HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

What Causes Open Sore Under Breast Post Usage Of Oral Antibiotics?

Posted on Wed, 2 Sep 2015

Question: I have a low temp of 97.7
I have been treating swimmers ear since 8/4/15 with doxycycline, started amoxicillin today, inflammation pain and redness have all gone away but I still have drainage and I now have an open sore under my breast that started as a knot, it opened on its own and drained 2 nights ago, I believe due to a low immune system due to the ear infection, I am treating it as it is staph even though I am not positive, I am keeping it covered and clean, I am using peroxide and benzal hp and taking doryx, what else can I do?

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
possible yeast infection

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care question

You have recently had ear infection and being treated with oral antibiotics and now you have a red rash with an open area under your breast. This new rash is probably caused by the antibiotic killing the normal bacterial flora on your skin and allowing yeast to grow. This is very similar to a vaginal yeast infection but local under the breasts. I recommend stopping the Doryx and the other topical creams lotions etc that you are currently using. Instead I want you to get nystatin powder or lamisil powder or spray. Use that under your breast twice daily until it clears. the other thing is to try and keep the area under your breast as dry as possible. Yeast likes to grow in warm moist dark areas.

In summary
1, yeast infection
2. stop all antibiotics and topicals
3. use antifungal nystatin or lamisil
4. keep area as dry as possible

I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again with your health care concerns and questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ronald Schubert (15 minutes later)

The area does not appear to be red, warm, or like typical candida, I do have Topicort, ecoza, evoclin, and extina as I have experienced candida under the breasts before, this spot started more as a boil in appearance more like possible Hydradentitis Superativa, it then opened, when I tried to cleanse it in the shower it started bleeding profusely, nothing came out of it, nothing white or oily, I put a thin layer of benzal hp and a bandage over it, it is now a localized round open wound no rash or surrounding affected skin areas, I am changing the bandage throughout the day and putting peroxide on the wound as well, I am worried about staph, the surrounding skin is not fevered, there is no odor, no streaking, and it is not painful, I just do not like the look of the wound it appears moist red and unable to scab

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
mild cellulitis

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for returning to HCM

thanks for giving more information on your current problem. This sounds like your skin is just macerated. Which means there is too much fluid and moisture and it is causing the skin to break down. I recommend no topicals and no antibiotics still as this may aggravate the situation. Your body needs a certain amount of bacterial flora to protect the skin and killing off everything is a situation to allow for super bugs to grow. I recommend keeping the area as clean and dry as possible.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ronald Schubert (8 minutes later)

Should I continue to keep the area covered with a bandage to prevent infection? I left it open last night as I slept and it did not help to dry it out.
Could nystatin powder be applied directly to the open wound? I have been using spray gold bond to the surrounding skin to keep it dry.
Also I do have topical clindamycin gel, should I start to use this to dry the top and subQ tissue that is exposed?

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
may use bandage

Detailed Answer:
I think using a bandage to help soak up the exudate is a good idea. You should not put the nystatin on the open wound part but on the surround area is OK. CLindamycin gel would also be ok but i still worry about over kill and irritation from the gels themselves. I would still recommend use as little as possible on the wound. The less the better and try to keep it dry with the bandages

I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again with your health care concerns and questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ronald Schubert (4 minutes later)

Thank you very much for your time and guidance. You have calmed my nerves and I have cleaned the area again with no topical, just a plain dry bandage. I will refrain from using topical clindamycin at this time. Thank you again.
I have been changing the bandage every few hours to ensure a clean pad is against the open wound which has not changed in size but remains the size of a pencil eraser, every time I change the bandage I gently apply a bit of peroxide with a q tip then dry it with the other side then cover it. I am also keeping the spray on gold bond powder on the surrounding skin to prevent moisture. The redness of the surrounding skin of the wound is not subsiding and I am wondering if I should be applying a dab of the clindamycin gel or polysporin to the actual wound to prevent infection since it is open, the location being under my breast scares me. I have continued to take the Doryx and amoxicillin to help with possible infection as well as my ear condition I am still treating

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (24 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Apply Clindamycin

Detailed Answer:
At this point putting a little Clindamycin to the wound would be OK.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ronald Schubert (20 minutes later)

Should I be using something other than peroxide to the open wound, I am concerned that may prevent the skin from healing also as I am not diluting it, I haven't used alcohol as the wound is open and I know that will be very painful, I feel as though the constant use of peroxide is possibly irritating the skin the way it did with my ear causing me not to be able to use alcohol drops in it until today as the skin became very sensitive, I am going to try and purchase some hibicleanse to use instead

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (34 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No Alcohol

Detailed Answer:
it is ok to use peroxide but the alcohol will burn and not really help the healing. Hibicleanse is also a good option for cleaning wounds

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ronald Schubert (12 minutes later)

I am scheduled to leave for a week long cruise to the Bahamas on Sunday of next week, 7 days, could this wound be close to healed in that amount of time?

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Hopefully

Detailed Answer:
with good wound care this shoukd be on the way to good healing by then

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ronald Schubert (4 minutes later)

I have just purchased hibicleanse and will start using this with my cleansing routine and will only apply a little clindamycin to the wound as to not saturate to help ward off the current maceration of the skin and hopefully promote scabbing over of the wound, thank you for your time and assistance this weekend

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (17 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Your welcome

Detailed Answer:
your welcome

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar