Bacterial skin infections can be extremely dangerous, especially when they affect the feet. One of the most alarming is necrotizing fasciitis, which can cause tissue death within hours. This infection may begin with a simple wound or scrape on the foot, but it quickly spreads beneath the skin, causing irreversible damage. Most worrying is that it can progress without obvious initial symptoms, only revealing its presence when the pain becomes unbearable and the skin begins to show signs of damage. People with diabetes or circulatory problems are at greater risk, and the infection can progress so rapidly that up to 1 in 5 cases results in death if not treated immediately.