Child's skin infection on face and no one cares

If you have been back and forth to the GP over 18 months then this is what I would do:
Find out whether they have made a referral to dermatology. If yes, is this an urgent one or a slow one.
If no, ask them what constitutes a referral. For example if you have 3 or more urine infections in 12 months that requires antibiotics or medical interventions, you should be referred to urology.
Ask them what diagnosis they have put on her notes. Ask them what they had to RULE OUT to come to this conclusion.
Moving forward, ask the practitioner what sort of time frame they expect for this to be healed completely.
If none of the above, arrange an appointment with the practice manager. Discuss how let down you feel that after (how many appointments) your child has neither a diagnosis or a referral. Ask them what the protocol is for dermatology issues.

When applied by a dermatologist, cantharidin is a safe and effective treatment for molluscum. It's often used to treat young children because it is painless when applied.

You definitely do need to go back to the doctor, but a hibiscrub bath in the meantime won't do any harm. It's good stuff that. You use it as you would any other soap on the body. Maybe start with once a day and see what happens.

I’d be careful trying random things people are suggesting here. You could make the problem even worse. I’d have to go private to sort it out for her. Can you put it on a credit card?

You could try silver spray. Alfasilver or the like. It won't do any harm but may work as it's antibacterial, antifungal and seemingly anti everything. I do it at night though as it leaves a white powdery protective layer to prevent infection.

Dd had something similar, GP refused to do anything despite it going on for a year. Then she got ill and had antibiotics for something completely unrelated and it disappeared in two days!

Poor thing, I hope you can find a conclusion for her.

DeathMetalMum · Today 16:27

In the meantime I'd try something like dermol lotion to wash with or maybe hibiscrub.

I was going to suggest Hibiscrub, too.

Whwn my DS was a toddler (now strapping 19yo) he constantly had 1-2 pus filled spots on his face over the course of a year (one there all the time, in different places on his face). Not a massive deal so we tried various things exactly as you have. They started scarring so we said we wanted to be referred. GP finally prescribed oral antibiotics which cleared it up completely never to return!

I would say molluscum contagiosum too.

18months! Just go private. Initial dermatology apt will be about 250, they do swabs and then you'll have to pay for the treatment but I'm sure you're kid will prefer that to a holiday this year if she's not going out because of it. You must have saved tons of money in 18months if she won't go out.

I had a facial skin infection, few months and GPS were awful. It got to the oint I couldn't eat and collapsed after 7 days of just water. A&E still couldn't get me an emergency dermatologist. Paid private, all good and almost completely in 2 weeks. Cost maybe £1200 in total with the follow ups, tests and drugs.

OP, does your daughter use an inhaler/spacer by any chance? My daughter has had periods of something very similar, lasting months and months and just as you describe, with the spots going and immediately replaced with some more. Still not sure exactly what it is, but i’m sure the inhaler/spacer is whats causing it. Generally, we are told to stop using her daily inhaler every summer for a period of a few months and it always seems to clear up then, usually when she’s had antibiotics for something (either when i’ve complained about the spots themselves, or incidentally for something else). I really think its the something to do with the steroids/spacer, so just sharing this in case your daughter also uses one

EXTREMELY ill advised on a child!

Do not take this advice.

They haven't given her oral antibiotics? I'd insist. I had a kid with allergies and sensitive skin. She's had everything from infected rash, excema, dermatitis, ringworm, infected chicken pox and molluscum. I feel like we await impetigo

I think it is a staph aureus infection but perhaps resistant to flucloxacillin or perhaps she has a problem with her immune system that makes her susceptible to recurrent infection. She needs swabs sending to microbiology and virology from the pustules ie puncture a full pustule and then swab it.

The GP could check her ‘complement levels’ - immune deficiency as this is the most common problem that causes increased problems with encapsulated bacteria infections and begins at puberty.

Honestly just pay for a private appointment to see derm asap.

GPs are crap at dermatology. Try washing with Hibiscrub. I had a rash that my GP insisted was fungal, then when the anti fungal cream didn’t work, said it was viral and gave up. I washed with Hibiscrub and it cleared up really quickly.