Aa
painful recurring face infection (boil)
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???
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???
After reading many of the previous posts I see I fit in here. I want to be very detailed about my experience with boils and correlations, so this forum may lead to a cure.
I never had acne as I was growing up. In fact, my first boil on my face was at age 37. I have been to many doctors and they all have put me on an antibiotic. I have been on many antibiotics over the past 5 years. Antibiotics don’t seem to be responding and have never totally cleared up the infection. They usually work just long enough for the boils to go away and then they come back with a vengeance! I have noticed a correlation between the boils on my face (they are always on my face), UTI’s and kidney infections. It never fails, I feel the boil start, I predict the UTI, boil gets really painful, sometimes I get a fever, I get a headache, kidney aches, I am continuously tired, I see doctor, then I get put on an antibiotic. I have NOT been hospitalized for this or any infection. I have had ultrasounds, MRI, bladder scope, blood tests, urine tests….medical bills keep stacking up, but I still have the problem. This week I have two boils and even though I am getting plenty of rest, I can feel that I’m getting really sick again. I am making an appointment to see an internal medicine doctor because they know more about infection in the body. I will let you know what he/she says.
I never had acne as I was growing up. In fact, my first boil on my face was at age 37. I have been to many doctors and they all have put me on an antibiotic. I have been on many antibiotics over the past 5 years. Antibiotics don’t seem to be responding and have never totally cleared up the infection. They usually work just long enough for the boils to go away and then they come back with a vengeance! I have noticed a correlation between the boils on my face (they are always on my face), UTI’s and kidney infections. It never fails, I feel the boil start, I predict the UTI, boil gets really painful, sometimes I get a fever, I get a headache, kidney aches, I am continuously tired, I see doctor, then I get put on an antibiotic. I have NOT been hospitalized for this or any infection. I have had ultrasounds, MRI, bladder scope, blood tests, urine tests….medical bills keep stacking up, but I still have the problem. This week I have two boils and even though I am getting plenty of rest, I can feel that I’m getting really sick again. I am making an appointment to see an internal medicine doctor because they know more about infection in the body. I will let you know what he/she says.
About two months ago, I started that new 17 Day diet that relies heavily on green tea, Greek yogurt and fish or other lean protein. I'm in my mid forties and had gestational diabetes years ago. Have hay fever, reaction to Chamomille and to Sulfa drugs, plus some eczema. Got a boil on my face at Thanksgiving, then one on my hip after the first one healed. Wondering if the green tea or yogurt caused the problem. Those were the only additions to my diet other than a new multi-vitamin. Did lose weight, but not worth it if I get these awful boils. Started antibiotics a couple of day ago.
You might as well include me into this mess! 53 year old female who gets reoccuring monsters on her face. Extremely painful and have found nothing works. I am married and my husband gets them in his underarm. Now my daughter who does not live with us, has gotten three this year. This is causing me a lot of concern. I feel like it has taken over. There needs to be something that we are all doing. I feel horrible and dirty. I have changed everything about the way I clean and care for us. We have done the antibiotics, nose swabs, hippacleanse soap showers. IV antibiotics seem to slow it down, and then they come back. I am at my wits end and can see that I am not alone!
I happen to be a doctor, just passing by this forum. Sadly I have no solution for you because there might be several reasons for yr ailments and from reading your posts it seems that not all of you suffer from the same ailment.
I just wanted to set the record straight on a few things:
The MRSA bacteria is not specifically more pathogenic than other Staphylococcus aureus strains, so the presence of MRSA in e.g. your nose should not in itself cause boils or blisters, just makes them harder to treat if they do.
Recurring blisters in yr face however can have a lot of causes. Obviously herpes and bacterial infection ('impetigo like') could be easily found out and treated. But if it is allergy based, it might be more difficult to discover what is the exact agens causing it. Atopic dermatitis, HIV, syphilis, Lupus may all cause blisters in your face, yes these diseases could be more generalized as well, but limited to the face is not uncommon. Also afflictions of yr Immunoglobulin(s) could be a factor
If you have recurring ulcering/blistering that does not react to Acyclovir (for e.g. herpes) or to standard antibiotic treatment as in Impetigo, more rigourous methods are necessary. Your dermatologist should consider some of the options I mentioned. I trust a dermatologist to recognize Atopic dermatitis, others can be ruled out with bloodtests.
If the cause remains unknown a biopsy (for histology) and a culture (for microbiology) are logical steps. Consider making a diary that describes yr activties and eating habits and note when you have your blisters recurr. That could give a clue too.
Sadly, many doctors easily say 'stop scratching'. Though in itself that is a good advice, most people scratch BECAUSE they have a skin leasion, not the other way around.
What some of you describe could in fact be an infected atheromous cyst. These can fluctuate and recurr for years on end, always in the same place. Surgery then can be necessary.
With all blisters that are caused by bacteria, one needs to realise that the mere presence of a bacteria does not necessarily cause a blister. It needs a port d'entree and even then: It causes a blister in YOU. General ill health? Skin that easily damages? Medicine use?
I am not a practising physician coz I am mainly in research, but I have had 4 people turn to me with recurring facial blisters. One girl had them for nine years, therapies had not helped, I established 'simple' atopic dermatitis, a cleanup of her living space and some corticosteroids cleaned her up in 2 months and there were hardly recurrences. Another guy turned out to have syphilis. The right dose of antibiotics took care of that. The third one had indeed a bacteria as a cause, a change of antibiotic helped. The 4th one I am still trying to find out. However, a daily cleanup with antibacterial soap for starters has made them go away for a long period already.
I wish you all good luck
I just wanted to set the record straight on a few things:
The MRSA bacteria is not specifically more pathogenic than other Staphylococcus aureus strains, so the presence of MRSA in e.g. your nose should not in itself cause boils or blisters, just makes them harder to treat if they do.
Recurring blisters in yr face however can have a lot of causes. Obviously herpes and bacterial infection ('impetigo like') could be easily found out and treated. But if it is allergy based, it might be more difficult to discover what is the exact agens causing it. Atopic dermatitis, HIV, syphilis, Lupus may all cause blisters in your face, yes these diseases could be more generalized as well, but limited to the face is not uncommon. Also afflictions of yr Immunoglobulin(s) could be a factor
If you have recurring ulcering/blistering that does not react to Acyclovir (for e.g. herpes) or to standard antibiotic treatment as in Impetigo, more rigourous methods are necessary. Your dermatologist should consider some of the options I mentioned. I trust a dermatologist to recognize Atopic dermatitis, others can be ruled out with bloodtests.
If the cause remains unknown a biopsy (for histology) and a culture (for microbiology) are logical steps. Consider making a diary that describes yr activties and eating habits and note when you have your blisters recurr. That could give a clue too.
Sadly, many doctors easily say 'stop scratching'. Though in itself that is a good advice, most people scratch BECAUSE they have a skin leasion, not the other way around.
What some of you describe could in fact be an infected atheromous cyst. These can fluctuate and recurr for years on end, always in the same place. Surgery then can be necessary.
With all blisters that are caused by bacteria, one needs to realise that the mere presence of a bacteria does not necessarily cause a blister. It needs a port d'entree and even then: It causes a blister in YOU. General ill health? Skin that easily damages? Medicine use?
I am not a practising physician coz I am mainly in research, but I have had 4 people turn to me with recurring facial blisters. One girl had them for nine years, therapies had not helped, I established 'simple' atopic dermatitis, a cleanup of her living space and some corticosteroids cleaned her up in 2 months and there were hardly recurrences. Another guy turned out to have syphilis. The right dose of antibiotics took care of that. The third one had indeed a bacteria as a cause, a change of antibiotic helped. The 4th one I am still trying to find out. However, a daily cleanup with antibacterial soap for starters has made them go away for a long period already.
I wish you all good luck
this isnt someing ive personally delt with... but ever since my mother turned 40 she has had boil like sores on her face. they will go away and then come back in new places. obviously the anti-biotics dont work cuz the drs who prescribe them really dont know whats causing this. i feel so bad for my mother becuase she feels so ugly and is very depressed about her face. my dad tries to talk to her about it but she just thinks hes putting her down because of her face and she just feels worse which he is only trying to help and figure out what the problem is cuz he wants her face to clear up as much as she does and its really hard to get her to go to the dr or try to do something about it all she does is cover them with makeup. i can honestly say its putting an uneeded strain on their relationship. my dad was at the grocery store in the alcohol isle and there was a couple there who were looking for beer without barley and hops. im not sure if one exsists but the women had the same boil like sores on her face. apperantly once she got a little older (like my mom) she started to get them. they were told that it was due to allergies to the barley and hops she developed when she got older were the cause. im not sure if its true or not or if its even the same case for my mother. but it makes sence. she drinks A LOT of beer now. we thought these new pills the dr gave her were working cuz she started to really clear up. but i think it was yesterday that she got three more. and she hadnt been drinking quite as much the past week or so but the past few days she has been so im really curious if maybe that is the cause. does anyone else drink a alot of beer? well not even a lot i guess but at all?
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Dermatology Community
Learn to identify and prevent bites from summer’s most common pests.
Doctors argue for legislation to curb this dangerous teen trend in the latest Missouri Medicine report.
10 ways to keep your skin healthy all winter long
How to get rid of lumpy fat on your arms, hips, thighs and bottom
Diet “do’s” and “don’ts” for healthy, radiant skin.
Images of rashes caused by common skin conditions
