Impedigo..i think?!
Question: Impedigo!.!.i think!?
hello!. I have a bacterial infection in my lip, which has lasted for 6-7 weeks now!. My doctor thinks it is impetigo, and has giving me cephalexin first, but this didnt help and then she gave me sulfamethoxazole which i have been taking for 4-5 days now!.!. It is not going away!.!. unfortunately my doctor never cultured it!. what can i do to help this!.!. can i gently wash the affected are, remove the yellow crust and then clean it with antibacterial sope or hydrogen pyroxide!? please help meWww@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
If you're not satisfied with your doctor's diagnosis, ask to be referred to a dermatologist!. Impetigo is rarely cultured!. The diagnosis is a clinical one!. I don't believe that Bactrim/Septra (sulfamethoxazole) was the best choice of antibiotic for a Staph or Strep infection and impetigio will nearly always be one or the other!. Speak to your doctor again about writing for a topical treatment (fusidic acid or Bactroban) and as an oral (systemic) treatment switching to Biaxin, Zithromax or another macrolide antibiotic (erythromycin would be my last choice), Augmentin or an anti-Staph penicillin!. Impetigo often resolves on its own!. Keep the affected area clean by washing it with antibacterial soap twice a day!. Don't force the crusted areas off!. They will come off on their own!.
Click on the links below to see what impetigo looks like and what the symptoms are!.
http://www!.medicinenet!.com/impetigo/arti!.!.!.
http://www!.mayoclinic!.com/health/impetig!.!.!.
Don't use peroxide on the lesions!. Peroxide is useful for initially cleaning wounds and for debriding but it kills developing skin cells and should not be used on a continuing basis!. The antibacterial soap is enough!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Click on the links below to see what impetigo looks like and what the symptoms are!.
http://www!.medicinenet!.com/impetigo/arti!.!.!.
http://www!.mayoclinic!.com/health/impetig!.!.!.
Don't use peroxide on the lesions!. Peroxide is useful for initially cleaning wounds and for debriding but it kills developing skin cells and should not be used on a continuing basis!. The antibacterial soap is enough!.Www@Answer-Health@Com