painful recurring face infection (boil)

[Jeeperz]

HELP!
For the past two years I have been getting painful recurring face infection (boil)  on different parts of my face (my chin, above eye, on rim of ear, on skin just in front of earlobe... anywhere.

I feel one coming on and I call in a perscription for Dicloxacillin 500 mg and take 4 a day (28 pills).  It goes away and I am fine for 3 to 4 months and I get another one different place.  The Dr. at the clinic I go to says that I probably have an infection in my nose that is the cause of re-infecting ... I have swabbed a special antibiotic in my nose for a number if days to try to kill it (Dr. even had my husband do it to, just incase It was somehow from him).  That was about a year ago and I still get these things.  Early on I would go longer before I took antibiotics but it would grow very fast and very painful.  The first one I got had to be lanced by a surgeon because it was so big ... and I have never felt so much pain... I then took them VERY seriously from then on... I don't know what to do I want them to stop and I hate(!) taking so much antibiotics ... I know that is not good for you at all...
I go to a free clinic ... so there is just so much they can do... they give me refills of the Dicloxacillin and I take them every few months because I have to...
This is painful and scary...

Has anyone else had a problem like this???

[Steve_in_NYC]

I have looked so long for a solution.  I just tell myself this is my cross to bare.  I am 44 and have been dealing with this for the last 20 years or so.  They come up a few times a year and take an average of 1 month to heal.   About a month ago I had one on my left cheek.  That healed in about a week.  And then a new one occurred on my right cheek.  There was a secondary infection and had to go to the emergency room and get an iv of anti-biotic.  There is no definite pattern.  It seems to be a combination of factors that bring this on.  Stress is probably the biggest cause I'm guessing.  I missed two weeks of work and suspect this will probably get me fired... Though I am now going into work with a bandaid over it.  I am trying the tumeric solution I read on this sight... Thank you all for posting.  They itch and hurt and as you all know are not all too flattering.  Doctors rarely contribute anything of value and dermatologists play stupid most of the time choosing to make you feel like you are the problem.  Yes I know I pick at it and I shouldn't.  But we all know the key to healing these things is drain them as much possible where the body can do the rest.  My objective is always to get a good bloody scab of the area after draining.  This usually gets it on its way to healing.  I saw about 6 doctors this last time.  The last one asked if he could feel it.  The was a decent scab.  Big mistake.  It was almost back I square one after he irritated it.   Most of th problem seems to me related to the nervous system.  The skin sometimes feels very agitated as if it is already infected - even before there are any signs in infection.  A few doctors have suggested it could be herpes as that typically has a painful nerve endings on fire sensation.  I have a prescription for acyclovir - doctor says that doesn't usually help after the infection is in full bloom.  So I will try it next time I think it is coming on.  It doesn't look like herpes... So most doctors are doubtful about this diagnosis.  I will keep you all posted.  God bless

[maz233]

For boils on your chin I found that a seaweed powder mask..mixed with hot water and apply will definetly clear them up...takes a couple of days but reduces them completely!!!

[shabbyrose]

Hi there,
I can completely relate to you.
I 33 been suffering for 8yrs , also have Fibro and other health probs..
I suffer with severe boils around the mouth and they can sometimes change to coldsores.
I'm sat with 3 boils all in 1 area at the min, my lymph glands are up AGAIN and my ear and jaw are so painful.
All I get off my doctor is BLANK expression on his face.
Surely there must be an answer to this, there are so many people suffering with these problems.??

[Brenda32979]

That is VERY interesting. I was healthy as an OX until I had my children. I now have been diagnosed with hypothyridism, CIDP (which is the degenerative form of fibromyalgia), chronic migraines and fatigue, and now I am getting these infectious and very painful lesion on my face about once a month which have to be lanced and I have to be put on antibiotics.

[Afshininator]

I've had these before, maybe started about 3 and half years ago, when I was 32.  Never had them before.  These would happen in a stint of a few months, one would come, then go after much torturous pain and only a couple of weeks off from the next one.  This happened a few times but they seemed to go away without a lot of problem when they first started, though they WERE a big problem.  I would always drain them when they began to swell, and I have relatively large pores and so it seemed easier for them to "sweat" out when I drained them, but left large areas raw.  I had them in the same area as you describe.  The worst one I had was in the neck under the chin, between the chin and Adam's apple.  Good God!  It left a little scar.  Well, I was in Asia for 3 years and they never happened over there!  I have been back in Austin for only a month and a half and they are BACK!  So I suspect that it has something to do with diet, air, or water.

This one is the worst ever, and it is in the same area as the one's before, on the right side of the chin on the jaw line.  They tend to have this feature, where there is an initial swelling and tendency to open and drain on the top,  but as it wears on there is a tendency to open under the chinline and release there.  I don't want to go to the doctors about it, just will incur ridiculous fees and be patronized.  I drain it, wipe it with alcohol, and put a nice patch on it and drive on.  The important thing is to drain them, I think.  The system is trying to get rid of something, maybe taking a shortcut through the face.  I let it out and have never been inclined to wait one out.

The only thing that I've noticed is different when these started up is I have been taking supplements, and I'm not sure but maybe something similar happened the last time...  I had already been taking Vitamins A, C, and E... and plenty of Folate (Folic Acid)... also Omega 3-6-9 fish oil caps.  But this thing didn't start up until I started taking B-Complex, the kind that gives you like, 6,667% of your DRA of B-1, 5,882% DRA of B-2, 500% B-3, 5,000% B6, and 1,667 of B12.  I'll have to check the receipt, but it seems like it was not right after I began taking them, but maybe after I  started doing TWO caps a day of the B-Complex.  I assumed that might be it, because I read that a possible side-effect of too much B-12 is some kind of skin rash or something, so I suspect it might exacerbate an existing predisposition toward boils in the skin. I also started at he same time taking D3 at 1,250% DRA, but I don't think it is related.  So therefore I've completely stopped the B-Complex and things came to a head yesterday...  It was a DRAINATHON!  (Gross, I know...)  I mean, I'm asking God what is the meaning of this madness, and it comes right before I need to be fresh for a slew of job interviews, etc...  Not a good time for this.  Well, I'm now going to just keep it cleaned and covered and give it a rest and only after this is cleared up will I be taking any B-Complex again.  And when I do, I'll only take ONE as recommended and only EVERY OTHER day.

[RolandDanner]

I am VERY glad i have found that I am not the only one in the fight against boils/cysts on the face.

I have been suffering from this since i was about 15.  Very large boils/cysts would occur on the right side of my face (on the jawline, a few inches right of my chin, extending towards my ear...  basically that whole area).  This went on for years (until i was about 18), and cause major permanent scarring on that side of my face.

I was put on the drug ACCUTANE (for 6 months), when I was 16...  it helped alot...  but didnt clear me up 100%.  They asked If i wanted to be put on it again for another 3 months, and i refused (because going through the effects of accutane are very tough, google it).  But at this point I wish I had, it might have helped in the longrun.

Around about the age of 18, they pretty much stopped.  Thats until about a year ago (I am now 26)..  the SAME EXACT boil spots have been reacurring, as well as new ones (has moved to the left side of my face, in the same general area as the right, as well as my cheeks, and under my chin).  And some area's get absolutely massive ( the size of a silver dollar at times), and will last for weeks.  Some wont even actually drain, they will swell, not come to a head, but soften and basically "go away" without relieving the puss outside of the skin (by popping it).  Not to mention they're beyond painful at times.

Even during those 4-5 years where i wasnt getting them, i would still worry about getting them.  Even now, if it was to stop today, the scarring from all of this has perminently distorted the right part of my face (there is "drooping" in my face, completely noticeable when I'm looked at directly from the front.  Obvious signs of major skin/tissue damage).

there are a few things on here i haven't tried yet (including the fish-oil and vitamin regemends)...  fasting/purging my system might work.  I'm just not sure what changed a year and a half ago, to make them flare up again like they have (a bit worse if you ask me).  I'm very active, and workout 6 days a week (and always have) weight lifting/running/biking.  Nothing has really changed, not even my diet.

Anyway, I will post here again in a few weeks - to a month; to inform you guys on the progress of the fish oil/vitamin/purge on my system...  till then...  wish me luck.