You may be dealing with a skin infection that is causing you some pain and discomfort. Regardless of whether or not your condition is contagious, you should still take precautions to better protect yourself and those around you. Here are some of the best things that you can do when you have a skin infection.

Apply a Cold Compress

Applying a cold compress to your skin can relieve inflammation and itching. This should be done a few times a day for the best results. Make sure that the compress is not too cold so that you don’t end up irritating the skin even further.

Stay in Cooler Temperatures

In addition to applying cold directly to the infected skin, you will want to be in environments with cooler temperatures. Heat can make your condition worse. If the weather is hot outside, staying indoors in an air-conditioned setting will be best until you heal.

See a Dermatologist

A dermatologist can diagnose your condition accurately and prescribe the right medication to treat it. Your dermatologist may also recommend additional treatment options that can put you on the right path to healing.

Don’t Get Too Clean

Having clean skin is important when dealing with a skin infection, but cleaning it too much can have detrimental effects. Excessively scrubbing and washing your skin with soap or other disinfectants may damage your skin even more and leave it more vulnerable to further infection. Germ and bacteria strains along with other infectious agents often cling to damaged skin and are harder to eliminate.

Avoid Wearing Certain Types of Clothing

The clothes that you wear could be making your skin infection worse. WebMD states that clothing made from wool often causes skin irritation. You should also avoid wearing clothing that makes you sweat a lot while you have a skin infection as this can exacerbate your condition. Cotton and cotton poly fabric clothes are generally best to wear for your skin.

Treating a skin infection the right way can help you heal faster with fewer complications. In addition to seeing a dermatologist, there things that you can do at home to try to clear up your skin infection. Taking the proper measures will help you make your condition a thing of the past.