You notice what looks like pimples on your skin, but these \u201cpimples\u201d are nothing like any pimples you\u2019ve ever seen. They\u2019re red, painful, and swollen. You even notice pus draining from them, and they start to crust over. What you may be experiencing is a staph infection on your skin\u2014a health condition that might require professional medical attention.<\/p>\n
A staph infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that has the potential to cause a variety of diseases. You can find this bacterium on your skin, but it typically won\u2019t cause an infection unless it enters your body through a break in your skin. The bacterium may cause either a severe staph infection or a mild staph infection.<\/p>\n
When you have a staph infection on your skin, your wound might be either superficial (for example, an abscess, or boils) or deep (for instance, cellulitis). If the infection goes into your blood, this can lead to sepsis, signs of which include shock, low blood pressure, chills, and fever.<\/p>\n
A staph infection is contagious, especially if a person who has a wound that is infected directly contacts another person\u2019s skin. However, you may also receive this infection from contaminated materials, like bandages, socks, razors, needles, and gloves. For this reason, it is critical that you wash your hands frequently and cleanse cuts quickly.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re especially at risk for receiving this type of infection if you fall into one of the following categories:<\/p>\n
Newborn babies are also susceptible to staph infections.<\/p>\n
If you have a minor lesion, you can simply wash the area with water and soap to restore health to the area. However, if you suspect that you have contracted a more serious staph infection, you should contact a doctor right away.<\/p>\n
Your doctor may prescribe a topical antibiotic for you if you have a milder case of staph infection. Meanwhile, if your wound is more severe, you may need to take an intravenous antibiotic, take an oral antibiotic, or undergo surgery to keep the infection from spreading and ultimately resolve it.<\/p>\n
Call us at (718) 670-5486<\/a> to schedule a doctor\u2019s appointment and get your or your child\u2019s lesion checked out by a family doctor, internist, or pediatrician today.<\/p>\n All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.<\/strong> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You notice what looks like pimples on your skin, but these \u201cpimples\u201d are nothing like any pimples you\u2019ve ever seen. They\u2019re red, painful, and swollen. You even notice pus draining from them, and they start to crust over. What you … Continue reading