Red Bumps/Carbuncles That Hurt and Leave Brown Scars

[gmh139]

Hi, I first want to say what a great job you all are doing on this forum!  

I searched through many posts, but couldn't find anything exactly the same as the problem I am suffering from.  I get these painful red bumps on the inside of my thighs, my waist, and my buttocks.  They are painful for a few days, but then the swelling subsides and they begin to decrease in size.  Sometimes they will come to a "whitehead" simillar to a carbuncle or boil.  I can handle the discomfort, but what I'm wondering about is the scars they leave.  They are a brownish tone, and very unattractive, and embarrasing for me.  By the looks and description, do you have any idea what my problem could be?  Or atleast what I can do to eliminate these from happening?  I shower daily and clean the areas with Dial anti-bacterial soap.

I have seen a dermatologist and my doctor for this.  My doctor says they are just boils and there's nothing I can do about them.  The dermatologist gave me an oral antibiotic, but it didn't stop these from happening.  Please help!  Thank you.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms they sound like boils. A boil or carbuncle also referred to as a skin abscess, is a localized infection deep in the skin. A boil generally starts as a reddened, tender area. Over time, the area becomes firm and hard. Eventually, the center of the abscess softens and becomes filled with pus. Finally, the pus "forms a head," which can be surgically opened or spontaneously drain out through the surface of the skin.

Boil on buttocks is usually due to plugged sweat glands that become infected or by an ingrown hair.

Apply warm compresses on the boil and keep the area clean.Drainage of the boil is done only when it becomes soft and forms a head. Take some over the counter pain reliever and consult a doctor for examination and antibiotics prescription. If there are recurrent boils,then pls get your blood sugar levels estimated.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[gmh139]

No, I cannot think of the name of it right now, as it was some time ago.

[BlueJay13]

What were the antibiotics? Was it Flucloxicillin?