Facial Skin InfectionsFacial skin infections include bacterial, viral and fungal infections. The bacterial infections are covered on this page. Viral infections in the form of herpes simplex and herpes zoster/zoster ophthalmicus will be covered here. A Fungal infection that will be covered is ringworm. Other fungal infections are rare in the facial area. Facial skin infections are very common among both adults and children, but the types of skin infections that preduminate vary with age. Furuncles, carbuncles, erysipelas and cellulitis are more common with adults, while impetigo occur more frequently with children. Herpes simplexis more common in youths, and ringworm is most frequent in childhood. Herpes zoster and zoster ophthalmicus is usually an adult or old age illness. It is not a pleasant thought, but millions of micro organisms, including bacteria and fungi, are living on your skin. They usually do no harm. They inhabit the skin in peaceful harmony with the host (you). But once you get a cut, scrape or an insect bite, these everyday bacteria may take the opportunity to invade the deeper layers of the skin and cause an infection. The most frequent bacteriae behind facial skin infections are Streptococci and Staphylococci. On the skin they cause folliculitis, cellulitis, impetigo, bullous impetigo, erysipelas, furuncles and carbuncles. They can also cause infections elsewhere, in mucous membranes like in strep-throat, and deeper tissues, like in necrotizing faciitis, or what is more commonly referred to as "flesh-eating bacteria". This damages not only skin tissue but also muscle and fat. This is a very serious condition, and may lead to death within a day or two. And Staphylococcus can cause illnesses such as meningitis and toxic shock syndrome. Oh! Yes, I agree that waking up with an infection in the face can be pretty challenging, but it is not a matter of life and death, at least to the body. ;-)
What you see here is impetigo, one of the most frequent skin infections in childhood. What the picture shows is a very nasty and serious case, whereas most cases are a little less dramatic. When one child gets impetigo, other children in the family or the kindergarden usually contract the disease as well, as it is pretty contagious. When children have skin to skin contact (fingers to face etc), bacteria are transmitted and skin injured, and the facial skin infection is a fact. How do facial skin infections develop? Impetigo, cellulitis and erysipelas develops after the skin has been scratched or otherwise injured, opening the skin for invasion. Folliculitis develops when the bacteriae multiply in the hairfollicles anywhere on the body. Erysipelas typically develops when one has a runny nose caused by streptococci. The combination with streptococcal nasal discharge and a casual scratch is what it takes. Two other types of skin infections caused by staphylococci are the furuncle and the carbuncle. Furuncles and carbuncles can also be seen on other areas of the skin, just like the other facial skin infections mentioned above. The neck in the area of the shirt collar, or hair-covered areas that are irritated by pressure from belts or the person's body weight when sitting too much, or anywhere that hair grows, are all areas where these infections may occur. Ringworm is a fungal infection. It appears as a round or even circular, elevated thin border of itching crust that expands radially, very slownly and gradually. The infection is not a worm infestation of the skin. Dermatophytes are transmitted by animals, children who are infected (skin to skin), and both children and adults are at risk, though children are more frequently seen with this type og skin infection. How are infections in the face treated? Facial skin infections are treated just like other skin infections, with topical or oral antibiotics. Carbuncles and furuncles are even treated by lancing them to evacuate the pus, thus making them more available to the healing effect of the orally and topically administered drugs and regimens. Herpes simplex and herpes zoster are no exceptions, only that the antibiotic is targeted on the viruses, and not on the secondary bacterial infections. Same thing with ringworm: The topically applied antibitotic is an anti fungal remedy, targeted on the dermatophyt.
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