Recurring eczema/impetigo in adults

[cakeaddict]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this. I have suffered from impetigo on and off for about the past 8-9 years. It only ever rears it's (very!) ugly head when I'm unwell - and then like clockwork on about the second or third day of being unwell my skin starts to break out in sore red patches around my face & neck which go weepy and slightly crusty. It truly is vile and I always feel like some leper as it's clearly visible being on my face.

Normally I go to the docs and get prescribed antibiotics/cream which clears it up eventually - until the next time I'm a bit run down and under the weather and then the cycle starts again. In between bouts, my skin is generally very problem free.

I am having another attack and have just come back from the GP. Decided to nip it in the bud early so went as soon as the red patches appeared - he has said he thinks it is eczema not impetigo but to go back if it doesn't clear up. And I have antibiotics. I tried to probe further, to explain that this is a recurring problem I have never got to the bottom of and is there any explanation why it keeps recurring. He was very dismissive of this and I don't feel like I got anywhere at all.

Has anyone else suffered from this and if so do you know any magic cure to make it go away for good, or am I destined to be crusty at least once a year?!

Thanks!

I'm no expert but also suffer from what you describe a few times a year for past few years.I suffer from atopic eczema/ allergies.Mine is diagnosed as eczema herpeticum and when it hits around eye then I must start a courses of anti viral meds/ antibiotics and creams.I was told I'm prone t this due to severe eczems.How annoying and interfering when ai wake up with the puffy eye and blisters.You have my sympathy but could be worse x

Hi how are you now? I have suffered from the same problem for years & like you the symptoms are the same. I was on holiday 1 year when it occurred so I was not near a doctor so I bought savlon cream & it works better than any antibiotic cream & I have been using it ever since. It saves going to the doctor every-time. Hope this helps & good luck.

Cake I have had a similar problem on and off since I was a teenager. I thought it was cold sores but the doc has diagnosed it as eczema that gets infected with impetigo. It's horrible on my face and I hate it. I have found my outbreaks have greatly reduced since I improved my diet, started exercising more and stopped smoking though. I have only had 1 outbreak in the past 3 years. Previous to this I would have 3-5 outbreaks per year.

Hi, I have a reoccurring impetigo outbreak. The time between outbreaks seem to get sorter. I feel there is a connection between my allergies and outbreaks. That being said I really want a dog and feel I need to get this under control! Why won't it just go away. That brings me back to year round allergies. Because impetigo lives in the Basel passage it often starts before I realize . I am working on nasel flush 2x day with saline solution. I found when I was swimming in salt water my face was the best. I also have antibacterial topical ointment and will try up the noes. It's tough because with the dry weather your nasel passage can crack and bleed and the bacteria can get in there with out you knowing. I am also going to take allergy pills and nasel spray to get my allergies under control. This crap just needs to stop

I dont know if any one is still following this chain but ... I'm 23 yrs old and ever since I can remember I suffer from impetigo outbreaks I get them less as an adult but every Time I have a cold or I'm stressed out I seem to break out with impetigo on my nose :( they say it's very contagious but iv never seen other people close to me get impetigo from me .... Though my daughter who is currently 2 had had 3 outbreaks of impetigo on her chin but we've never had impetigo at the same time so I dont think iv past it alon to her .... I'm just glad to know that there are more people out there with the same problem as me and my daughter . Iv never done it to my daughter since she's just a baby but every time I get impetigo I delude bleach with water and I swab the infected area it seems to speed up the process and in get rid of them faster i know it's crazy but iv lived with it all my life and if just had enough . And it works for me though it stings a bit .. it goes a way in just a few days instead of waiting a whole 2 to 3 weeks .

I know the answer to this. My daughter had recurrent impetigo for about 8 months and it was finally got under control after advice from a dermatologist.

The issue can often be that you have an infection up your nose. This does not respond to normal antibiotics so even if you take antibiotics to treat the actual impetigo, it does not get rid of the underlying infection. You need a nose swab and then if they find something (staff or strep? Can't remember exactly what, but gp should kbow), it needs to be treated with cream up your nose for a week.

The reason why you are getting recurrent infections is because every time you get a cut or raw skin near your nose (e.g through blowing your nose repeatedly, or eczema on your face etc) the staff / strep infection from your nose infects the wound and you get impetigo.

Go to the gp and ask for a nose swab. I'm afraid I can't remember what the cream was called.

You should also ask for your dd's nose to be swabbed as she may have the same issue and you run the risk of continually reinfection each other..

Has your daughters impetigo continued over the years? Dr should be able to take a nasal swab even if there is no sore and tell you if she is colonized by staph and what antibiotics it is susceptible to.

I hope she has found relief.

I've had recurring impetigo for years now. I usually get the infection after a cold. I am recovering from the flu and after receiving a haircut I noticed the impetigo developing inside my nose and on the top part of my mouth. This is first time I can remember getting impetigo in two different places at the same time. I am tired of getting this infection every time I get sick. People always look at you funny and think the worst. I am going to see if there is a way I can eradicate the staph inside my nose that's most likely causing the outbreaks. I don't even go to the doctor anymore because I have Bactroban already. I've had it so many times I have refills left on my prescription. Has anyone found a permanent solution?

You need to have them do a culture on your nose and test for antibiotic susceptibility. Once you know what ORAL antibiotics it is susceptible to you take that course, wait a week and test again to be sure it’s gone. If not, you do another course of the oral antibiotics, wait a week after you’ve finished the course and test again. Continue this until you get a clear nasal culture. Hopefully it won’t take too many rounds of antibiotics and it’s cleared out soon. Praying for you.

Hi, i am 37 and have had impetigo my entire life i have a baby picturethat proves it. I even suffered from post strep glomerulonephritis when i was 9 and nearly died from kidney failure. Today as i was looking into it because i have another break out i found out that post strep GN is caused by impetigo. I also just learned today that it is bacterial. I've known since i started school that it was highly contagious since the school would send me home every time i had it and I'm relieved to learn it's not a type of herpes as i had believed for about 20 years. I don't have much insight but you are not alone in this. I do know that moistirizing it causes the blisters to fill and go away faster i usually do a hot shower and let the water run down my face as much as i can. Today im trying a saltwater soak because my entire upper lip is so swollen it hurts to close my mouth fully and it alpears to be helping. Of course my doctor isn't in this week so i can't consult her :(.

I also forgot to mention that mine pops up after being sick or very stressed out. Both of which lower immunity. I have had it on my lips, nose, and chin )the nose is the most painful.) I do try to take immuntity boosters when i start feeling sick or am sick like vitamin C, zinc, echinacea, D3 (i live in a wintry climate), and it does seem to help prevent them. This time i was just too busy to remember to take them :(.