Child's skin infection on face and no one cares

[TheHazelCritic]

As above, dreadful spots on her lips/nose,been going on over 18 months. Only after a year referral done to dermatologist,still waiting for appointment.
Spots go but new ones appear.
My poor DD(9) is so upset and refuses going to parties and meeting friends.
Go couldn't care less,no idea what it is ,just guesses and gives her useless creams(fucidine H, antifungal) but no change
Private costs so bloody much.
NHS is a joke

Bumping. Hopefully someone know what this is...

Ooh, that looks painful. Has she been offered any kind of antibiotic cream?

I'm so sorry. The NHS is brilliant for serious emergencies and serious illnesses like cancer - very bad for less urgent cases like this (and I say this as a woman with endometriosis - so experienced some crap care too).

Sorry I can't offer any practical advice - only thought is could it be infected eczema?

I hope you get some help soon. Poor mite.

I don't have any medical qualifications, but it only being around the mouth and nose suggests some sort of contact dermatitis. Does she suck her thumb or use tissues or ointment a lot?

Poor thing. Have you tried anything other than anti fungal cream? Did the GP swab the rash? Has she been given any antibiotics?

If it hasn’t been swabbed I’d go back to the GP and ask them to do so.

Has she been in contact with anyone with cold sores? I’d be tempted to try some Zovirax on that too.

when I had something similar it was sn mrsa infection.
needed a special wash twice a day.
no sharing of towels or flannels.

you need a gp to take a swab

Molluscum contagiosum

look this up and look at pictures of it.

That looks a bit like mild impetigo, which will need antibiotics. I agree your GP is being shit for not sorting it out by now.

i was going to say it reminds me of impetigo, have they swabbed it? Can you list what they have given so far / diagnosis and for how long It was used for?

Impetigo would normally clear up with the fucidin. When was the last time you visited the GP and what did they get you to try? They are more limited due to age in what they will prescribe. Do you have a different GP at the practice? Some are more knowledgeable with skin so may be more comfortable to prescribe something different.

In the meantime I'd try something like dermol lotion to wash with or maybe hibiscrub. Both are avaliable to buy without a prescription, and have an antibacterial in to prevent things from getting any worse.

Dd1 has a skin condition and we also had a very long wait for dermatology. I understand the frustration. We did have to visit GP whilst waiting for dermatology, once or twice and they did give stuff that helped even a little bit.

Have you tried a pharmacist ?

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.

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.

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

Do not take this advice.

EXTREMELY ill advised on a child!

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

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.

She had oral antibiotics,4 or 5 days, it improved a tiny bit but it does get a bit better then worse again anyway so unsure if it did anything.
Swabbed but the day of the swab no white heads,not sure if it matters,they said small presence Steph aureus ,but I have read that it is present on the skin anyway and antibiotic(cream and oral) didn't clear it.
No inhaler, Zovirax is the first thing I be tried as it started by her lip so I though it was a coldsore

No inhaler or any steroid cream.
She does also have what I think is molluscum on some areas of her body, has been prescribed oral aciclovir for that but again,nothing has changed.

What was that?

Sometimes when people say they can't afford it does not mean they would miss a holiday....
And why should we even if we could,shouldn't the GP be a tiny bit more knowledgeable? Or interested to find out a diagnosis?

I would say molluscum contagiosum too.

I will buy hibiscrub and see.