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Dermatology (Expert Forum)

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recurrent impetigo every day for 10 years

Answered by

Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems

The Rockoff Dermatology Center Brookline - MA

This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.

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MedHelp Member's Question

recurrent impetigo every day for 10 years

by mesh138, Sep 14, 2006 12:00AM

Tags: impetigo, years, dermatology, Skin infections, skin infection, eyes, Life

I'll keep it brief as possible. For over 10 years, I've had impetigo every day of my life. Always on face or around ears. My suspicions are that it came either from an ear piercing, hair dye, or a broken nose I got around the time these problems started. At times, the condition has exploded and taken over my entire face so that I've been unable to go out in public. The crusts have sealed my eyes and mouth shut before. Basically, I've been through hell. Went to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and two different Mayo Clinics. I've taken every antibiotic and applied every topical cream imaginable to no improvement. Tests done on flora of face. Had six biopsies and still show the scars all over my face. Mayo even gave me Dapsone, the drug for leprosy for a while. The only thing that has spared my sanity is bactroban, which over the last two years has kept this condition at bay. I apply it to my face every night and my life is liveable at present. The only problem now is that I still have horrible outbreaks in my eyelids. If I don't watch tv, read, look at people, or use the internet I'm fine. The moment I read one page in a book or watch a movie, or if I look at people too long while talking to them, my eyes swell up huge and crust over in the honey-yellow crusts. So bad to the point where I can't go to work for 2-3 days. The eye part is confusing to me because it's cause-and-effect; If I use my eyes certain ways, the break-outs occurr almost instantly. I use eye drops to keep my eyes moist, but it doesn't stop the outbreaks when I try to read. Since I've had this condition for over ten years, I've tried almost everything imagineable. As you might imagine, my ability to enjoy life is on pause until I discover a cure to this problem.

My question to you, after having gone to countles doctors and tried every drug they've prescribed, is: Do you have any ideas in a different direction I could take to try and fix this? Or should I plan on living the rest of my life not reading, watching tv, and using bactroban every day? All I'm asking for is some doctorly advice. I don't understand how someone can have impetigo every day for ten years (so far).

Thank you for your time.

Doctor's Answer

by Alan Rockoff, MD

, Sep 14, 2006 12:00AM

I'm afraid I can't do any better from a distance than doctors at Johns Hopkins and Mayo could do in person, even with the help of tests and biopsies. The symptoms you describe (breakouts when you use your "eyes certain ways", crusts that "sealed.. eyes and mouth) make absolutely no sense to me, and remind me of no disease with which I am familiar.

I just have one question: do these crusts and lesions itch? And if so, do you ever scratch or rub them?

Thanks.

Dr. Rockoff

Member Comments (6)

by mesh138, Sep 14, 2006 12:00AM

No, over the years I've trained myself not to touch my face at all. I wash my hands with Hibicleanse constantly for extra protection. For my face, I clean with Cedaphil non-comodegenic soap.

by mesh138, Sep 14, 2006 12:00AM

When you run into a sort of recurrent infection like this, where does one go when all the doctors have given up you? I've tried allergy/immunologists also. Just trying to salavage my life in some way, but it's getting increasingly more difficult with each year.

by MLWTR, Sep 15, 2006 12:00AM

You might consider hypnosis. Look for a reputable practitioner (perhaps with advice from your doctors), preferably one who specializes in medical uses of hypnosis, and perhaps also has training in psychology or psychiatry. Dermatology is one of the areas in which hypnosis has really helped some people with otherwise untreatable chronic conditions. If you search MEDLINE (a database of medical articles; www.pubmed.gov) using a Boolean search (hypnosis AND dermatology), you will see that some reputable research has been published on this topic. Good luck.

by Alan Rockoff, MD

, Sep 15, 2006 12:00AM

I don't know what to tell you, vegaslife. You clearly need another opinion, but it will have to be in person.

Dr. Rockoff

by ozark, Sep 15, 2006 12:00AM

do you put the bactroban slightly inside your nares? sometimes that's where it colonizes and can just keep the cycle going good luck

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