These are a category of medical problems that you can often treat at home without being seen in our office (within limits). Here is what you can do before you call us:
CRUSTY SORES: IMPETIGO
This is the most common type of skin infection, and it’s usually harmless and can be treated with OTC remedies. It looks like reddish sores with crusty ooze forming on top. It commonly occurs in multiple spots and patches under the nose and around the lips (from staph bacteria living inside sore and red nostrils) and can spread around the face. It can also happen anywhere on the body.
OTC treatments:
The easiest treatment is hypochlorous acid spray (various brands available, usually labeled as a skin cleanser). Use as directed. Wash the area with warm water and soap before the acid spray twice daily. It may take a day or two to show some improvement, but if that doesn’t seem to help, after washing with warm soapy water, dab on diluted hydrogen peroxide (half water) and let it sit for a few minutes. Then wash that off and apply and OTC antibiotic ointment. Do this twice daily. If it worsens though, you can also buy betadine solution from a drug store and dab diluted betadine (1 ounce in 10 ounces water) on in place of the peroxide as above, then wash it off after a few minutes, then apply OTC antibiotic ointment. Also, soak the area with a warm wet washcloth for 10 minutes a few times daily.
Prescription treatment:
If the OTC treatment doesn’t help, we can prescribe mupirocin antibiotic cream or ointment. Contact us for this. We usually don’t need to see you in person for this. IF the infection is over a very widespread area, we may prescribe oral antibiotics.
CELLULITIS
This is an infection within the layers of the skin which makes large patches of skin dark red and warm and tender to the touch. It usually occurs spreading out from an insect bite, wound, pimple, or sore nail. It can also occur without these triggers. While most of these events may cause some of these signs, we don’t consider it cellulitis that would need oral antibiotics unless it is very red, warm and tender. A patient may also have a fever.
OTC treatment: for early disease, doing warm water soaks or compresses may be enough to drain the infection – 20 minutes every two hours to start with, then less often as it improves. And twice a day you can put epsom salts into the water as directed.
Prescription treatment: this type of skin infection has a good chance of not improving with OTC treatments. Call us to be seen in person if the cellulitis is spreading or worsening. We may prescribe oral antibiotics.
BOILS/ABSCESSES
coming soon
