I've had reaccuring Boils for 6 years.

[UnknownUser19]

Hi, I have had reoccurring boils since I was 12 years old and now I am 18. I have went to many doctors about this problem but they all say the exact same thing. Since I did not get the help I needed I now have scars upon scars. I was never really told what caused the boils only that being overweight causes things to get worse. I have been over weight my whole life but it doesn't explain why I have the boils and other people exactly like me do not. In more detail, I get reoccurring painful and multiple boils under my armpits, on my inner thighs, around my private area and under my breasts. I also have access amounts of blackheads in those same areas. Scarring consist of deep puncture holes located mostly on my inner thighs. Condition worsens when I ingest high amounts of sugar and when the skin in the listed areas above become moistened. Another point I would like to make is for the fact that I get severe boils under my breast. If weight is an issue here...then why do average weight women with large breast do not get boils as well? If they have a poor diet and a poor hygiene but do not get boils then that would not explain my condition. Other than the fact that what I have could be genetic. Please, help me find a much needed solution. Thank you so much.

[ashlee1228]

it sounds to me like you suffer from cystic acne, which i too suffer from, the only thing that has ever worked for me was Acutane. As much of a bad wrap as it has recieved i had no problems with it and it truly was a miracle cure, but its not always permanent. They say it will either cure you forever or it will cure you for 6 years, for me it was 6 years and now im back on it. if you have any questions about the medication or side effects feel free to ask

ashlee

[chellybeans]

there is no miracle cure. a boil (technically a cyst for the record) occurs just like a pimple but they are deeper. the pore becomes blocked by sebum and bacteria.it is a pus filled sac that is under the surface.squeezing them is a very bad idea. you may be getting the hyperpigmented scars because you are causing trauma to the skin around them.another problem you may be having is that by puncturing them to drain you are leaving the sack intact to refill. when we excised cysts in the office we made sure to remove the entire sack so that there was no opportunity to refill. if even a small segment of the cyst is left it can refill.

if you have several then excision is obviously not the answer for you. you can up your vitamin a intake as it does tend to decrease oil production. vitamin a and e are excellent skin supplements that may help. another option to you is having the dermatologist inject the lesions as they occur. a steroid solution such as kenalog can cause the sack to collapse and scar down on itself without creating surface scars. then it cannot refill. the shots can sting a bit, but only for a matter of seconds and usually work wiithin a day to two.

you can also ask the dermatologist about oral antibiotics such as Minocycline, tetracycline or something similar. accutane could possibly be one extreme measure of therapy, with alot of risks. it should not be taken lightly, but if a doctor monitors your liver function, mood and general skin integrity, it may be a help, possibly long term. i have only seen it used once for a situation like this, and it was effective, but came with a plethora of side effects.

[sgrey]

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger.  I am 32 and have always had a problem with this.  Same areas and everything.  I have not found anything that helps.  I have tried anti bacterial soap and other stuff.  Mine are usually worse before my period.  Yours?   I don't care what doctors say, they are hereditary.  My dad always gets them and so do my 3 brothers and my sister.  My sister and I get them worse than the men.  It is not due to being dirty.  There is actually something in your body ( a virus or bacteria or something) that causes them.  I think you just have to live with it.  I will check back in case someone gives you a cure:)

[UnknownUser19]

Yes, I have been to see a dermatologist...many actually. They haven't been very helpful at all. As a matter of fact they seem to think it's perfectly normal. When in actuality no sane person who has experienced this for as long as I have would ever think it as normal. The dermatologists I have seen told me that it may be worsened by how I was over weight (although not necessarily caused), that it was like acne but was not (whatever the heck that means) and that I would have it for the rest of my life. Also, they said that if the boils needed to be drained they would drain them. As you can imagine that kind of news would crush a teenage girl. I just wish I had a better understanding of what exactly I could do...perhaps a too difficult question for anyone.

[chellybeans]

have you been to a dermatologist?