Microbial+Diseases+of+the+Skin

**Microbial Diseases of the Skin**  The skin is the body's first line of defense against pathogens. As a physical barrier, it is almost impossible for pathogens to penetrate the intact skin. Microbes can, however, enter through skin breaks that are not readily apparent, and the larval forms of a few parasites can penetrate intact skin.



Our skin is an inhospitable place for most microorganisms because the secretions of the skin are acidic and most of the skin contains little moisture. However there are some areas of the body such as the armpit area, and the area between the legs where there is enough moisture to support realitivly large bacterial populations. Areas such as our scalp support much smaller numbers of microorganisms.

​Shingles (herpes zoster) By Bianca M Diaz

Necrotizing Fasciitis by Nicole Umemoto-Snyder