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Rash on neck and chest, tiny pimples and red dots

Two days ago a rash began to appear on my chin and jaw. Initially I thought it was just acne, but after two days it has continued to spread as tiny red dots and tiny whitehead pimples. It doesn't itch at all but it looks terrible and I am starting to get concerned. I should also mention that I went to the doctor last week because of a persistent and violent cough and sinus congestion. Even though he did not think it was bacterial, I have been taking antibiotics. The cough is all but completely gone, but the sinus congestion continues. Surprisingly, I feel fine. No major fatigue, no fever. I am just tired of the congestion and now this ugly, mysterious skin rash! I have looked at the measles stuff online, but the measles rashes are kind of blotchy. Mine really looks like lots of separate red dots, and I haven't had a fever. Thanks for your help!
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Avatar universal
I have the same thing. Started as a viral infection and chest infection so was put on antibiotics. Cough was terrible and still is so after 5 days I was put on steroids. 5 days with having that and the rash has just come up like  pimples/ red dots all over my chest and up my neck. I'm 15yrs and female and just wondering if I should be worried, also my legs are get purple blotches all over them (kinda like when it's cold and you get the purple swirls on your legs). I know it's an old post but just curious.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am taking Bactrim for an infection and have developed the rash on my chin, forehead and it's spreading to my neck.  I am going to stop taking it immediately,I thought it could be the culprit.  
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535822 tn?1443976780
please beware of Bactrim   has many side effects, I took it for 5 days and stopped .But weeks later still feeling bad..this drug is banned in UK
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Avatar universal
i have had the same rash several times but not from antibiotics... i have had it from about 8 different types of birth control pills. Its an allergic reaction rash. Prednisone takes it away every time. I am now on the demo shot for over a year and either i am starting to develop an allergy to the progesterone or the muscle relaxer the dentist gave me from having fillings done is the culprit. Either way, I am back on the prednisone again. This time however, after I finished my round of prednisone and was rash free for almost a week, the rash came right back!! struggling to get rid of it this time :(
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Avatar universal
I believe the issue here is pityrosporum folliculitis- caused by an imbalance of yeast, which can happen after antibiotic or steroid use.  This is different than the candida yeast, but some of the comments above sound like candida.  EITHER WAY, antibiotics and steroid creams will not help with it.  There are some topical anti fungal creams that would (selsun blue), but the root cause is the imbalance in your gut microbes.  Antibiotics killed the good bacteria that line your intestine.  You need to have kefir, yogurt, sour cream, or other truly fermented foods (some sauerkrauts).  You can take probiotic pills, though many of them are not high quality.  Good luck.
http://www.aocd.org/?page=PityrosporumFollicu
http://www.skinsight.com/adult/candidiasis.htm
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Avatar universal
35 yr old female with the same rash...tiny poppable whitehead's that don't really itch. They started on my chest and neck and spread to my shoulders and back. However I HAVE NOT taken any antibiotics. The only similar symptoms I have are the medical conditions for which you allnseem to be on antibiotics for. Sore throat, low grade fever, fatigue, headaches, stiff neck. Could it be the illness rather than the antibiotic thats causing the rash?
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16711552 tn?1450710604
I have the same symptoms. it starts with a few on my chest and within a day or two it is allover my chest upper shoulders and framing my face.
I had it for the first time last year during summer. Dermatologist said it is due to heat. did the antibacterial soap and fungal cream and other things and was gone within 2 weeks. This year I got it again in summer thought it was the same but it took more than a month to go away with the same medicine (soap and creme). I just got it again this week after I had a small surgery for which I had to take antibiotics to avoid infections. it spread all over but I don't want to go to dermatologist as they told me it is follicolitis and it is due to heat but I live on Colorado and it is very cold right now. I am female and 35 yo. I might try the oral steroids.
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Avatar universal
I am having the same issue - about 6 weeks ago I had walking pneumonia and was given Biaxin (Bioxin?) finished that felt better, 2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with bronchitis and was put on dioxiclian - finished that - I am still coughing and now have this awful rash/pimples on my chest, starting to spread to my face - HELP
.
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Avatar universal
Hi I too have the same problem, however never had any coughing I took antibiotics to help with my acne ironically enough it caused these small white pimple like things that spread to my chin neck and chest. I too have taken a steroid that got rid of this irritation within a day, I have finished taking the prescribed steroid about 3 weeks ago and I am not taking any antibiotics since the first time it happened yet it came back!
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Avatar universal
UPDATE: So I went to an Urgent Care clinic in my area, and much as everyone above said the doctor could not make heads or tales of my "rash". After eliminating many other potential causes, she prescribed me an oral steroid, which can prescribed to reduce the effects of a drug allergy. She did warn me that if this was some sort of bacterial infection, it could make it worse. I am my second day into the steroid though and my rash is almost completely gone! It's amazing how quickly it worked. If you can rule out an infection and are fairly sure your rash was caused by an adverse reaction to an antibiotic, I highly suggest speaking with your doctor about trying an oral steroid.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been experiencing the same thing! I am a 26 year old female and this started after my fourth day on Z-Pack (azithromycin). I hope it doesn't last weeks!!! I am thinking of going to my doctor to see if there's a cream or something he can give me to help clear it up. I will pass the information on if I get any answers!
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Avatar universal
I'm having the exact same thing happening to me too. Diagnosed with acute bronchitis about a month ago and about 4 days ago, started with the violent coughing again. Started a Z-pack 2 days ago and now I have the same pimple-ike sores all over my neck and upper chest/back area. Not painful, not itchy. I can pop the sores just like a pimple but what's different is that I can pop the same sore and get more pus out of it in less than an hour for a period of -/+ 2 days. Never came to the conclusion that this could be related to antibiotics but because I've had this several times in the past, the antibiotics could very well be the culprit. I'm 43 yo female
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Avatar universal
I'm experiencing exactly that from 5 days of clindamycin. Did u ever find out what it is or any way to make it go away? I know this is an old post, but I'm freaking out.
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Avatar universal
I have exactly the same problem every single time I take antibiotics of any kind--penicillins, sulfa drugs, cyclosporins, mycins...I've taken all of them at some point or another for a URI (most often a sinus infection or strep throat) and every time I do, about 3-5 days into the 7-10 day dosage I end up with a rash all over my neck and chest that has tiny pimples.  It's barely red and rarely itches, but it always has those tiny pustules that you can literally scratch off.  It never gets infected, but it looks horrible and takes weeks to go away once it's shown up.  The doctors never know what it is but they always tell me to stop taking whatever I'm taking.  Some of them have even looked to other doctors for a second opinion and nobody could ever tell me what it is.

The crazy thing is that I, too, have had a violent cough and sinus congestion and the tetracycline I was taking didn't do a darn thing for either, but I did end up with the same rash.

It is NOT folliculitis, which I have also had--I have very light, sensitive skin and very dark, dense hair, which made shaving my legs an absolute nightmare and resulted in constant infections.  I have since had laser hair removal to remedy that problem.

I'm 42 and female, and the rash has been happening since I was 20, and it only happens when I take an antibiotic (never with pain meds, nasal sprays, decongestants, or antihistimines).  No one can explain it and I can't take ANY kind of antibiotic without this happening.  The only kind I haven't taken to this point is a Z-pack, which is a mycin derivative, which caused seizures when I was a toddler, so I don't take those at all for any reason.

I would LOVE to know if anybody has any information on this kind of problem, because I haven't had any luck the past 20 years...
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563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
It can be due to folliculitis. Folliculitis starts when hair follicles are damaged by friction from clothing or blockage of the follicle. In most cases of folliculitis, the damaged follicles are then infected with the bacteria Staphylococcus (staph).
Use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove. Avoid any kind of cosmetics and topical antibiotics such as  Bactroban are also useful. In case the symptoms persist then oral antibiotics may be needed. Also then get the possibility of perioral dermatitis ruled out.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.






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