Treating persistent Impetigo/Ecthyma that just can't get stamped-out

Question

I have a serious Impetigo/Ecthyma infection that I just can't seem to stamp-out: Whenever I kill-off an infection site, new infections just pop-up around it, and it has basically been working its way down around my forehead/face.

Before this outbreak, it was isolated to a single ulcer on my forehead for a few months (I didn't know what it was at the time). Eventually I attempted to get it diagnosed & treated - and when I did, it turned into a horrible game of Impetigo whack-a-mole.


Here's a rough timeline of what has happened so far:


On my first doctor's visit, I was prescribed Keflex/Cephalexin (an oral medication) which I had to take four times a day, and to also apply Polysporin (topical medication) on it daily. I did this for about 10 days, and it wasn't helping, so I returned, and my doctor assured me that my Impetigo was cured and I just needed to wait for the blisters/ulcers to heal. Though, he did give me an extension for my Keflex subscription anyway.

Two weeks later, I returned again. This time I was prescribed Minocycline (oral; once a day) and Fucidin cream (topical). After ten days of trying this, it didn't seem to be helping either.


And besides taking the medication my doctor has recommended, I have been:

Applying Hydrogen Peroxide, rubbing alcohol, Tea-Tree Oil, and Betadine on it multiple times a day; showering every day, and also changing my clothing and pillow/bed sheets constantly; making sure to NEVER touch or scratch the infections; and applying warm-compresses using a cloth soaked in vinegar a few times a day (to prevent bacterial growth and remove the crusts).


Nothing seems to be working, and it is now spreading to other parts of my body. And as I said, I can kill-off any of the large or growing infection sites, but new ones keep on appearing around it - and I just can't stamp it out.

Never in my life have I had to deal with something this persistent!

I would appreciate any advice I can get, and hope I have explained my situation thoroughly. Thank you.

Karaph · Answer

Im going through the same thing. Just wondering if you were able to get completely rid of it?

quasibroken · Answer

do a google search for oozing yellow crusts. You will find the site. Your info is there. While reading your original post, I literally had to scroll back up and make sure I wasn't reading something I had posted many years ago. Mine is exactly the same story. Stared around forehead and worked its way down. Then 20 years later, I finally found a solution to manage it. Also, I can tell you right now anything with tea tree oil is making it worse. Forget what hippies on the internet tell you. Ditch the tea tree and you'll see a slight improvement, but the other answers are all on oozing yellow crust.

Calledit78 · Answer

Do not eat processed sugars, coffee,and  tea, 15 mins in half cup of bleach in bathtub and rinse off when done 2 a week, aloe vera, strongest strength manuka honey. Eat Oranges, pineapple, apples, kale, raw garlic, fish, lean pork., turnip, tea tree oil. Keep sores covered while they are leaking yellow discharge.  Hot compress 3 times a day for 20 mins or more is one of the best treatments and do not reuse rags until washed and dried. Wipe down surfaces with diluted bleach rags daily to stop infected yourself.

Calledit78 · Answer

Do not drink alcohol, have any processed sugars, change your diet to juices like apple, orange, pineapple, cranberry.  Eat fish, lean meats like pork. Eat crushed garlic cloves raw and swallow after 10 mins of sitting.   Take bleach baths, 1/2 cup bleach in full tub for 10-15 mins 2 week.  Aloe Vera 100 pure helps.  Warm compresses do not reuse rag until laundry.  Cover sites with bandage only until they stop oozing or have healed over. Sounds like your re exposing yourself. disinfect your house with diluted bleach and rinse after 10 mins.  Manuka honey.

Halee_Victoria · Answer

I feel like I am going through the same thing. If anyone would like to email me about this. I do have several questions I would like to ask someone. My email is ***@****
Thanks!

quasibroken · Answer

Dude, Mirrion got healed up and left the rest of us to rot!

Brandonhs · Answer

Hi Morrion! 

Just wanted to know if you have any updates on this situation??? 

I just got impetigo and am experiencing kind of the same thing! I need help

Thanks in advance!

quasibroken · Answer

One thing I'd like to add to this discussion. What 'looks' like impetigo might really be an overproduction of sebum oil erupting onto the face. Though I've suffered from 'impetigo' like symptoms for two decades now, one thing to note is that it's not contagious. One thing I've noticed that exacerbates these outbreaks is heat. I will get outbreaks from using a laptop or being close to anything that emits any type of radiant heat. The only way to defeat these outbreaks is to scrutinize everything you do and everything you put in your body. Try cutting out dairy, wheat, etc. See if that works. Take notes on how your body reacts. And don't rule anything out. It took me a long time to discover that my simvistatin (for cholesterol) was greatly worsening my symptoms even though my doctor said most likely it was not a culprit. Also my skin has improved (although not completely healed) a lot since I've completely removed dairy from my diet. Still, if I sit in front of a laptop or use a cell phone for 5-10 minutes, I will have outbreaks. It is hard to tell what your body will react to and the doctors don't have the answers. You have to take charge of your own destiny.

VLM83 · Answer

I had impetigo when I was a child I had impetigo on my chin.  It came back about 5 yrs ago in my nose and over the last 15mts I've had impetigo 8 times.  It started out as lasting 3wks at a time and recently it's decreased to 4-10 days.  My dermatologist handed me several prescriptions so before doing a culture so I stopped going there. I went to a new dermatologist, internal medicine doctor, infectious disease doctor and naturopathic doctor and the only explanation is that I have a suppressed immune system.  I had a food sensitivities blood test by Genova Diagnostics ($600) to discover I had reactions to several foods I eat every day.  When I stop eating the foods and started using therapeutic essential oils Lavender & Myrrh it helped the infection decrease in severity and duration.  I know your pain and it makes me feel better to know I'm not the only one being tormented.  My naturopathic doctor said I have to avoid all foods I have sensitivities to, take supplements to repair my intestines, manage stress levels and avoid alcohol (suppresses immune system).  This chronic impetigo has hurt many areas of my life & I struggle to follow the doctor's protocol so I won't say it's easy or that I follow everything.  Stay strong, look into food sensitivities food tests and try a juice fast.  I noticed a juice fast made my symptoms go away after 4 days!
Try to keep a help journal to document your meals & symptoms.  I noticed that when I eat large amounts of wheat & gluten or steak I have the tingly burning feeling on my chin hours later.  It's consistent but it helped me identify food trigers to the infection.  I suggest you always have a culture taken to avoid being given meds that don't work & to determine if you have MRSA.  I use Bactroban as a topical ointment as soon as I feel the tingle then continue 3x/day for 10 days. 

Good luck, stay strong, your emotions can make it better or worse.
Virginia

GarrettID · Answer

What was the "generic topical antibiotic cream?"

hussyfied · Answer

You are not alone!! My mother has been suffering from undiagnosed impetigo for 20 years! Its gone through stages of being not so bad to very severe and back again, but has never come even close to going away. It was mostly on her arms, chest and face but she would have a few here and there other places. She has seen multiple dermatologists that just prescribed her Triamcinolone Cream and when that didn't work just blew her off. Randomly my father got a Staph infection and was prescribed a generic topical antibiotic cream by their primary care physician and he told her she should try it also...and it worked. She has only been using it a week and her skin is more than 50% cleared up. None of her sores are open anymore and are well on their way of being healed. Unfortunately after suffering from 20 years her arms are very scarred. But for a woman in her 50's she is grateful that there's light at the end of the tunnel that she won't have to spend another 20 years covered in red, open sores and getting stared at constantly. I have never posted on a discussion forum before this but I just had to tell you that you're not alone. In fact, I was searching for a story similar to hers now that shes been given a diagnosis. Good luck to you my friend!

quasibroken · Answer

I have had impetigo consistently for 18 years. I am currently on the verge of losing my career, my home and my family due to this. I have researched so much on impetigo, feeling that I am the only one in the world who has had it so persistently. Reading what you've wrote, I feel like someone else out there has had it rough like me also. It would be helpful to me to know of any updates of what you did once you were diagnosed with MRSA.

telemdoffcall435 · Answer

Hello M,
   I am a doctor practicing in a busy clinic in Manhattan, NY which sees many young children who tend to have this type of infection. Despite frequent hand washing, I had a similar experience after an adult episode of shingles where the Staph/Strep AKA Impetigo developed later (also on my face but more specific to my chin area). I believe the approach should be more topical and when you apply the antibiotic ointment do it liberally and wipe away any oozing as it occurs and keep that away from other skin contacts. Do this every 4-6 hours except when sleeping so the oozing does not get moved around your face while sleeping (as much). That worked for me, but yes, it was a very gross experience. The good news is that it is a superficial infection and there is usually no scarring. Good luck.

RR

Mirrion · Answer

As an update, it turns out that what I have is MRSA. And it is far, far worse than Impetigo.

And Anastasia, I would very highly recommend checking-out this site:
    http://mrsa-forum-usa.com/

The collective experiences of everyone there has proven invaluable to me. And even if you might not have MRSA (I pray that you don't!), I'm sure you could learn some very useful things from the community there.

All the best in your (our) fight against Staph.

Anastasia888 · Answer

,Hi Mirrion,

I certainly feel for  you as I myself have been diagnosed with impetigo. I fell off my kyack in water with a lot of algae and got some cuts as i was dragged by the kyack over rocks. It started between my legs and moved to my stomach, navel area to six inches wide all around plus it is now below my knees and on my arms. I am seeing one hand with some as well. I was first put on cipro and beta cream then was given a second amox clav with kenacomb cream. The big site on my stomach(which looks like a huge red birth mark) seems to have stopped expanding but new sites keep on poping up. There is bollus and non bollus what is different also is that it runs in streak marks at times. Just as though someone scratched me and this is not my doing. My GP placed a rush appointment and will be seeing the Dermatologist Aug. 4th. In Quebec the healthcare is not so great so I will have to push to get the culture taken and most likely have to pay it out but feel it will be well worth it as my GP was not convinced that the second class of antibiotics would help all that much. I will keep you posted on the outcome perhaps it can help you as well.   Anastasia

BKaurMD · Answer

Hello,
I agree with your doctor that there should be judicious use of these antiseptics but if you get the sores again then before starting any other antibiotics, get a bacterial culture after swab sample of the sores done. Also get a viral culture and detection of viral antibodies in the blood as any viral infection causing sores also need to be ruled out. Also a skin biopsy can be done to confirm the diagnosis as most skin diseases can be confirmed in diagnosis by skin biopsy.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

Mirrion · Answer

Alright, so I just came back from my fourth doctor's visit. And the doctor, this time, was the first to explain to me that using Hydrogen Peroxide and Betadine is a very, very bad idea when attempting to cure Impetigo, as it doesn't discriminate between what it kills - which allows the Impetigo to grow back even seemingly eliminating it.

I will only be using Fucidin cream and Keflex from now on, and will see how that goes.

Any advice, again, is still welcome!

Thanks.

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