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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Boils On Arms And Body After Taking Cortisone Shot?

I already told you! I am paying for this and you are suppose to answer me. I had a cortisone shot 07/16/14. I awoke the 17th with a bright red heated face and pustules like boils started popping up on my arms and torso. They are going awya after I open them and drain them. What is going omn and what do I do and how long will this go on. I am fatigued. What happened.
Fri, 20 Mar 2015
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Dermatologist,  's  Response
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

You seem to have developed bacterial skin infection i.e folliculitis.
Systemic steroids can make one susceptible to infection and this is what seems to have happened in your case.
If I was the treating doctor I would like to send a pus sample from one of these pustules for a culture so as to identify the causative pathogen and determine its antibiotic sensitivity.
Pending culture report, I would have started you empirically on Oral antibiotics e.g either flucloxacillin Or cephalexin for a week. The antibiotics can be changed subsequently as guided by the sensitivity report
Topically I would have asked you to apply an OTC topical antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin ointment, over the pustules.
Oral antibiotics are prescription drugs therefore I suggest that you talk to your doctor for the needful.


Regards
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What Causes Boils On Arms And Body After Taking Cortisone Shot?

Hello. Thank you for writing to us You seem to have developed bacterial skin infection i.e folliculitis. Systemic steroids can make one susceptible to infection and this is what seems to have happened in your case. If I was the treating doctor I would like to send a pus sample from one of these pustules for a culture so as to identify the causative pathogen and determine its antibiotic sensitivity. Pending culture report, I would have started you empirically on Oral antibiotics e.g either flucloxacillin Or cephalexin for a week. The antibiotics can be changed subsequently as guided by the sensitivity report Topically I would have asked you to apply an OTC topical antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin ointment, over the pustules. Oral antibiotics are prescription drugs therefore I suggest that you talk to your doctor for the needful. Regards