HomeAnswersDermatologyfurunculosisWhat should I use to stop getting boils on stomach, thighs, and back permanently?

I get recurrent boils on stomach, thighs, and back even after several antibiotics. Why?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Vinodhini J.

Published At August 27, 2020
Reviewed AtAugust 25, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I have had boils or eruptions on my stomach, thighs, and back for the past one or two years. My local dermatologist had diagnosed this as furunculosis, and I completed several courses of antibiotics and two weeks of R-Cin course as well. However, once the treatment was discontinued, these boils kept coming back. Over the year, the frequency of the boils has drastically reduced. I now have them for five to six weeks as compared to getting new boils almost every day. Whenever I get these boils, it is very painful and distracting. What can I do to permanently get rid of this condition? I am attaching pictures of the boils.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Unfortunately, your photographs are not zoomed clear (attachment removed to protect patient identity), but whatever I made out, I go with furunculosis, and your clinical history and response also favor that. Furuncles are caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. I suggest you do pus culture. It is a hard bacteria, very resistant to antibiotics, but our bodies do have some kind of resistance to it. In chronic furunculosis, this resistance is specifically altered and reduced in some people, which leads to this infection. It typically forms pus-filled lesions anywhere over the body where the skin barrier is disrupted. R-Cin (Rifampicin) is the first line of treatment, but it also responds to Doxycycline, Azithromycin, Amoxyclav (Amoxycillin and Clavulanic acid), and so depending upon person to person. After a successful remission with R-Cin or another agent, you need to follow some precautions. Keep body emoliated with aloe vera moisturizer. Avoid scratching. Do not use harsh soaps. Use Mupirocin ointment twice daily over armpits, umbilicus, groins and perineum, ear canal, and nose inside. Use an earbud to apply for one month. Avoid touching any part unnecessarily with your hand, particularly the above ones, as they harbor these bacteria. Follow the preventive measures as advised.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you. It is very helpful for me. I have two follow-up questions for you. Any steps you suggest I can take to improve my immune system response? Should I redo the R-Cin or Doxycycline course, or can I directly start implementing the preventive measures you prescribed?

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

This immunity defect is specifically defected against Staphylococcus aureus and is believed to be mediated by genes. So, as such not known to be boosted by any agent. But variability is observed over time, you say you are improving, and you may get complete remission. Obesity, family history, poor hygiene, diabetes, other skin allergies, or disease are risk factors. Additional preventive measures:

  1. Use Chlorhexidine body wash or soap in addition to Mupirocin.
  2. Avoid sharing towels, razors, etc. Family members are sometimes carriers, but you are susceptible. Take precautions.
  3. Wash bedding properly and regularly.
  4. Treat anemia if there is low hemoglobin.
  5. If you do not have lesions at present, no need to take an antibiotic course. But if lesions are there, I suggest Linezolid 600 mg twice daily for two weeks and follow precautions.

I hope this helps.

Regards.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you. I will follow all your advice diligently and let you know if it goes after one month. Just one last final question for you Chlorhexidine body wash seems to be very difficult to find. I called a few local drugstores, and they did not have it. I also checked online. It is easily available in our country. If possible, can you please recommend any place I get it from? Or some alternative that I can buy.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Use Cetrim soap (Cetrimide) or any antibacterial soap. Chlorhexidine kills all bacteria but is not marketed much in your country at this concentration. The idea is to kill the maximum number of Staphylococcus aureus. Try to specify that in a pharmacy.

Regards.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thanks again.

I have been following your advice for the last two months, and there is a definite improvement in my condition. However, I am still getting breakouts 1 to 2 times a month. Is there anything else I can try? Since these boils occur in specific areas, will laser hair removal help?

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I hope you are doing well.

Please take general measures as advised. You have to start the same medicine for two weeks during breakouts. Lasers do not destroy the follicle completely, but two to three sittings do it. But, I do not think this is a treatment modality. As I do not use lasers, you may consult a nearby good laser setup.

I hope it helps.

Thanks and regards.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you.

I have been following the maintenance steps advised by you regularly and have seen good results. Fureunculosis on my stomach has completely gone. However, in the last 2 to 3 weeks, I have been getting new eruptions on my thighs. They look slightly different than the previous outbreak. Is this still furunculosis? I have attached pictures with this query. Should I follow the same treatment process as before? Please let me know if you would like me to get any tests done.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

These lesions do appear the same. I suggest you follow the same treatment. All precautions are the same.

Hope it helps.

Regards.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Subhash Kashyap
Dr. Subhash Kashyap

Dermatology

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