Skin abscess

A skin abscess is usually defined as a collection of pus and infected material inside the skin or on the skin. Skin abscess is also known as coetaneous abscess or subcutaneous abscess. Pus present in abscess is generally a thick fluid, which contains white blood cells, dead tissue and bacteria.

Causes of skin abscess

The most common cause of an abscess in an infection with bacteria. Mainly staphylococcus bacteria lead to the development of an abscess. Skin abscess formation may occur after a minor wound, injury or as a complication of boils.

The skin next to the anus is also a common area for an abscess to develop. Skin abscess can occur anywhere on the body and it affects people of all ages. An abscess prevents the deeper tissues from functioning properly. The infection may spread locally or throughout the body. The spread of infection through the blood stream may lead to serious complications.

Skin abscess usually occur in people who are well. There is no underlying cause and no further problems occur, once it has gone. But an abscess occur inside the body of an individual who is ill due to other problems or it also occur in those people who immune system does not work well.

In case of skin abscess, skin lesions are seen which are open sore or closed or are in the form of domed nodule. Skin abscess is reddened and may drain fluid. Localized swelling or in duration may also be seen on the skin abscess.

The affected are is usually tender and warm. Fever or chills may also be noted in some cases. Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes are too much pus forming as they produce toxins or chemicals, which damages the body’s tissues.

The infection also causes the immune system to activate white blood cells and chemicals to fight the bacteria. In this bottle, some tissue does and a cavity is formed which is a cavity is formed which is filled with pus. It has been seen that the cavity becomes bigger if the infection continuous.

Treatment of skin abscess

Generally, doctor diagnoses the condition by observing the appearance of the area. Culture is done of any drainage from the lesion in order to identify the causative organism. The main aim of the treatment of skin abscess is to cure the infection.

The cut is made on the abscess and it drained inorder to clean the area and control the infection. Heat such as warm compresses are helpful to speed healing. It also reduce inflammation and make the area feel better.

Moreover, the affected part should be elevated in order to reduce swelling and inflammation. Most of the skin abscesses can be cured with proper treatment. If an abscess, is not treated then it generally burst onto the skin surface and it let out the pus.

This may be after it become larger and more painful. An untreated abscess is usually very serious. There are various complications of Skin abscess like spread of infection may occur around the same area. It may also lead to gangrene, that is tissue death.

Skin abscess may prevent the proper functioning of nearby tissues. It may also lead to spread of infection through the blood stream and thus causing Endocarditic, Osteomyelitis, or abscess formation on the joints, pleura or other locations, pleura or other locations. It can be prevented by treating the minor infections as early as possible.