Questions about impetigo

[TJ1968]

I have had problems with a skin condition for almost a year now.  I get acne like infections on my face (usually nose, near where the corner of my eye and nose meets, chin, around lips, etc).  They start out as red like acne, but then open up, get white and can even get crusty, drain, etc.  I went to two different doctors.  Both thought it might be impetigo.  One gave me muciproxin cream and Keflex as an antibiotic.  The ones I had did start going away, in fact, I would say they did.  However, two weeks into the treatment, I found another one growing to the right of my right eyebrow on the side of my face.  I blitzed it with the cream and it basically cleared up in 4 days.  Before I started treating them or taking the Keflex, they could last as long as two months before.  Has anyone else had such a problem and if so, what did your Dr. prescribe and did it work?  I would LOVE to really get rid of this once and for all!  Not only that, I have a 3 year old daughter who doesn't live with me.  I see her every few months and when I saw her last, she had the SAME type of sore on the left side of her face right near where her left eyebrow ends.  I was told impetigo can be contagious.  Any help would be great!

[quasibroken]

George, we don't know why and doctors don't seem to know, but there are some rare people out there who can't beat impetigo. I am one of them and I don't know what is wrong with us, but because of the internet I am finding more and more of us.

[George161]

i just want to know if Impetigo ever goes away when you become an adult or does it stay with you for your entire life? cuz I've had it for over 10 years and it hasnt gone away and no one has been able to answer that question for me yet.

[TJ1968]

I told her mother that she should take my daughter to her Dr. and ask her to examine her for impetigo.  I haven't heard back from her whether she has or not.  I will follow up.  I will say with certainty that the spot my daughter had was EXACTLY what I had on my face.  I appreciate your response and maybe I just need to be a bit more patient.  I'm still taking the antibiotics, as the Dr. gave me a month's supply (3 per day, 30 days), with one refill available.

I also continue the mupirocin (I spelled it wrong in my first post) and will do so until I'm clear.  Does it ever go away completely, or is this something like the herpes virus that just stays with you forever?  I assume it's not a virus, but a bacteria, so I was hoping it does eventually go away!  

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

Yes, impetigo is contagious.Are you still currently on antibiotics?

The usual course of antibiotics may readily resolve the skin condition brought about by impetigo.The challenge here is controlling the spread of the lesions ( allow me to use this word ).Since impetigo may heal slowly, it may be spread to other parts of the body and to other people through direct contact.

Thus, aside from medical therapy ,practical methods of prevention may be initiated to help control the infection.Frequent handwashing is a simple yet in most cases effective way in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Washing your hands at most times of the day with a mild and bland cleanser may be beneficial.Avoid sharing towels and other personal items. Separate your towels and facial soaps from other members of the household.Also avoid unnecessarily touching the lesions.

Has your daughter been evaluated by a physician already?