Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Recurrent Pus Filled Bumps On Face When Diagnosed With Shingles?
Question: I have acne like water filled bumps on my face. They never seem to go away. The only way to get the fluid out is to extract it, but they always come back and never heal. I will literally have them appear right before my eyes. Just before this started to happen I was diagnosed with Shingles on my scalp and forehead on the right side and in my right ear. They went undiagnosed for well over a year. I am taking Valtrex daily now indefinitely.
My Dermatologist has diagnosed this condition as acne and started me on Penicilin and a topical antibiotic ointment. I had to stop the Penicilin because of a severe yeast infection which would not go away even though I always take a lot of Probiotics. The topical antibiotic ointment has done nothing to help.
I see the Dermatologist again in two weeks and cannot get in any sooner. I am getting concerned about scarring because they never seem to heal and even when they are no longer filled with the water like substance they remain an angry red colour. Some of them form scabs that also never seem to get any better.
I believe I still have all the blister like bumps that I started with. They are sore and they only feel a bit better when I try and extract the fluid. None of them ever turn into a normal pimple that forms and gets puss and then clears up in a few days. I am desperate and am worried that my Doctor has misdiagnosed this, yet again. Could this be related somehow to the Shingles virus I had for so long?
My Dermatologist has diagnosed this condition as acne and started me on Penicilin and a topical antibiotic ointment. I had to stop the Penicilin because of a severe yeast infection which would not go away even though I always take a lot of Probiotics. The topical antibiotic ointment has done nothing to help.
I see the Dermatologist again in two weeks and cannot get in any sooner. I am getting concerned about scarring because they never seem to heal and even when they are no longer filled with the water like substance they remain an angry red colour. Some of them form scabs that also never seem to get any better.
I believe I still have all the blister like bumps that I started with. They are sore and they only feel a bit better when I try and extract the fluid. None of them ever turn into a normal pimple that forms and gets puss and then clears up in a few days. I am desperate and am worried that my Doctor has misdiagnosed this, yet again. Could this be related somehow to the Shingles virus I had for so long?
Brief Answer:
It may leave scar marks more the way you pinch them sqeeze!!!
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for consulting at my virtual clinic!
I have carefully worked through your case, and can well realize your health worries. Being your physician, I will take care all of your medical concerns today and will put my best efforts to get you out of this situation.
Yes, they are all related. It is actually named as XXXXXXX HUNT SYNDROME that is reactivation of sleeping virus of chickenpox. you as a child may have had chickenpox. When it resolves the virus hides it in the temporal bone of skull inside Facial Nerve (nerve supplying innetvation to the face ) and other structures (beyond the scope of our discussion).
Yes they are all related and due to the same Varicella Zoster virus that remained dormant for years and now have attacked your 7th and 8th cranial nerves. That's why the areas supplied by these nerves are typically affected with blister formation. they are typical as you prescribed to be red and full of water.
50% or less than that is the complete resolution of symptoms frequency in such patients. but good thing is that it is self limiting.
Keep a balanced healthy diet. Tums of fluids and more rest. No strenuous activities. Boost immunity with fruits. You are doing good to take Probiotics.
You can soothe these lesions and promote crusting/drying up by applying cool damp washcloth in ALUMINUM ACETATE. Please never sqeeze them to pop them off. It makes possibility of spread of infection and secondary bacterial infection of the lesions.
Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you with my expert opinion. Please don't forget to give rating (5 stars if agreed) and write a review to help me assist my patients in a better way; and, please click on 'Close This Discussion'.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is very necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change the treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in the start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
It may leave scar marks more the way you pinch them sqeeze!!!
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for consulting at my virtual clinic!
I have carefully worked through your case, and can well realize your health worries. Being your physician, I will take care all of your medical concerns today and will put my best efforts to get you out of this situation.
Yes, they are all related. It is actually named as XXXXXXX HUNT SYNDROME that is reactivation of sleeping virus of chickenpox. you as a child may have had chickenpox. When it resolves the virus hides it in the temporal bone of skull inside Facial Nerve (nerve supplying innetvation to the face ) and other structures (beyond the scope of our discussion).
Yes they are all related and due to the same Varicella Zoster virus that remained dormant for years and now have attacked your 7th and 8th cranial nerves. That's why the areas supplied by these nerves are typically affected with blister formation. they are typical as you prescribed to be red and full of water.
50% or less than that is the complete resolution of symptoms frequency in such patients. but good thing is that it is self limiting.
Keep a balanced healthy diet. Tums of fluids and more rest. No strenuous activities. Boost immunity with fruits. You are doing good to take Probiotics.
You can soothe these lesions and promote crusting/drying up by applying cool damp washcloth in ALUMINUM ACETATE. Please never sqeeze them to pop them off. It makes possibility of spread of infection and secondary bacterial infection of the lesions.
Hope I answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you with my expert opinion. Please don't forget to give rating (5 stars if agreed) and write a review to help me assist my patients in a better way; and, please click on 'Close This Discussion'.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is very necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change the treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in the start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. XXXXXXX HANIF
USA
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
