Bacterial skin infections are common conditions that can affect people of all ages. They occur when bacteria invade the skin and multiply, leading to redness, swelling, pain, and other symptoms. Some minor bacterial skin infections may resolve without treatment, while others require medical intervention for resolution. This article provides an overview of bacterial skin infections, whether they can go away on their own, and when medical treatment is recommended.
Common bacterial skin infections
Some of the most common bacterial skin infections include:
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a potentially serious bacterial infection of the deeper layers of the skin and the underlying tissue. It is caused by streptococci or staphylococci bacteria entering through a crack or break in the skin. Signs and symptoms include redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and pain in the affected area. Cellulitis should always be treated with antibiotics, as the infection can rapidly spread and lead to complications like abscesses or blood infections.
Impetigo
Impetigo is a highly contagious superficial skin infection caused by staph and streptococci bacteria. It is particularly common in children. Impetigo leads to red sores on the face, hands, and feet that weep fluid. The sores may burst and develop honey-colored crusts. Mild impetigo may clear up without antibiotics, but treatment is often recommended to prevent spreading.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis occurs when hair follicles become infected with staph bacteria, causing small red bumps and pus-filled blisters. Superficial folliculitis may resolve on its own, but recurring infections, deep infections, and those spreading over large areas generally require antibiotic treatment.
Abscess
A skin abscess is a localized pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection. Abscesses can occur when bacteria invade a blocked sweat or oil gland, hair follicle, or small wound. Abscesses always require treatment with draining and antibiotics to clear up the infection.
Hot tub rash
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria in inadequately chlorinated hot tubs can cause an itchy rash called hot tub folliculitis. The rash consists of small red bumps or pimples that may be filled with pus. Mild cases may resolve without treatment, but antibiotics are sometimes prescribed for more severe or widespread cases.
Can bacterial skin infections resolve without treatment?
Some minor bacterial skin infections may go away on their own without antibiotic treatment. However, most doctors recommend treating bacterial skin infections with antibiotics. Reasons antibiotics are typically recommended include:
Prevent progression
Bacterial skin infections can rapidly progress and worsen without antibiotics. Treating quickly prevents localized infections from turning into widespread infections or abscesses.
Speed healing
Antibiotics help the immune system clear up bacterial infections faster. Without antibiotics, bacterial skin infections take longer to resolve.
Reduce transmission
Many bacterial skin infections are highly contagious. Antibiotics help kill the bacteria faster so there is less opportunity to spread the infection to others.
Prevent complications
Serious complications like blood infections, meningitis, and sepsis can occasionally occur from untreated bacterial skin infections. Appropriate antibiotic treatment aims to prevent dangerous complications.
Relieve symptoms
Antibiotics help provide faster relief from uncomfortable symptoms like pain, swelling, pus, and redness associated with bacterial skin infections.
When can bacterial skin infections be left to resolve on their own?
In some select cases, it may be appropriate to leave a minor bacterial skin infection alone to resolve without medical treatment. Some examples include:
Mild folliculitis
Occasional boil-like pimples caused by minor superficial hair follicle infections may be left alone if they are small, localized, and not increasing in number or spreading.
Mild hot tub rash
A few scattered pimples after hot tub use may clear up on their own if they do not worsen or cover a large area. Avoid hot tubs until it clears.
Early impetigo with few lesions
One or two small impetigo lesions may heal without antibiotics if treatment begins immediately with gentle cleansing and topical antibacterials. However, treatment is still ideal.
Early paronychia
Mild paronychia infections of the nail fold can sometimes resolve with warm soaks and topical antibiotics instead of oral antibiotics. If no improvement in a few days, seek medical treatment.
Solitary abscess
A single small abscess may sometimes be left alone provided it is watched closely for progression and no signs of systemic infection develop. Most abscesses still warrant drainage and antibiotics.
No systemic signs of infection
Lacking fever, red streaking, swollen lymph nodes, and other signs the infection has spread, localized mild skin infections are more likely to resolve on their own. However, antibiotics are still typically recommended.
Conclusion
While some very minor localized bacterial skin infections may resolve without antibiotics, most types require medical treatment. Unchecked bacterial growth can rapidly progress and spread, causing complications. Seeking prompt medical care allows for appropriate treatment with oral or topical antibiotics, draining of abscesses, wound care, and follow-up when needed. Untreated bacterial skin infections often worsen and treatment prevents spreading to others. Bacterial skin infections generally will not just go away on their own, so seeing a doctor right away is advised.
| Type of Bacterial Skin Infection | Treatment Typically Recommended? |
|---|---|
| Cellulitis | Yes |
| Impetigo | Yes |
| Folliculitis | Yes, if recurrent, deep, or widespread |
| Abscess | Yes |
| Hot tub rash | For moderate/severe cases |
When to see a doctor
See a doctor right away if you have signs and symptoms of a bacterial skin infection, including:
Redness
Skin redness spreading beyond the site of an injury is a common sign of infection. Red streaks extending from a wound signify an advancing infection.
Swelling
Skin swelling around a wound, hair follicle, or other localized area may indicate a bacterial infection. Swelling that spreads can be a sign of worsening infection.
Pain
Sensations of heat, burning, throbbing, or tenderness at an infection site often stems from bacterial inflammation and requires medical attention.
Pus
Presence of any pus, whether in blisters, under the skin, or oozing from a wound represents an active bacterial infection needing antibiotic treatment.
Abscess
A walled-off collection of pus in or under the skin constitutes an abscess. Abscesses must be drained by a doctor along with antibiotic therapy.
Fever, fatigue, nausea
Flu-like constitutional symptoms can accompany a spreading bacterial skin infection. This warrants urgent medical care to get the infection under control before it spreads to the bloodstream.
Rapid worsening
A bacterial skin infection showing signs of rapid progression also requires prompt medical attention to halt worsening. Left unchecked, the infection can cover large areas of skin or penetrate deeper tissue.
Prevention
You can help prevent bacterial skin infections by taking these precautions:
Good hygiene
Bathe or shower daily, wash your hands regularly with soap, and keep skin clean. Avoid sharing personal items like towels and razors.
Moisturize dry skin
Keep skin moisturized to prevent cracks and openings that provide an entry point for bacteria.
Prompt wound care
Clean and bandage cuts, scrapes, burns, punctures or wounds immediately. Watch for signs of infection and see a doctor promptly if they arise.
Avoid direct contact with infections
Limit skin-to-skin contact with people who have contagious skin infections. Avoid re-using towels, linens, or clothes of someone with a skin infection.
Disinfect hot tubs
Only use hot tubs that are properly cleaned, disinfected, and chlorinated. Shower immediately after hot tub use.
Check before shaving
Do not shave over top of skin bumps or rashes which can lead to infections in follicles damaged by shaving.
When to seek emergency care
Seek emergency medical care if you have a bacterial skin infection with:
High fever
A fever over 101°F, especially with shaking chills, may signal a spreading blood infection that can be life-threatening.
Rapid progression
An infection spreading quickly across large areas in a few hours needs emergency care to get under control.
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing can occur if a skin infection spreads to chest soft tissues or causes a whole-body inflammatory reaction.
Altered mental state
Confusion, dizziness, or weakness may be a sign of sepsis from a severe skin infection spreading to the blood and brain.
Unusual swelling
Swelling away from the infection site, such as swollen legs or testicles, could mean deep tissue invasion or sepsis.
Severe pain
Sudden, severe, or worsening pain may indicate a serious invasive infection requiring emergency intervention.
Summary
– Most bacterial skin infections like cellulitis, abscesses, and impetigo require antibiotic treatment and will not resolve on their own.
– Leaving mild localized infections like folliculitis or hot tub rash without treatment may sometimes be okay, but antibiotics are still generally recommended.
– Seek medical care promptly at the first signs of a bacterial skin infection for diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment.
– Untreated skin infections often worsen rapidly and can spread, causing serious complications.
– With prompt antibiotic treatment and good wound care, most bacterial skin infections resolve without difficulty.
– Practicing good hygiene and protecting skin from injury can help prevent bacterial infections.