Weird rash appeared, opened and draining, won't go away.

[KaiSta]

It all started as a cluster of 3 bumps that looks like mosquito bites on my left knee. I went to my primary and he said it was shingles but there wasn't anything he could do. The bumps started appearing on my other leg so that ruled out shingles and now they're on my arms and starting on my stomach. If anyone can tell me what this is I'd be ever so grateful. The bumps usually get hard before they open up, here's a picture of what the first cluster of bumps look like now:

http://i51.tinypic.com/6gk3l3.jpg

I've tried keeping them covered and I'm using bacitracin and alcohol on them to no avail. They still spread and seemingly get worse.
Please help. :(

[madblade]

I'm not exactly sure what they are (most likely impetigo) but it looks like it's bacterial (so very contagious) in nature. You will need to go to a doctor or if you have access to some anti-bacterial cream apply that for a couple of days every 8-12 hours and see if it helps.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms impetigo and herpes sores need to be ruled out. It is a highly contagious superficial bacterial skin infection. Primarily caused by Staphylococcus aureus and sometimes by Streptococcus pyogenes. Topical and oral antibiotics are the treatment of choice. My sincere advice would be to consult a dermatologist and get the diagnosis confirmed.

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.

[imarda]

I would check for bed bugs. I got a bad case when in San Francisco. I also unknowingly brought one home on my luggage. I thank God it was only one and I found it! I was getting bites for a month, getting infected, etc. Worse summer of my life!
Read up about them and start looking!!
Good luck

imarda