Ace the West Virginia Cosmetology Board Exam 2025 – Style Your Way to Success!

The signs of a skin infection typically include redness, swelling, heat, and pain at the infection site. These symptoms occur due to the body’s immune response to pathogens. When an area of the skin becomes infected, blood flow increases to that region to help the immune system fight off the infection, leading to redness and heat. Swelling is caused by fluid leaking from blood vessels into the surrounding tissue, and pain arises as a result of inflammation and irritation of nerve endings in the affected area.

While pus-filled blisters and itching can indicate certain types of skin infections, such as those caused by bacteria or viruses, they are not universal signs. Dehydration and dull skin may suggest issues related to skin care or hydration balance but do not specifically point to an infection. Similarly, wrinkles and discoloration are more associated with aging or skin damage rather than infection. Understanding the classic signs of infection is critical for identification and prompt treatment.