Skin infections: Causes, treatment and prevention

While speaking at a community-based health enlightenment programme, tagged: “The Health Day”, organised by Al-Mu’minaat Organisation, Kwara State Chapter, recently, doctor Sherifah Katibi, a dermatologist with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, said the skin also prevents excessive loss of water even as it manufactures useful chemical substances in the body. According to her, there […]

While speaking at a community-based health enlightenment programme, tagged: “The Health Day”, organised by Al-Mu’minaat Organisation, Kwara State Chapter, recently, doctor Sherifah Katibi, a dermatologist with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, said the skin also prevents excessive loss of water even as it manufactures useful chemical substances in the body.

According to her, there are two distinct parts of the skin known as epidermis and the dermis and a third layer- the hypodermis or subcutaneous tissue, not strictly skin, but made up of fatty cells which lie below the skin.

The layer we can see and touch is the epidermis. Most of the epidermis is made up of dead skin cells – the living cells at the bottom of the epidermis rise to the surface of the skin, hardening, flattening, and eventually being shed providing us with the outermost layer of protection.

The lower and living levels of the epidermis also contain melanin – the pigment that gives skin its colour and protects it from the sun and a chemical compound called ergosterol that produces vitamin D in sunlight.

The bottom layer of the skin, the dermis, is richly supplied with blood vessels. This is the part of the skin in which hair follicles, sweat and sebaceous glands, as well as nerve endings are located. The nerve endings are in ridges that push into the epidermis in a slightly different pattern in everybody. This is the reason behind unique fingerprints as commonly done for the collection of bio-data in advanced countries.

Skin problems

The skin expert said there are two basic reasons for things to go wrong with the skin – environmental and genetic predisposition. Sometimes, the body will react to a threat that isn’t there, or overreact to one that is genuine. These types of reactions could lead to eczema or psoriasis.

“At other times, the sebaceous glands can clog up and become infected, bringing on an outbreak of acne. Central heating and excess cleansing can lead to dry skin. Conversely, a humid climate, hormones and over cleansing can give rise to excessively greasy skin.

Everybody blushes occasionally, but in some, the tiny blood vessels in the skin stay swollen and dilated, a condition called rosacia”, she adds.

Another example is when the outer layer of the skin cells are being shed and it is not done normally, the buildup can be seen with dandruff or psoriasis.

Being constantly exposed to everything in the environment, including carcinogens, the skin can be susceptible to skin cancers. Skin cancer, Doctor Katibi says, is common in albinos and people who bleach their skin.

Of course, the skin is also vulnerable to attacks from other organisms, like a virus causing cold sores or warts, or fungus which causes athletes foot.

There are also a lot of misconceptions about the causes and cure of some skin problems. These are gradually being eradicated, especially with a raised level of awareness among many people these days.

These skin disorders, according to her, can come through infections, genetic causes, allergy and the likes.

Although some of these disorders do not come from infective origin, any skin disease is usually associated with anxiety.

Doctor Katibi categorizes skin infections into bacterial; viral; fungal and parasitic in nature, though other certain conditions might predispose a person to skin infections too. Some of these conditions are: heat and humidity; Cuts, scratches; poor hygiene; malnutrition; immune depression; co-existing skin diseases and virulence of organisms.

“Skin problems are commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pyogenes Impetigo; Ecthyma; Folliculitis Furunculosis; Carbuncle; Sycosis and Cellulitis organisms,” she says.

Management/Prevention

For treatment and prevention of most skin infections however, Doctor Katibi recommends good hygiene; prompt treatment of other types of skin diseases; avoiding sharing clothes, toothbrushes and towels with others; good diet and plenty of water; miniaturization of the skin; avoidance of degreasing agents; prevention of excessive moisture especially around the skin folds; protection from the sun and treatment and care of underlying diseases.

Although we do have a much greater understanding of these problems now, some people with skin problems do feel stigmatized, simply due to the high visibility of their conditions and in most cases, from fear of other people’s reactions towards them.

The psychological effects of a skin condition on the sufferer can be grossly disproportionate to the amount of physical harm their condition causes. This can be especially problematic for children, when being teased especially among their peers in school or at other social gatherings. Doctor Katibi adds that children with such conditions should be prevented from going to school to prevent such reactions from their peers and possible transfer of the disease.

Reaction is however not confined to these age groups alone. Adults can suffer from psychological disorders if they are constantly losing sleep because of constant itching.

The skin can be a reliable avenue for determining a person’s general health. In other words, it can be quite obvious when someone is pale, tired or ill, just by looking at their skin. There is also the possibility that a skin problem could be the first symptom of another serious disease, so it’s always worth getting a medical opinion of something that gives any cause for concern – which can sometimes be a problem in its own right. People with skin problems especially in our society, are often unwilling to seek a dermatologist’s help. Many a time, they will not return if the first treatment prescribed fails to help. Erroneously, they believe that there is nothing that can be done by the hospital.

Doctor Katibi however warns that refusal to seek prompt or complete medical attention and indulgence in self medication can actually lead to further damages to the body.

Al-Mu’minaat Organisation gave medical check up on skin disorders, Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure and HIV/AIDS to all the participants.