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SpottyFace , 25 Sep 2012

Finished antibiotics for staph - still appears infected???

I picked a hole in my face last sunday and finally went to an after hours care clinic on wednesday night. I was told that the sore was infected with staph and I was given 7 days of Bactrim. I just finished my last dose tonight. It looks better, but it's still oozing a little bit and won't scab over completely. Also, I think a spot on my nose got a little infected too because now it's red and swollen around the sore. Any advice is appreciated!
15 Answers
Emmi
September 26, 2012
Hi SpottyFace, Appologies, I dont know your real name, My suggestion would be to return to the doctor and get another round of antibiotics! if it is helping, then you need to continue doing what your doing, so I would go back and get a second prescription. and try your hardest not to touch it in the mean time. :)
SpottyFace
September 27, 2012

In reply to by Emmi

Thanks Emmi! I went back today after work and they gave me a second round for 10 days this time. I think that should knock this thing out! I appreciate your help very much. I've recently moved and I'm pretty much by myself so I don't really have anyone to ask for advice. Its good to know that there are people out there willing to listen and help. Big Big Hug!!
arkag
September 27, 2012

In reply to by SpottyFace

Definitely your best option: staph infections are horrible and spread so quickly! I once had one on my leg -- one day it was a few spots and the next is had spread everywhere, lots of scars from that but they all faded within 4-5 months which is good.
Emmi
September 27, 2012

In reply to by SpottyFace

No worries AT ALL! my Staph infection destroyed my confidence, it was all over my face, I hated it, and would hate for that to EVER happen to someone else. Im glad you got a second dose :) Hopefully this time it will kick this silly infection, Make sure to keep away from touching them tho, I cant stress that enough, Always happy to give advise :) Big Hugs back to you!!!
Brittanypicker
September 27, 2012
Hey spotty face, I think you should read my post "Do you pick? Nasty cuts you want to heal quick? I can help". I think it will help you a lot, i pick constantly and have also gotten staph infections from the wounds I've made, and taken antibodics and cream the doctors have given me but what I truly find works best is honey. Honey is a natural antibacterial and keeps the wound moist so it can heal and leave minimal scarring. I use it on all my cuts I've picked and it works amazing they heal in half the time and rarely get infected. I had a bad wound on my chin next to a few others but the one was infected, bright red, oozing yellow gunk, it was gross. And I just put some honey on it with a qtip and in about 2 days the infection to seemed almost gone and the wound was healing faster. I've been picking so long I feel I'll never stop. So Instead of finding a way to quit picking, I researched a lot on how wounds heal and basically how to take care of the after math. I've read a lot and tried a lot for myself and honey by far works the best for me it's natural, it's not chemicals like medicine, and its gentle. It might tingle a little but that's okay. Let me know if you try and if it helps you. Hope it does! Good luck to you, fellow skin picker. :)
SpottyFace
September 29, 2012

In reply to by Brittanypicker

Hi Brittanypicker! I really appreciate your message and advice! Ya know, I've heard of the honey trick but I've never spoken to anyone who has tried it (probably because I've never spoken to anyone about my problem) I might just give it a try! I did go back and get a second round of antibiotics but maybe honey will help them heal even faster. It does seem like natural remedies work the best. I know calamine lotion isn't exactly found in nature, but the zinc in it really does help heal things too! I hope that this staph infection will be the worst of my picking days and that it scares me into stopping...but I still eat donuts even though I know that after eating them I bare a striking resemblance to an oompa loompa..lol!! Again, thank you for your advice and good luck to you as well!
Emmi
October 01, 2012

In reply to by SpottyFace

SpottyFace, I thought it might interest you to know, a few days after you posted your story, I ended up with a small staph infection on a spot just under my nose, I remembered that the doctor gave me some cream for it last time I got it, It's called Bactroban, it is a prescription cream, but it has worked WONDERS in just 2 days!! My staph has gone, Im now just waiting for the spot to heal :) Maybe inquire about a cream like that :)
SpottyFace
October 07, 2012

In reply to by Emmi

Hi Emmi, I'm sorry to hear about your recent bout of staph..I know it's awful. My doctor did give me an ointment like what you mentioned. I think its called mupirocin, must be generic for the bactroban. It has the same consistency as neosporin and I even put it in my nose. It's supposed to kill any colony of staph bacteria that's made residency in my nose! Glad to hear that your spots healed! Again, as always, your advise and response is always so appreciated!!!
Emmi
October 08, 2012

In reply to by SpottyFace

it must be a similar one, I'm from australia so I dont actually know what Neosporin is.. Haha. But I'm glad its working. My staph has gone away again, and This time I didnt even need antibiotics. But I have found having a healthy eating plan has been really helping, the healthier the food you put in your body, they faster your skin heals, I'm currently going All natural :) Im glad my suggestions are helping :)
newperspective
October 08, 2012
Hey there SpottyFace! Instead of using a salicylic astringent, try using witch hazel. It works so much better and isn't as harsh or drying and is actually really good for your skin! :) I use it both morning and night after washing my face and before I apply my moisturizer. It has made my pores smaller and my overall skin tone more even. Also, my skin feels cleaner and smoother when I use it. It feels like my pores are getting a deeper clean than with just washing my face alone. Ever since adding witch hazel to my daily skincare regimen, I haven't experienced any new breakouts, which is a HUGE bonus! The brand I use is T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel. I have also tried the generic store brands as well to save a buck or two but have found them to be too drying and, in my opinion, not as effective. Witch Hazel is also really great for helping wounds to heal faster and has a soothing effect as opposed to other astringents that have proven to be more irritating - especially on broken/wounded skin. I hope this helps! Much love - newperspective
FrustratedAmy
November 27, 2013
For anyone who thinks they may have staph, please read this. While in college, I contracted MRSA several times in the public bathrooms. It was horrible! Any kind of staph is painful and super contagious. Make sure you clean any open sores on your body with Hibiclens. You can buy it at Walgreens, or Walmart and it is a little expensive, so be prepared to spend $12 a bottle. However, it is anti-bacterial and anti-septic, so it is one of the few products that can kill and contain MRSA. Also, it is important to make a staph wound drain. I made the mistake of involving my "picking tools" and drove the infection deeper with needles and tweezers...making it awful! Instead, use hot compresses to make it rise to the surface, just don't dig. I know I am eating my words because I have picked MRSA before, but trust me, if you can resist, please do! Always use Hibiclens when you think you might have some. I also use Hibiclens once a week as a face wash. I would use it everyday if it didn't dry my face out!
aaden073008@gm…
May 23, 2017

In reply to by FrustratedAmy

Same exact problem I had and I am suffering big!!! For one I found out I have severe anxiety so I'm always really anxious to get any kind of blemish off of me as anybody else probably would. I was continuously trying to clean my infections out and I used every remedy in the book. I'm an ex cosmetologist and was trained on skincare but that didn't matter.
I picked and picked until it got so deep and you think all you're doing is cleaning the infection out. Staph infection doesn't clean out it just spreads when you mess with it.
Do not pick at it and only use fresh clean hot cloth to soak. When it's still soggy after soaking put a bandage over it so the infection can drain onto the gauze. Change the gauze continually and keep always fresh guys over it.
You need antibiotics right away because if you don't you're going to be like me going on round 2 of antibiotics and being hooked up to an IV.

CindyR
November 28, 2013
CindyR Yes I agree with the advice of seeking medical help when you believe you have an infection. All the home remedies are fine I think until you have an infection and then it is time get some good old Western Medical help.
aaden073008@gm…
May 23, 2017

I just seen my doctor this morning and started second round of medication. I'm on clindamycin this round and my doctors worried they're going to have a hard time getting rid of it.
I had it infected tattoo many many years ago that I never treated and eventually it healed but to this day I think I've been carrying staff around for years.
I started breaking out on my back my face and every once in a while I had blemishes that trailed each other on my legs. About a year ago I finally started seeing a dermatologist who kept telling me I did not have staff. I was trying to push for someone to believe that I had staph. I was told if I had staff I would be half dead in the hospital so it could not be staff. I ended up going to the ER May 12th 2017 with my lower chin rotting off pretty much. Started getting headaches and feeling crappy but then I always feel crappy and walk around light headed all the time. Not feeling good all the time added to me thinking I had staph but then enough Dr..
I ended up hooked up to an IV for a couple hours and thankfully got to go home.
I feel like my entire body feels poisoned.
If you believe you have staph do not give up going to the doctor. Better yet do what I did and just walk your butt into the ER because that's the only person who would listen and it took my whole entire face to blow up first.
Let's just say I have their full attention now.
On the way to recovery finally.

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