Brief Answer:
It is a common simple infection that very likely will heal spontaneously within a week- some recommendations given.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

The skin lesion on your face seems a simple self-limiting superficial infection that can happen to anyone and does not seem dangerous. I would expect it to heal within a week if you do not press on it.

Pressing it might put infection inside the skin and make it get worse so please just let it heal naturally.

On the other hand, having infections more frequently recently is something that might need a little more attention medically. I would recommend you to have some tests if you have not had them in the last year:
- HIV test: this is routinely done in patients that refer to frequent infection. Frequent infections might happen even in some healthy adults to be safe is recommended to rule out HIV especially if you are sexually active and or had any medical invasive procedure or blood transfusions
- Having a CBC and ERS done might be recommended to have an idea of how you are doing with your health in general.


So to conclude I would say:
- please do not press on the lesion but keep your face clean and let it heal naturally
- it is very likely it will heal spontaneously in a week but if it happens that the area gets swollen or worse you will need to have a medical consultation and get the proper treatment.
- have some tests to make sure you are healthy: HIV, CBC and ERS are the tests I would recommend you to have done if not done in the last year.
- if you are smoking, it is advisable to quit it as it might affect oxygenation in blood and tissues and might affect the healing process.

I hope this is helpful and answers to your question but please feel free to reply if more clarification is needed on this.

Regards,
Dr. Zotaj Antoneta, General & Family Physician

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Brief Answer:
It is normal to have skin lesions recur on the face as long as they heal spontaneously- the tests are recommended just to be on the safe side.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

The lymphocytes in your CBC are a little reduced and it is true that sometimes with an active infection they may get reduced and it is normal. The total number of the white blood cells (WBC) is normal so in a way it is good.

It may happen that the skin lesions can develop in the same area and there is nothing to worry related to this as long as they heal spontaneously and do not get complicated. The fact that the last lesion healed in a couple of days is a very good thing and confirming the fact that there is nothing to worry.

Local friction or outside factors you might not be aware might contribute for the lesions to come back especially at the same area and sometimes we do not know what is the reason but it is reassuring they heal spontaneously.

Having good local hygiene and not putting your hands on the face frequently and not poking (pressing) on the lesions is important.
As for the HIV test, I would say it is still recommended to have it done. Sexual intercourse, blood procedures and from birth (from HIV positive mother) are the ways to contract it and if you have had even one-lifetime exposure to any of them and you have never been tested for HIV it is recommended to have it done just to rule it out.

The low lymphocytes are very likely low due to the infection you had at the time but to make sure it is back to norm (it should go back to norm after a couple of weeks) then a repeat CBC would help know for sure.

To conclude I would say:
- it is normal for lesions to develop repeatedly in the face as long as they heal spontaneously
- to be on the safe side it might be recommended to have an HIV and CBC tests done. This is not urgent and is done to be on the safe side so there is nothing to worry that I am recommending you as it is very likely they will come out normal but we would like to be sure.

I hope this answers to your question but please feel free to reply in case more clarification is needed on this.

Regards,
Dr. Zotaj Antoneta, General & Family Physician

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Brief Answer:
No antibiotic ointment is needed at the moment. ERS is not in the tests you sent so it is good to have it done.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I think you do not need to use anything on the lesion at the moment. It seems very superficial infection and is very likely it will burst the puss out soon (the white collected material) and heal soon, there is no swelling or redness. If there was redness or swelling the antibiotic cream might be more helpful to reduce infection. You can still use the antibiotic locally, it will not hurt as long as you wash hands well before application and keep the area clean but is not expected to speed the healing of the lesion.

I understand your concern with the frequent infections you have been experiencing but these infections can happen in healthy persons also so very likely you do not need to worry but having those tests that I recommended might give you peace of mind.
The ERS is most of the times done with the CBC that is why I did not include it the second time as they both complement each other as tests but it might be better to mention both of them to make sure they are both done. I did not see it in the test results that you sent me.

I wish you a great week also and hope to have clarified your questions.

Regards,
Dr. Zotaj Antoneta, General & Family Physician

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