Your skin is the largest and most exposed organ in your body. While it’s susceptible to injuries and the elements, it’s also incredibly resilient. The skin on your body provides a strong barrier against bacteria and other harmful substances that can cause illness and infections. 

Sometimes, though bacteria can make its way through this barrier and cause bacterial skin infections. Bacterial skin infections can be small and/or mild, or can be much larger and more serious. They may just infect the skin itself or may also spread to the soft tissue underneath the skin.

Causes of Bacterial Infections

Certain bacteria and other organisms live on our skin and throughout our bodies without causing any problems. In some cases, bacteria can even be beneficial to your bodily functions! Occasionally, though, bacteria can become unbalanced or even cause infections.

Bacterial skin infections happen when infection-causing bacteria gets into the skin through the hair follicles or through breakages in the skin caused by:

• Cuts 
• Scraps
• Open wounds
• Burns
• Bites
• Sunburns
• Surgery
• Punctures

The two most common infection causing bacteria are Group A Streptococcus (or strep) and Staphylococcus aureus (or staph). This bacteria can come from several different sources and activities, with many infections traced back to activities like gardening in contaminated soil or swimming in a lake, pond, or other open body of water that has bacteria. 

Types of Bacterial Skin Infections

Impetigo: A highly contagious and common skin infection that mainly appears in infants and young children. It is generally mild and presents as reddish sores on the face, especially around the nose and mouth. Sores can also appear on the hands and feet. The sores will ooze then after around a week, they will burst and develop golden coloured crusts.

Cellulitis: Another common bacterial skin infection, but one that has the potential to become very serious. The infection causes the skin on one side of the body to become tender, inflamed, swollen, and warm to the touch. It usually affects the lower legs, but can occur anywhere on the body. If it’s left untreated, the infection can spread to the bloodstream and lymph nodes. At this stage, cellulitis can become life-threatening.

Folliculitis: A bacterial skin infection caused by inflamed hair follicles. At first, it may look like an ingrown hair or pimple but can spread and turn into crusty sores. Symptoms include itchiness, soreness, and tenderness. Self-care will resolve most cases of folliculitis, but if it’s left untreated it can cause permanent hair loss and scarring.

Paronychia: An infection that occurs around the where the skin meets the fingernail or toenail. The infected area is often swollen, red, and painful. In some cases, a pus-filled abscess may form. Symptoms appear over the course of a few hours or days and can usually be treated at home. Most of the time, paronychia is not serious and can be treated at home. If it is left untreated, the nail may become discoloured and brittle.

Infected Eczema: Eczema is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema causes skin inflammation, patchy sores, and itchy rashes. Infected eczema most often occurs when people scratch the affected skin and create open sores and wounds. Bacteria, viruses, and other symptoms can enter these sores and cause infections.

Bacterial Skin Infection Complications

While many bacterial skin infections are mild and easily treatable at home with topical medications or antibiotics, some infections can become profoundly serious or even fatal. You should seek emergency care if you have:

• A fever
• Severely itchy skin
• Burning skin
• Highly tender or painful skin
• A rash that is swollen and/or changing quickly
• Clusters of small pimples or spots around the hair follicles 

Who is at Risk of Bacterial Skin Infections?

Everyone has the potential of developing a bacterial skin infection, but some groups of people are more susceptible to getting them and to having recurrent infections. 

This includes:

• People admitted to hospital
• Care home or nursing home residents
• The elderly
• People with lowered immune systems
• Diabetics with frequent high blood sugar levels 
• Those who have just undergone surgery
• People undergoing chemotherapy treatment

Treating Bacterial Skin Infections with Fucidin Cream

Fucidin antibiotic cream is an effective topical treatment option that’s widely used to treat eczema but it has a wide range of other applications. For example, it’s also used to treat infected eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and bacterial skin infections.

The active ingredient in Fucidin Cream is a type of antibiotic called fusidic acid. It works by stopping bacteria from producing, spreading, and creating essential proteins it needs to grow. It’s a prescription only medication so you can’t buy it over the counter, however a GP or pharmacist can prescribe it for you.

Fucidin Antibacterial Cream should only be used as directed for bacterial skin infections and not for the treatment of other conditions unless advised to by your prescriber. This medication will not work for acne, warts, cysts, boils, cold sores, or fungal infections like vaginal infections or oral thrush.

One of Fucidin Cream’s benefits is that it can be used on broken skin, whether it’s a cut, scrape, or other type of wound. It is also safe to use during pregnancy.

Fucidin Side Effects

Fucidin Cream is a relatively safe treatment and side effects are very uncommon. Less than 1 in 100 people experience mild skin irritation from the use of Fucidin, but this irritation is rarely serious. Severe side effects occur in fewer than 1 in 1000 people who use Fucidin Cream. 

Contact your GP or pharmacist if you develop skin irritation that becomes very uncomfortable or if you develop signs of an allergic reaction like hives. 

How Can I Get Fucidin Antibacterial Cream?

If you suspect you have a bacterial infection then contact us. We stock several different treatments for bacterial infections and skin infections, including Fucidin Cream. After filling in a short online assessment, our prescribers will review your information and request. Once your medication is approved, we’ll dispense it and ship it quickly and discretely to your doorstep.