Ecthyma? Acne? Argggghh! Desperate for a lesion free face again!

[personal_trainer]

Background:
I am a 34 yo personal trainer-work with roughly 25-35 clients a week in a gym setting.  About 3 years ago I started getting what I thought were just pimples (never had acne in my life).  The weird thing is they just wouldn't heal-they would end up round sores they sometimes became the size of a pencil eraser.  Raw, like the top layer of skin was gone, and not because I would dig at them.  There is never a white head or a black head, the area just starts to tingle (always around my chin, or cheeks) a day before, then a red bump showes up, then 24 hours or so after the bump shows up, the surface of the bump dissolves so that there is a crater that is red and oozes.  It will crust, but not honey in color, just quasi crust.  FOR WEEKS!!  It will not heal.  Finally after a year (of always having at least 1 sore on my face, during the summer as many as 8 small ones at a time) of trying to battle what I thought was adult on set acne, I saw a dermatologist who said he thought it my be impetigo/ecythyma.  I was but on Bactroban cream and after about 8 weeks, most sores cleared up.  However, the damn things come back.  

Question 1. Does anyone know if once you have had Impetigo or Ecthyma if some how that bacteria just lies dormant under the dermis-are yu more prone to getting these lesions in the future-and if so for the rest of your life??

I am religious about cleaning my hands and not touching may face while at work and home.  I use a triclosan based face wash in the morning, as soon as I get home from work and before bed every day.  But I still get these damn lesions!!!  And when I do get one of these lesions, It takes close to 8 weeks for it to finally heal, and then the red circle scar is there for 12 months.  

I saw a second dermatologist 3 months ago *because about 3 weeks before I was going to get married I got another lesions on my cheek that just wouldn't heal), this new dermatologist said he thinks it is simply adult acne, and prescribed Sulfacetamide Sodium-Sulfur Wash and clindamycin phosphate gel.  That treatment of washing and using that gel did no better than using the bactorban in clearing the lesion up-still had it 3 weeks later for my wedding day.

Problem is, neither treatment seems to work.  

I have a new lesion-this guy is different, it started the same, but it has spread sideways sort of.  It started as a small lesion, then a second small one popped up next to it, and then the healthy skin between the 2 lesions dissolved so now they have merged.  

This happend 5 days ago.  Every day since then I follow this regimine: wash my face with anti-bacterial soap 3x per day, gently removing the crust of the lesion, then I use a 1/3 mix of H2O2/water and do a splash rinse that I let air dry, then I apply the bactroban cream.  I change my pillow case every night. It is not getting smaller, and it still tingles.  I am not a dirty, nasty unclean person, I can't understand why these lesions keep popping up.  I am horrified when I look at myself in the mirror and especially when I am working so close to my clients.

Even better, I can't get an appointment to see my dermatologist for 3 more weeks.  By that time it will heal itself.


To make matters even worse, we are in the process of trying to conceive so I am concerned about infections on my face, and all these crazy creams and washes I have to use to try and get them to clear up.

Please can anyone shed some light here?

[RRT126]

It's called ecthyma and results from impetigo. It requires several weeks of the right antibiotics to resolve.

[TxSage]

Did you have this & cleared it up?  What antibiotics worked?  I have been dealing with it for a few months, seen several doctors, & nothing is working. Thanks

[RinsibleBubble]

Im a 22yr old female with the exact same thing. I went to my a walk-in clinic and right off the bat the doctor said i have ecthyma. She put me on an oral antibiotic (clindamycin) as well as a topical ointment (mupirocin). Im on day two using these meds and I already see slightly going down. I have to go see my doctor again in two days to follow up and make sure they aren't getting worse and/or spreading otherwise ill have to go in daily for an IV drop full of antibiotics since I have mercer.

[cholmes12]

Hi. Have you been able to figure out what this is? My husband is 32 years old and has been suffering with the same thing for the past 4 years! I am a nurse and beyond frustrated because we have been to at least 5 different dermatologists and no one can give us any answers. To whoever says it is acne you could not be more wrong! Please let me know if you ever discovered what the cause is.

[tashazr]

I, too, have the SAME exact condition you have described. i am 38 years old female and feel just like you do.  i want these lesions to go away! It has ben frustrating to me.  i have been using muciporin ointment and my dermatologist prescibed cephalexine. it keeps this monster at bay, but it never goes away, just morphs itself to a new location and starts its ugly process of eating my skin away.  i beleive this is a nasty bacteria that no one has identified, clearly the professionals do not know what it is and no one can get rid of it!!  Best of luck if you're like me you will need it!

[animals2622]

Hi there - I just saw your post on your facial lesions - you have described to a tee what I have been experiencing for the past 2 years (I'm a 31 year old female).  My work has me face to face with many people per day and I feel your pain in how embarassing this condition is.   I have also been to a dermatologist and many GPs and they keep saying it's acne - but I don't think it is.  It develops exactly how you described, and takes pretty much 8 weeks to the day to heal.  I have short periods where there are no lesions, and at other times have anywhere from 1 to 5 of them.  In the time they take to heal they can look like it's starting to heal but the fluid (not purulent but clear and blood tinged) builds up and the whole thing gets raw and inflammed.  I would love to hear how you are going with it and if you found any answers...I can be contacted at ***@****.  Thanks heaps.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Without examination it is difficult confirming a diagnosis but it sounds like acne to me. Acne is due to an overactivity and plugging of the oil glands. Just keep you face clean by washing with a mild soap atleast twice a day.Pat it dry and do not rub it.Avoid picking or pressing the acne.You can also use Benzoyl peroxide 5% lotion or gel once at bedtime. An amount of lotion the size of a pea should be enough to cover most of your face. If your skin becomes red or peels, you are using too much of the medicine or applying it too often.

Engage in a diet that is low in sugar and fat but is rich in vitamins. This prevents acne by preventing the buildup of excess oil on the skin.Also refrain from touching or squeezing your acne.Also try to keep your hair free of dandruff by using good antidandruff shampoos.

If the symptoms persist then pls consult a dermatologist.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or in case you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.

[jagesh50]

I think you have landed up with a gram-ve folliculitis which take over during during acne treatment when you kill the gram positive fellers.