Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Recurrent Skin Boils And Leg Swelling
Question: HELLO DOCTOR,GOOD MORNING, I have been suffering with skin boils for the last 5 months especially on my right leg. i am also a lichen planus patient aged 41 years. the skin boils are reocuuring and the leg is swelling. i am not a diabatic. i have consulted doctor(dermitologist) yesterday. she prescribed "AUGPEN 625" "ZEVIT" "CETZINE"..Please help me to get rid of the skin boils. thank you.
Brief Answer:
"Recurrent Folliculitis". Kindly elaborate the concern.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum. I can understand your concern for Folliculitis. After reading your query with diligence it seems that you are suffering from the problem of "Recurrent Folliculitis".
To tell you simply - This is a condition of inflammation and infection of the hair root and oil gland attached to it.
To explain it medically, we have hair all over our body which have opening of the oil glands attached to it. By many a factors these hair root and oil gland can become inflamed and infected leading to folliculitis.
The reason for the inflammation and infection of the area is due to the fact that our body harbors multiple types of bacteria on the skin which are known as “Normal flora” of the skin. A bacteria “Staphylococcus aureus” is also a part of that flora, but as soon as there is some break in the skin or trivially also due to bit ups and downs in immunity, the bacteria gets access into the skin and causes the aforesaid process of inflammation and infection.
When it is superficial it heals without any problem, but when it is deep it causes lot of pain and swelling around the area. In general these persist for few weeks and heals without any problem. After a period of time our immunity prevents the further formation and inflammation.
The main concern is when it is occurring frequently and regularly. Before I guide you any further I would like ask certain relevant questions with the condition:
1. How long you have this folliculitis problem.
2. Any other skin problems or any recent history of any illness.
3. Exposure to heat and humidity in last few months or your job profile.
4. Any previous history of taking some medications especially antibiotics in last 6 months.
5. Any tests done for the management of the folliculitis.
6. Do you apply any kind of oil or use any kind of moisturizing cream on body surface.
Hope to hear soon form your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD (Dermatology & Sexually transmitted diseases)
"Recurrent Folliculitis". Kindly elaborate the concern.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum. I can understand your concern for Folliculitis. After reading your query with diligence it seems that you are suffering from the problem of "Recurrent Folliculitis".
To tell you simply - This is a condition of inflammation and infection of the hair root and oil gland attached to it.
To explain it medically, we have hair all over our body which have opening of the oil glands attached to it. By many a factors these hair root and oil gland can become inflamed and infected leading to folliculitis.
The reason for the inflammation and infection of the area is due to the fact that our body harbors multiple types of bacteria on the skin which are known as “Normal flora” of the skin. A bacteria “Staphylococcus aureus” is also a part of that flora, but as soon as there is some break in the skin or trivially also due to bit ups and downs in immunity, the bacteria gets access into the skin and causes the aforesaid process of inflammation and infection.
When it is superficial it heals without any problem, but when it is deep it causes lot of pain and swelling around the area. In general these persist for few weeks and heals without any problem. After a period of time our immunity prevents the further formation and inflammation.
The main concern is when it is occurring frequently and regularly. Before I guide you any further I would like ask certain relevant questions with the condition:
1. How long you have this folliculitis problem.
2. Any other skin problems or any recent history of any illness.
3. Exposure to heat and humidity in last few months or your job profile.
4. Any previous history of taking some medications especially antibiotics in last 6 months.
5. Any tests done for the management of the folliculitis.
6. Do you apply any kind of oil or use any kind of moisturizing cream on body surface.
Hope to hear soon form your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD (Dermatology & Sexually transmitted diseases)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Doctor , I have been suffering with the folliculitis for the last 5 months. i have been suffering with Lichen Planus for the past 5 years. i tried allopathy for LP but total eradication was not visible during the treatment which included steroids. My place(Ramagundam) is known to be very heat place ranging temparatures upto 49 degrees during the summer. i have taken antiboitics(linzolid,amnoxyllin,etc inn the past) . when it is itchy on the on the right reg i applied ponds cold cream to get relief.
Thank you doctor.
Thank you doctor.
Brief Answer:
"Recurrent Folliculitis": Certain tips and suggestions.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for sending the important details.
I can get that you have taken various treatments for Lichen planus as well as folliculitis both. As I suggested before that the boils occur mainly due to bacterial proliferation. It is due to variety of causes which induces entry of the bacteria and then lowered immunity.
If I were your treating doctor then I would have done all the important physical examination as well as done all the routine tests including Complete blood counts, serum biochemistry including blood sugar to rule out an important cause related to your problems.
There are certain important tips regarding your problem:
1. Do not pinch, pop or even try to touch any of the area of boils.
2. Kindly avoid scratching any area of normal skin also, as it leads to minor entry points for the entry of bacteria.
3. Wear cotton clothes and cotton undergarments to be changed two times a day. Stay in cool place as hot environment always predisposes more boils.
4. Maintain proper hygiene and take two times daily bath.
5. Avoid any kind of stress, even for this condition also as stress is one of the very important factor playing role in our immunity (making it low) so prone for infections.
Yoga, meditations and simple walk do help a lot in improving immunity.
6. For the boils present now, you can do warm saline compresses (1 glass of water and pinch of salt in it) for 2-3 times a day.
Your doctor has provided a good course of antibiotic and other things which will take care of the boils present now. But I would have also preferred to do a culture and sensitivity test of pus to know the exact bacteria and the most sensitive antibiotic. If at all you take oral antibiotic, then do take proper dose and full course of antibiotics (as improper dosing and schedule leads to antibiotic resistance and then recurrent nature of the situation).
Eat healthy and nutritious food to improve your immunity at its best because is the most important factor in reducing and eliminating any infection from the body.
Hope the information will help you. If you have any further questions, I will be happy to help.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
(MD- Dermatology & STD)
"Recurrent Folliculitis": Certain tips and suggestions.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for sending the important details.
I can get that you have taken various treatments for Lichen planus as well as folliculitis both. As I suggested before that the boils occur mainly due to bacterial proliferation. It is due to variety of causes which induces entry of the bacteria and then lowered immunity.
If I were your treating doctor then I would have done all the important physical examination as well as done all the routine tests including Complete blood counts, serum biochemistry including blood sugar to rule out an important cause related to your problems.
There are certain important tips regarding your problem:
1. Do not pinch, pop or even try to touch any of the area of boils.
2. Kindly avoid scratching any area of normal skin also, as it leads to minor entry points for the entry of bacteria.
3. Wear cotton clothes and cotton undergarments to be changed two times a day. Stay in cool place as hot environment always predisposes more boils.
4. Maintain proper hygiene and take two times daily bath.
5. Avoid any kind of stress, even for this condition also as stress is one of the very important factor playing role in our immunity (making it low) so prone for infections.
Yoga, meditations and simple walk do help a lot in improving immunity.
6. For the boils present now, you can do warm saline compresses (1 glass of water and pinch of salt in it) for 2-3 times a day.
Your doctor has provided a good course of antibiotic and other things which will take care of the boils present now. But I would have also preferred to do a culture and sensitivity test of pus to know the exact bacteria and the most sensitive antibiotic. If at all you take oral antibiotic, then do take proper dose and full course of antibiotics (as improper dosing and schedule leads to antibiotic resistance and then recurrent nature of the situation).
Eat healthy and nutritious food to improve your immunity at its best because is the most important factor in reducing and eliminating any infection from the body.
Hope the information will help you. If you have any further questions, I will be happy to help.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
(MD- Dermatology & STD)
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
