right away.

This is a gross skin condition that you get from exposure to bacteria, usually at the gym or pool where people walk around barefoot. It can lead to nasty skin sores that are painful and often burn. When you spend time in a community location, be sure you always wear a pair of flip flops to keep you safe from athlete’s foot.

Also known as St. Anthony’s fire, this bacterial skin condition causes redness and swelling in the top layers of the skin. It is very painful and burns very badly. Most cases of erysipelas requires a round of antibiotics to get rid of it. It can lead to sepsis so make sure you see a doctor if you suspect the condition.

Have you ever had one of these conditions? I hope you learned something new that will help you take the best care of your skin possible. Do you know of any other bacterial skin conditions we should know about?