JACKSONVILLE, Fla – We've all probably experienced itchy, irritated skin. A doctor at UF Health explains how to keep from getting an infection.
Doctor Reetu Grewal from UF Health says skin infections are also associated with bug bites. When you start to scratch those itchy bug bites your skin is vulnerable to infection.
"When you notice the bug bite initially, try to put a cold compress on there. It will help to minimize the amount of swelling that happens and then afterwards if you can use calamine lotion on there. That will help to prevent the itching," says Grewal.
If you have kids there are a few ways you can keep them from scratching those bites.
"You can give them something like Claritin or a Benedryl to help keep them from scratching at it. Put a bandage over it just to prevent them from picking at it," says Grewal.
In most cases, skin infections can be treated on your own with over-the-counter topicals or antibiotics. But it's important to know when the skin infection needs to be treated by a doctor.
"If it's an area that's getting larger, not smaller over the course of a few days, if it gets increasingly warm, or if it becomes painful or if you see puss those are signs to get concerned and to bring them in for a check," says Grewal.