Boils or....?

by James
(Southern California, USA)

Folliculitis

Hi.

Exactly a week ago today I woke up with a huge boil-like thing on my left thigh. It hurt really badly but I didn't think much of it at the time, brushing it off as a bug bite. Eventually it popped and ever since, I've had a ton of these boils on my left thigh. They've also spread to my right leg, though there's not as many.

They most closely resemble boils but I'm not sure they are. They spread really easily, and I've tried putting cortozone cream on them (because they get itchy from time to time) but that seems to make it worse. Now my face has some slight red spots; they look like pimples, but they're breaking out so frequently and so bunched together that I'm not sure they are (it sort of looks like I have a rash on the side of my face).

I'm taking two showers a day because they seem to feel a lot better after a warm shower, but it's only temporary relief.

I also seem to be experiencing mood swings, which is strange for me. Not sure if it's related.

Any ideas what might have caused this?

And the picture doesn't really do the bumps justice. They're a lot redder and and the picture kind of makes them look like mosquito bites, which they definitely aren't.

Thanks in advance

Answer: Folliculitis

I think this is a folliculitis, an infection at the base of the hair follicle. Diabetics are at increased risk of this, but it can occur in anyone. It is normally treated with antibiotics that cover staphylococcus and streptococcus infection. Antiseptic washes will help too.




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