Definition: Our skin is the largest organ present in our body. The sole responsibility of skin is to give protection to the body from certain infections. Skin infections are caused by different types of germs, and any infection that is caused by a virus is called viral skin infection.

Causes: As the name suggests viruses are the causes of viral infection. Some of the common viruses have their origin from three categories of viruses mainly which includes poxvirus, herpes virus, and human papillomavirus.

Types

• Viral Exanthem: An exanthem can be defined as a widespread rash which is mostly found in children. Some of the common types of viral exanthema include measles, rubella, fifth disease, and Roseola.
• Chicken Pox: Chickenpox is known to be a highly contagious infection which is caused due to a virus named vermicelli-zoster. It majorly affects kids, but in many cases, adults also have it.
• Herpes Zoster: Herpes zoster can be defined as an infection which occurs when the virus named varicella-zoster reactivates right from dorsal root ganglia
• Herpes Genitalia & Labialis: Herpes labialis, also known as cold sores, is an infection caused by virus herpes simplex which mostly affects the lip. Genital herpes is the infection by the same virus in the genitals
• Warts: Common warts are exceedingly small. It appears like a grainy growth on the skin which occurs commonly on the fingers and hands
• Mosaic warts: Mosaic wart is a form of plantar wart which develops in the clusters of feet bottom.

Signs and symptoms of each type

• Viral Exanthem: Common symptoms include fatigue and irritability, fever, low feeling, itchy rash on different parts of the body, low appetite, joint pain and running nose.
• Chicken Pox: The symptom of having chickenpox is the existence of super-itchy rashes on the skin with blisters of red color.
• Herpes Zoster: Pain is one of the major symptoms of this viral infection. The pain can be a constant dull one or it can also be burning, and gnawing pain, with sharp stabbing like feeling.
• Herpes Genitalia & Labialis: Common symptoms of this viral infection include sore throat, fever, swollen glands, and painful swallowing.
• Warts: The common signs for this are fleshy and grainy bumps having roughness with black pinpoints.
• Mosaic warts: Thicker skin, with pain and small dots on warts, are some of the common signs of this skin infection.

Treatment in general: For all above viral infections of skin you need to avoid any type of direct contact with the infectious area of the skin. Doctors may recommend some antibiotics which you need to take as prescribed. Over the counter, ointments are also available which you can apply on the infected area for fast recovery and relief from pain. Keep the area dry and clean.

Duration of each infection:

• Viral Exanthem: 2 weeks of treatment and medication will cure the problem
• Chicken Pox: It takes around 14 to 16 days for full recovery from chicken pox
• Herpes Zoster: In less than 7 days’ time one can get cured if antiviral medications are started within 72 hours of the first occurrence of the rashes
• Herpes Genitalia & Labialis: In 7 to 10 days’ time from the occurrence of the infection it gets cured if timely treatment is given
• Warts: Warts generally disappear within 1 to 6 months’ time after an individual gets infected by the virus causing the infection.
• Mosaic warts: Within a week or 2, mosaic warts disappear

In any case of viral infection, it is highly recommended to visit a good skin clinic or reach out to a dermatologist immediately after the first sign of infection.