patch of bums accompanied by single boil

I was recently seen by doctor for a cluster of itchy, painful bumps on my buttocks, it wasn't leaking so they just looked at it called it "cellulitis" and gave me antibiotics (oral) and topical. I took these just as prescribed but within two days i got a painful boil on inner thigh, it had a black dot in the center of it. I went back to doctor and he said to continue taking antibiotics and come back if it gets worse. It got better, and about one week after finishing the antibiotics the same thing occurred. I got a patch of  itchy painful bumps on my buttocks and a boil two days later, but this time the boil is on the upper portion of the back of my thigh right near the butt and does not have a black dot yet. I don't have any idea what this stuff is and antibiotics are obviously not helping; it's painful. Please offer any help or advice you can give.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it sounds like boils on buttocks. 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. Severe cases may need excision and drainage. If there are recurrent boils, then please get your blood sugar levels estimated. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.