Business Insight Inflammation A lot of our patients do not differentiate between the infected skin and inflamed skin. The difference is very significant for various reasons. Sometimes it is impossible to discuss it over the phone and we must schedule the patients to come in. If they report infected skin, we need to see them fairly quickly. Infection is always associated with bacteria or virus. Skin, when infected, shows clear signs of bacteria causing pain, pus, redness, warmth, sometimes oozing. Skin gets. infected when you have an open wound or blister, on any kind of crack. Once that open area, even very small, is exposed to bacteria, bacteria enters the stream of passing through and causes infection. Depending on a type of bacteria, size of the wound, and your own immunity, local skin infections can become serious systemic infections if not treated properly. Usually, a course of antibiotics for several days can put an end to the local skin infection. Some people may have a history of past surgeries and tendency to develop infections locally. In cases like this, every time when they expect to have any procedure done, even as simple as biopsy, they should be pre-medicated. Pre-medication is also very simple and usually consists of a single high dose of wide spectrum antibiotics, prior to the procedure, in order to prevent any bacteria from entry to the possible open skin wound. Wounds after biopsies heal very quickly and on-going systemic antibiotics are usually not needed. All skin procedures are always performed in strictly sterilized area and with single use sterile tools, so infecting the wound is not a common occurrence, but still pre-medication offers an extra protection and minimizes the risk. Inflammation of the skin is associated with many various possibilities. Some are very simple and can be not only prevented, but they resolve on their own. Your skin can get inflamed from the exposure to the sunrays, it can be inflamed from trauma if you hit your arm against some object, your feet skin can get inflamed from wearing uncomfortable shoes. These are just some examples of common cases that do not require any medical intervention and resolve fast. However, there are many skin and immune system disorders that cause long-term inflammation that come from within your body. Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis eczema presented by Arlington Dermatology vs. Infection are such. So is acne and rosacea. Each of the mentioned disorders origins from a different root cause but all of them create long-term inflammations that need medical intervention. Depending on severity and the surface area, local topical products can help, but usually, after stopping them, your inflammation returns. Introducing a systemic treatment may be the optimal solution, especially for those with a large body surface area affected. Applying topical cream to 30% of your body is not only impractical, but it also costs a lot, especially if you must continue doing it for a long time. Additionally, most of topical treatments of inflammation are steroid- based and using them continuously is not medically recommended. Opting for an oral or injection-based treatment is probably more effective and may help sooner. None of the above mentioned treatment can be prescribed or recommended based on a simple conversation. The usual course of action may include a biopsy to be certain of the origin of the disease, and a lot of education about the treatment, with verification of other medication patients take, is necessary. Inflammations are sometime chronic and may alter your whole life if not treated. Thus, a visit to a doctor and a full consultation are the best way to start the treatment. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight Inflammation A lot of our patients do not differentiate between the infected skin and inflamed skin . The difference is very significant for various reasons . Sometimes it is impossible to discuss it over the phone and we must schedule the patients to come in . If they report infected skin , we need to see them fairly quickly . Infection is always associated with bacteria or virus . Skin , when infected , shows clear signs of bacteria causing pain , pus , redness , warmth , sometimes oozing . Skin gets . infected when you have an open wound or blister , on any kind of crack . Once that open area , even very small , is exposed to bacteria , bacteria enters the stream of passing through and causes infection . Depending on a type of bacteria , size of the wound , and your own immunity , local skin infections can become serious systemic infections if not treated properly . Usually , a course of antibiotics for several days can put an end to the local skin infection . Some people may have a history of past surgeries and tendency to develop infections locally . In cases like this , every time when they expect to have any procedure done , even as simple as biopsy , they should be pre - medicated . Pre - medication is also very simple and usually consists of a single high dose of wide spectrum antibiotics , prior to the procedure , in order to prevent any bacteria from entry to the possible open skin wound . Wounds after biopsies heal very quickly and on - going systemic antibiotics are usually not needed . All skin procedures are always performed in strictly sterilized area and with single use sterile tools , so infecting the wound is not a common occurrence , but still pre - medication offers an extra protection and minimizes the risk . Inflammation of the skin is associated with many various possibilities . Some are very simple and can be not only prevented , but they resolve on their own . Your skin can get inflamed from the exposure to the sunrays , it can be inflamed from trauma if you hit your arm against some object , your feet skin can get inflamed from wearing uncomfortable shoes . These are just some examples of common cases that do not require any medical intervention and resolve fast . However , there are many skin and immune system disorders that cause long - term inflammation that come from within your body . Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis eczema presented by Arlington Dermatology vs. Infection are such . So is acne and rosacea . Each of the mentioned disorders origins from a different root cause but all of them create long - term inflammations that need medical intervention . Depending on severity and the surface area , local topical products can help , but usually , after stopping them , your inflammation returns . Introducing a systemic treatment may be the optimal solution , especially for those with a large body surface area affected . Applying topical cream to 30 % of your body is not only impractical , but it also costs a lot , especially if you must continue doing it for a long time . Additionally , most of topical treatments of inflammation are steroid based and using them continuously is not medically recommended . Opting for an oral or injection - based treatment is probably more effective and may help sooner . None of the above mentioned treatment can be prescribed or recommended based on a simple conversation . The usual course of action may include a biopsy to be certain of the origin of the disease , and a lot of education about the treatment , with verification of other medication patients take , is necessary . Inflammations are sometime chronic and may alter your whole life if not treated . Thus , a visit to a doctor and a full consultation are the best way to start the treatment . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net