Skin Infection Treatment
Skin infections can develop from a cut, scrape, insect bite, or existing skin condition, and range from mild to infections that need prompt treatment. Family Medicine Associates evaluates and treats skin infections in adults, helping determine the cause and the right course of care.
Common Symptoms
- Redness, warmth, or swelling around a cut, wound, or area of skin
- Pain or tenderness that increases rather than improves
- Pus or drainage from the affected area
- Red streaking spreading from a wound
- Fever, in more significant infections
What Causes Skin Infections
Most skin infections are bacterial and develop when bacteria enter through a break in the skin, such as a cut, scrape, insect bite, or existing rash. Conditions like cellulitis affect deeper layers of skin and tissue and typically need prompt evaluation and antibiotic treatment.
Treatment Options
- Evaluation to determine the type and extent of infection
- Prescription antibiotics, oral or topical depending on severity
- Wound care guidance to support healing and prevent the infection from spreading
- Follow-up evaluation to confirm the infection is responding to treatment
- Referral for more advanced care if the infection is severe or not improving
When to See a Doctor
- Redness or swelling that is spreading or getting worse
- Red streaking extending from a wound
- Fever or chills alongside a skin infection
- A wound that isn’t healing or continues to drain
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a cut or wound is infected?
Signs of infection include increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pain, or pus, especially if these symptoms worsen instead of improving over a few days.
Can a skin infection be treated without antibiotics?
Minor, superficial issues may sometimes be managed with wound care alone, but most confirmed bacterial skin infections are treated with antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading.
When does a skin infection become an emergency?
Rapidly spreading redness, red streaking, high fever, or feeling generally unwell alongside a skin infection warrant prompt medical attention. Go to the nearest emergency room if you’re experiencing a medical emergency.