Hot tub folliculitis caused by Pseudomonas bacteria can be dramatic to look at and have, but it is not chronic. Whatever you have now is not related to the hot tub incident. It does not sound contagious either--certainly your boyfriend would have caught it by now if it were. I think your story sounds most like ordinary bacterial folliculitis. This is best suppressed by daily cleansing with an antibacterial soap and the regular application of an antibacterial ointment like Bactroban into the nostrils, because that is where the (staph) germs live. If your dermatologists haven't suggested this, perhaps you can ask one about it. By the way, if you are picking or squeezing any of these in an effort to clean them out, please don't. I don't recommend any further biopsies.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Oh, one more thing i almost forgot. I have also used Muperocin ointment in my nostrils for one week, and have been using hot compresses off and on. I read that if you stand in the shower for 5 minutes with the water running as hot as you can stand it using a wash cloth over the area of folliculitis it would help the condition to subside. This does help somewhat, but requires doing this several times per day. Can you offer any other suggestions. These spots are usually red some are raised and mostly centered around hair folicles, some are just flat slightly red areas that itch. Others come to a head and are larger with the folicle involved.
Thank you for you time.
I have been scratching the ones in the chest area. Yes, this does make it worse. I have found some relief with the vinegar and hot compress soaks, but still have recurrence. I never had any problems before i went into the hot tub. Is this what happens to people after they have been infected in a hot tub? Will it ever go away? As for the relationship, it is a fairly new one of about three months. When i started having recurrence i became very concerned about getting close to him, but have been told this is not contagious. Even at that, i still have a hard time with this.
Thanks for your time, also i have tried the ointment in my nostrils, with little help. How long should a person be using this?
At least three months.
Dr. Rockoff
I am a 25 year old female, and about three years ago I got folliculitus for no reason I could think of...it started as red bumps all over my bikini line and legs. For five months I took various antibiotics (diff. forms of penicillin basically) that would sort of clear it up but it would always come back, especially if I shaved or waxed. My legs were covered, and I went through the summer wearing pants because I was so completely embarassed. I became extremely depressed and self-conscious. I saw doctor after doctor who would prescribe me antibiotics and advise me not to shave or wax my legs. Which, of course, was inconvenient but I was so depressed and desperate that I tried it.
Finally, one doctor suggested I try a naturopath, which I did. After four months or so of seeing her and being on various naturopathic remedies and changing my eating habits (no sugar, caffeine, etc) and growing out the hair I was ready to try shaving...the bumps went away and when I shaved there was no more folliculitis! I don't know which parts of the remedies helped, but I do credit it with changing my life. You might want to try something naturopathic if you've exhausted all avenues of conventional medicine.
I am a 25 year old female, and about three years ago I got folliculitus for no reason I could think of...it started as red bumps all over my bikini line and legs. For five months I took various antibiotics (diff. forms of penicillin basically) that would sort of clear it up but it would always come back, especially if I shaved or waxed. My legs were covered, and I went through the summer wearing pants because I was so completely embarassed. I became extremely depressed and self-conscious. I saw doctor after doctor who would prescribe me antibiotics and advise me not to shave or wax my legs. Which, of course, was inconvenient but I was so depressed and desperate that I tried it.
Finally, one doctor suggested I try a naturopath, which I did. After four months or so of seeing her and being on various naturopathic remedies and changing my eating habits (no sugar, caffeine, etc) and growing out the hair I was ready to try shaving...the bumps went away and when I shaved there was no more folliculitis! I don't know which parts of the remedies helped, but I do credit it with changing my life. You might want to try something naturopathic if you've exhausted all avenues of conventional medicine.
Kitty,
Can you give me more info about the naturapath treatments you received? This would be greatly appreciated.