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What Can I Do About A Scab That Has Been

Posted on Tue, 3 Dec 2019

Question: What can I do about a scab that has been on my ankle for 3 years. I have had it scrapped out for 14 weeks straight. I have used creams to help remove the dead skin however it keeps coming back.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Need more information

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service. I have gone through your query and viewed the images.

It seems like eczematous dermatitis. Do you have any associated symptoms?like itching?pain?
Is there any history of injury or trauma at the site?

Hope to assist you further with your concern.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Little bit of itching in pain some of the times and irritation. It happened when I had a heart surgery a few years back but they restrained my legs because they said I was being too aggressive and I think a bad burn happened because of that. I had a biopsy done but there was nothing cancerous about it.

I would have constant pain just on that leg most of the time whenever I work and or stand on it and sometimes having issues sleeping at night because of irration. Ever since the biopsy last year it has scabbed up and it has came out a couple of times. But it still returns. I wear compression socks but to be honest it doesn't seem to help much.

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (20 hours later)

What do you recommend that I do like I said before I am still currently using the betamethasone. I tempted to take off the dead skin normally it hardens to wear it can easily come off and I feel better for awhile but overtime. It just comes back as a scab. Then the cycle starts over again.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Infected eczematous dermatitis

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I think it is infected eczematous dermatitis. I suggest you to take a course of an oral antibiotic for 10 days to 2 weeks. That would help dry up the infection. Thereafter I suggest you to use a topical steroid and antibiotic combination ointment e.g fluticasone propionate 0.05% and mupirocin ointment 2%, twice daily for a few weeks. You may also take an oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10mg tablet for symptomatic relief from itching.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (12 minutes later)

Which antibiotic would you recommend mind you I also currently take amiodarone 200mg daily for my heart and have been taking that since 2001. It wont affect that will it

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Oral antibiotic

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
You may take either Amoxicillin or Cephalexin for 10 days to 2 weeks. It is ok to take with your heart medication.
I also suggest you to go for a color doppler (venous) of the affected limb to see if there is any venous insufficiency causing the ulcer.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (27 minutes later)

Well one thing I neglected to mention was that I did have my greater saphenous vein removed from my right leg they thought because I wasn't getting proper blood flow to my right leg but that surgery was 2 years it hasn't helped much. But I will try the antibiotics you mentioned do I need to have a subscription for either of these or can I just get them over the counter?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (21 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Regarding a leg ulcer

Detailed Answer:
Hi
That might be a factor because it might be causing blood to pool in the legs due to gravity and interfere with the healing of ulcer. Hence I suggest a venous doppler of legs to see if the blood is flowing back up or is ithe flow sluggish and there is pooling.
Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Before I had that vein removed they had did a doppler I don't remember the findings for it. In the end liked i said they had still removed the greater saphenous vein and they told me the blood was flowing normally but I will look into trying to get another test done.

But for now I am going to try the amoxocillin route and see if that makes any difference in the near future.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Regarding a chronic wound/ ulcer

Detailed Answer:
hi.
yes, sure. Let me know how it goes.
Take care.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad