Folliculitis and Impetigo

[ScaredSoScared]

Doctor Rockoff,

I have posted on the STD forum, as that was my originial concern.  I have now come to post here, as it looks like that is not what I have going on.  2 weeks ago, I was diagnosed with Impetigo and Folliculitis, most likely caused by the same bacteria living on my body.  The doctor diagnosed the Impetigo by looking at it, and he prescribed me Doxycycline and Muporocin (SP?)  After a few days, the Impetigo began to clear up.  It was in the left corner of my lip.  There is still a bit of redness there, but nothing else and no irritation.  The folliculitis was on my head, back, different areas of my thighs, and occasionally my chest.  After being on the antibiotics for about 4 days, a new folliculitis lesion popped up on my inner right thigh, and a couple on the back of my head.  They were a little tender.  I went back to the doctor and she let me try a new antibiotic, Omnicef.  After about a day and a half (just under 2 weeks after the first impetigo spot) another one has popped up in the other corner of my lip.  This kind of threw me off.  The one in the left corner has come and gone about 4 times in the last 3 months, but it has never shown up in the other corner, and while already on antibiotics?  I thought it may be a cold sore, but it is EXACTLY like the other side, and I thought HSV didn't occur on both sides, and rarely in the corner of the mouth.  And this is all with a negative nasal swab for bacteria....

So that is why I came to the derm forum.  A few things are confusing me.  I have 5 days left on the Omnicef.  The folliculitis does seem to be clearing up, but I'm worried that perhaps the Impetigo isn't, or maybe it is something different entirely.

Thanks Dr.

[ScaredSoScared]

Please help with a follow up Dr.  The impetigo on the right side cleared and AGAIN here it is on the left.

Please do assist me...

[ScaredSoScared]

The irritation in the corner of my lips is more int he form of sores.

This kind of threw me a curveball, I was hoping i was headed in the right direction treatment wise.

What could this be, other than folliculitis, impetigo, or possibly Angular Chelitis?

Please, I need to get better as I'm putting my life on hold in fear of making anyone else sick...

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

It's not clear to me what you so scared about.  Inflammation at the corners of the mouth is called angular stomatitis.  it is caused by irritation from saliva and sometimes yeast from the oral cavity.  it has nothing to do with herpes, and the fact that that it's come on both sides of the mouth argues even more strongly against herpes.  As to the folliculitis occurring elsewhere, that sounds like something else entirely, also not serious or sexual.  The person you should be having this discussion with is your dermatologist.  I suggest that you finish off the pills and have that conversation, or see the dermatologist in follow-up.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff