Skin Infections Treated in Magnolia & Vintage Park, TX
Your skin is an effective barrier against many bacterial infections. Even so, certain types of harmful bacteria can enter your body through a hair follicle or a break in your skin caused by a wound, scrape, blister, blemish, burn, or insect bite. Many skin infections are fairly mild and any associated discomfort can usually be managed with home remedies such as a topical anti-itch cream, cold compresses, and an over-the-counter antihistamine.
However, without professional treatment, some skin infections can become increasingly painful and serious. For instance, an abscess, or boil, is a tender skin lump that develops when an oil-producing gland or sweat gland becomes blocked and traps bacteria. As your body’s immune system tries to fend off the infection, pus—a thick fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells—can build up inside the abscess.
To help prevent scarring and sepsis, it is important to avoid touching an abscess. Do not attempt to drain it yourself! Instead, you should seek prompt medical attention. The experienced providers at Medella Urgent Care offer a full range of non-emergency urgent care services, including treatment for skin infections, in Magnolia and Vintage Park, Texas.
How Are Skin Infections Treated?
Most abscesses can be treated with a relatively simple, in-office procedure known as an incision and drainage. A provider will cleanse your skin and numb it with a local anesthetic, then rupture the abscess with a small scalpel or needle. After draining the pus, the provider will rinse the wound with a sterile saline solution, then apply a gauze bandage to absorb any remaining discharge. Usually, the entire procedure takes less than an hour to complete.
To help resolve a bacterial skin infection, the provider may prescribe a course of antibiotics. He or she will also explain how to change the bandage, clean the wound, and watch for signs of reinfection, such as worsening pain, swelling, redness, bleeding, and fever, during the healing process.
If you have a severe skin infection, you can receive fast and effective treatment from an experienced medical provider at Medella Urgent Care. Contact us or stop by one of our convenient locations in Magnolia or Vintage Park, TX, today.
