Abscesses are pockets of pus that form on your skin or other areas of the body. An abscess is a sign of an infection. Most abscesses go away on their own; however, they may need professional care under certain circumstances.
If you get an abscess in or on your skin, you might see or feel a bump. Other symptoms include:
The pus inside an abscess consists of white blood cells, dead tissue, and bacteria. Infections spread when the bacteria leave the confines of the pocket causing sepsis.
At Vayu Advanced Wound Clinic and Hyperbarics, Dr. Badam examines your abscess and reviews your medical history for possible underlying causes.
Sometimes, bacteria and other pathogens that don’t belong in your body end up there when you get a cut or scrape. When your immune system functions normally, it sends white blood cells to the area to get rid of the invader. That’s why there are white blood cells inside an abscess.
Your risk of developing an abscess may be higher due to:
If you notice an abscess that doesn’t shrink or go away with at-home care, Dr. Badam can treat it to avoid complications. An untreated abscess can lead to gangrene (dead tissue), endocarditis, sepsis (blood infection), or other infection types.
Abscesses are among the wounds and lesions that Dr. Badam specializes in treating at Vayu Advanced Wound Clinic and Hyperbarics. Through treatment, she aims to clean the wound and clear the infection.
Dr. Badam starts treatment for severe abscesses with bedside incision and drainage (I & D). Before this procedure, she may prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection.
On the day of your procedure, Dr. Badam cleans and sterilizes the area, then injects local anesthesia to make the process more comfortable. Once your skin is numb, she makes an incision to drain the pus, then dresses the wound to capture any more leakage.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can treat skin abscesses and intracranial abscesses. If you need hyperbaric oxygen therapy and are a candidate, Dr. Badam typically recommends 10-40 treatments for the best results.
Although most abscesses clear on their own, severe cases can lead to widespread infection. For professional abscess care, call Vayu Advanced Wound Clinic and Hyperbarics or book an appointment online today.
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Abscesses can appear almost anywhere on the body and some may need specialized care
