Concerned about a skin abscess and wondering how to go about treating it in Singapore? Keep reading to find out what you need to know about abscesses and how they are normally treated.
A skin abscess is an inflammation and a mass pocket of pus beneath the surface of affected skin. Abscesses are full of bacteria and pus that makes them tender to the touch. An abscess is normally caused by bacteria and can develop on any part of the body.
Types of Abscesses
There are various types of abscesses. They include:
Internal Abscess - This type of abscess develops inside the human body. It is found developing in an organ or in the spaces between organs.
Skin Abscess - This abscess grows under the skin.
Brain Abscess - This is a rare type of abscess that develops inside the skull. This makes it life-threatening because pus develops inside the brain.
Bartholin's Abscess - Development of an abscess in one of the Bartholin's glands, normally found on each side of the vagina's opening.
Anorectal Abscess - Growth of an abscess in the rectum and anus.
Dental Abscess - A pocket of pus under a tooth or gum.
Pilonidal Abscess - A build-up of pus in the cleft of the buttocks.
Peritonsillar Abscess - A collection of pus between the walls of your throat and one of your tonsils
Spinal Cord Abscess - Accumulation of pus in areas around the spinal cord
Abscess Causes
Most abscesses are triggered by a bacterial infection. When bacteria invade your body, your immune system is activated to combat them using white blood cells in the affected area.
As the white blood cells combat the foreign body, a tender mass comprising a collection of dead tissue, bacteria and white blood cells is formed.
Abscess Symptoms
There are various abscess symptoms and each one depends on the area it develops on. Abscess symptoms include:
A tender swelling on or beneath the surface of the skin
Running a high body temperature
Pain in the infected area
For dental abscess, painful and throbbing toothache that can spread out to the ear or neck
Swollen and tender lymph nodes in your neck of the jaw in the case of an internal abscess
Having difficulty breathing or swallowing
Sensitivity to pressure in the affected area
When to See Your Doctor for Abscess Treatment in Singapore
You should see a certified and well-trained medical provider if you notice any of these symptoms.
You may be tempted to treat them on your own but proper diagnosis is essential to ascertain the type of abscess and how serious it is.
Abscess Prevention
Many skin abscesses are caused by bacteria getting into broken skin. To ensure that this doesn't happen, the skin surface should be kept clean and free of bacteria.
Other ways to reduce developing abscess are to do the following:
Wash your hands regularly
Wear clean clothes
Do not share towels
Wait for your skin abscess to completely heal before you start using communal equipment
Be careful when shaving your face or private areas and do not share your shaving equipment
If you use tissues when wiping the pus from an abscess of another person, make sure you dispose of them properly and thoroughly wash your hands
Abscess Treatment in Singapore
Abscess removal is important as it offers you peace of mind and helps you stay looking good. There are several ways of getting rid of an abscess. They include:
A skin abscess can dry up, shrink or heal on their own without requiring any treatment. Such abscesses are tiny in size.
You can put a warm compress on the abscess by applying heat. The warm compress can be made by running warm water on a towel and then folding it before placing it on the abscess.
After using the methods above if the abscess remains resistant, try cyst surgery. Cyst surgery in Singapore involves draining the abscess where a doctor cuts the abscess open and drains it of pus. Before the procedure, the affected area is numbed using local anaesthesia. After draining, the wound is packed with a surgical material such as gauze. This abscess treatment is effective as it prevents the abscess from reoccurring.
Another way of treating an abscess is by using antibiotics. Your doctor may recommend clindamycin or dicloxacillin depending on the nature of abscess you have.
In a Nutshell
An abscess is a skin condition that is not aesthetically pleasing but is relatively harmless, except for those that develop inside the human body.
To treat an abscess, especially one that is stubborn to go away, visit a professional healthcare provider in Singapore for diagnosis and treatment. For more information, feel free to get in touch with us.
