Ecthyma is a bacterial skin infection that is very similar to impetigo, but deeper. It’s often caused by the bacteria streptococcus, yet staphylococcus can be a cause as well. And staphylococcal infections are contagious.
Most frequently affecting your lower limbs, ecthyma infection typically gets its start in an open skin site, such as found with a scratch, cut, insect bite or dermatitis.
The primary initial symptom of ecthyma is a small blister surrounded by a red border, which may or may not be filled with pus. Very similar to the one caused by impetigo, but the bacterial skin infection spreads deeper into the layers of your skin.
Eventually your blister symptom will evolve into a crusty ulcer. This ecthyma caused ulcer is a slow healer and can cause a scar.
Ecthyma rarely causes bacteremia. But it can lead to lymphangitis and cellulitis.
Those with immunocompromised immune systems are at a higher risk. For example if you’re suffering from diabetes, neutropenia or HIV infection.
Standard treatment for ecthyma is an antibiotic. Early treatment for this blistering bacterial skin infection is a daily application of a topical antibiotic. Before applying the topical antibiotic, soak your ulcer in warm water and then remove its crust.
Oral antibiotics may be needed to treat an infected lesion that’s been around awhile. Also, peroxide washes may help speed up your blister symptom recovery.
Along similar lines, there’s a highly contagious, zoonotic, viral skin infection known as contagious ecthyma. It affects sheep, goats and domesticated ruminants that can spread to humans.