Dermatologists have the training to diagnose, assess, and treat all sorts of skin conditions, including skin infections. Skin infection diagnosis involves a close examination of the skin. In some cases, skin infection evaluation includes a culture test that helps the dermatologist identify the organism causing the infection. The skin culture may involve surface scrapings of the skin, biopsies, or pus, blisters, or bumps.
It is important to see a dermatologist for skin infection if redness or swelling spreads, a fever develops, or the skin is painful. Treatment for skin infections depends largely on the source and severity of the infection. Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria, antiviral medications treat infections caused by viruses, and antifungal drugs treat infections caused by fungus.
Dermatologists treat skin infections with drugs, creams and other therapies. In some cases, such as the human papilloma virus (HPV) infections that cause warts, dermatologists remove the infected tissue.