| Staph is the shortened name for Staphylococcus (pronounced: staf-uh-low- kah -kus), a type of bacteria.
These bacteria can live harmlessly on many skin surfaces, especially around the nose, mouth, genitals,
and anus.
But when the skin is punctured or broken for any reason, staph bacteria can enter the wound
and cause an infection.
There are more than 30 species in the staph family of bacteria, and they can cause different kinds of
illnesses - for example, one kind of staph can cause urinary tract infections. But most staph infections
are caused by the species Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) .
In teens/young adults, most staph infections are minor skin infections. People with skin problems like
burns or eczema may be more likely to get staph skin infections.
People can get staph infections from contaminated objects, but staph bacteria often spread through
skin-to-skin contact - the bacteria can be spread from one area of the body to another if someone
touches the infected area.
Staph infections can spread from person to person among those who live close together in group
situations (such as in college dorms). Usually this happens when people with skin infections share
things like bed linens, towels, or clothing. Warm, humid environments can contribute to staph infections,
so excessive sweating can increase someone's chances of developing an infection.
Although it's very rare, infections caused by S. aureus can occasionally become serious. This happens
when the bacteria move from a break in the skin into the bloodstream. This can lead to infections in
other parts of the body, such as the lungs, bones, joints, heart, blood, and central nervous system.
Staph infections in other parts of the body are less common than staph skin infections. They are more
likely in people whose immune systems have been weakened by another disease.
Staph skin infections show up in lots of different ways. Some of the more common conditions often
caused by S. aureus skin infections are:
- Folliculitis (pronounced: fuh-lih-kyoo- lie -tus) is an infection of the hair follicles, the tiny pockets
under the skin where hair shafts (strands) grow. In folliculitis, tiny white-headed pimples appear
at the base of hair shafts, sometimes with a small red area around each pimple. This occurs often
where people shave or have irritated skin from rubbing against clothing.
- A furuncle (pronounced: fyoor- un -kul), commonly known as a boil, is a swollen, red, painful lump
in the skin, usually due to an infected hair follicle. The lump usually fills with pus, growing larger
and more painful until it ruptures and drains. Furuncles are most frequently found on the face,
neck, buttocks, armpits, and inner thighs, where small hairs can often be irritated. A cluster of
several furuncles is called a carbuncle (pronounced: kar- bun -kul). A person with a carbuncle
usually feels ill and feverish.
- Impetigo (pronounced: im-puh- tie -go) is a superficial skin infection that mostly happens in young
children, but it can sometimes affect teens and adults. Most impetigo infections affect the face or
extremities like the hands and feet. An impetigo skin infection begins as a tender, red bump that
turns into a small blister or pimple, and then develops a honey-colored crust. Impetigo doesn't
usually cause pain or fever, although the blisters may itch and can be spread to other parts of
the body by scratching.
- Cellulitis (pronounced: sell-yuh- lie -tus) is an infection involving areas of tissue below the skin
surface. It begins as a small area of redness, pain, swelling, and warmth on the skin. As this
area begins to spread, a person may feel feverish and ill. Cellulitis can affect any area of the body,
but it's most common on the face or lower legs.
- A hordeolum (pronounced: hore-dee- oh -lum), commonly known as a stye, is a staph infection in
the eyelid. It develops when glands connected to the base of the eyelash become obstructed. A
person with a stye will usually notice a red, warm, uncomfortable, and sometimes painful swelling
near the edge of the eyelid.
Most of these staph infections are usually minor and can be treated at home by washing the skin with an
antibacterial cleanser, applying an antibiotic ointment, and covering the skin with a clean dressing. (See
below for specific treatment tips.)
If a minor infection gets worse - for example, you start feeling feverish or ill or the area spreads and gets
very red or and hot - it's a good idea to seek medical treatment.
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are everywhere. Many healthy people carry staph bacteria without getting sick.
Cleanliness and good hygiene are the best way to protect yourself against getting staph (and other) infections.
You can help prevent staph skin infections by washing your hands frequently and by bathing or showering daily.
Keep areas of skin that have been injured - such as cuts, scrapes, eczema, and rashes caused by allergic
reactions or poison ivy - clean and covered, and use any antibiotic ointments or other treatments that your
doctor suggests. If someone in your family has a staph infection, don't share towels, sheets, or clothing until
the infection has been fully treated.
If you develop a staph infection, you can prevent spreading it to other parts of your body by being careful not
to touch the infected skin, keeping it covered whenever possible, and using a towel only once when you clean
the area (wash the towel in hot water afterwards or use disposable towels).
How long it takes for a staph skin infection to heal depends on the type of infection and whether a person gets
treatment for it. A boil, for example, may take 10 to 20 days to heal without treatment, but treatment will speed
up this process. Most styes, on the other hand, go away on their own within several days.
To help relieve pain from a skin infection, try soaking the skin in warm water or applying warm, moist washcloths
to the area. You can also apply a heating pad or a hot water bottle to the skin for about 20 minutes, three or four
times a day. Pain relievers like acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) can help
reduce pain until the infection subsides.
Styes can be treated using warm compresses over the eye (with the eye closed) three or four times a day.
Occasionally, a stye will require a topical antibiotic. See your health care provider if a stye doesn't go away in a few days.
If you get a staph infection on skin areas that you normally shave, avoid shaving, if possible, until the infection
clears up. If you do have to shave the area, use a clean disposable razor or clean your electric razor after each use.
Staph infections can be a nuisance, but the good news is that they are usually not serious.
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