abscess

[Smenon]

I had a severe scraching sensation on by buttock for about 2 weeks following which an abcess appeard on the right buttock.  It was treated and cured with antibiotic for 8 days.   After few days another relatively small abcess appeared on my left cheek (a large pimple), which was subsequently drained by myself applying antiseptic cream (which ws prescribed by my physician earlier).

Now, another abcess has appeared on my chest (just close to my left breast nipple) and I am worried whether this will create any serious consequences.

Can anyone advise me why this reoccur and whether it is simply a skin disease.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

This could be folliculitis, dermatitis, acne or allergic reaction. In most individuals there are outbreaks of folliculitis from time to time.

Folliculitis is infection and inflammation of the hair follicles. The condition may be superficial (i.e., on the surface of the skin) or deep within the follicles.The most common cause of folliculitis is infection by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.

Folliculitis symptoms can appear independent of infection. Exposure of the skin to certain chemicals, especially oils and tars, can trigger an outbreak. People with depressed immune systems, diabetes, or obesity have a greater risk of contracting folliculitis than the general population.

Patients with chronic unresponsive folliculitis may require investigation into the source of the infection. S. aureus bacteria can live in the patient's nostrils, periodically triggering a folliculitis outbreak.

Individuals who are predisposed to folliculitis should be extremely careful about personal hygiene. Application of antiseptic washes may help prevent recurrences. A topical antibiotic cream, mupirocin (Bactroban®), has been effective at reducing bacterial colonization in the nostrils. It is applied twice daily for a week and is repeated every 6 months.

If there any of the mentioned medical causes then treating those will reduce the occurence of the condition.
http://www.dermatologychannel.net/follicle/folliculitis.shtml

Some stubborn cases of folliculitis have been responsive to laser-assisted hair removal. This process uses a laser to destroy the follicle. This reduces the scarring that results from folliculitis.

Let us know if you need any other information and consult a skin specialist if the lesion is persistent.

Regards.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

They seem like boils or furuncle. Boils are caused by infection of the hair follicle by staph aureus.Bacterial skin infections can be spread by shared cosmetics or washcloths, close human contact, or by contact with pus from a boil or carbuncle.

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.

Recurrent boils are found in diabetes, HIV infection, or other immune system disorders.So pls get your blood sugar evaluated.They don’t occur in any dermatological disorder.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted in case you have any additional queries.Kind regards.