Diagnosed with Impetigo

About three weeks ago, my eczema got so bad that I needed medical attention. I was put on a short course of prednisolone (15mg for the first 3 days, followed by 10mg for 3 days, then 5mg for 3 days). I felt better quite quickly. But, there's always a 'but'... It did not last long.

My eczema soon returned

The ashen grey/stale color returned in quick time, along with my eczema crawling back onto my wrists and hands. I was confused at how my body was reacting. I knew that my eczema would return, but it was like, the minute I had finished the steroid treatment, it was rearing its ugly head again. And to top it all off, I started noticing swelling of my nose. White little blisters appeared around the inside of my nose, which were unbelievably painful. I felt like crying.

I still had hope for Dupixent

Although I felt totally dejected, there was one thing giving me hope. I had an appointment to see my dermatologist at Amersham Hospital. So a little part of me was pleased that he would be able to examine me as my skin usually is and not a steroid-induced clear skin/eyed hunk that I really am. Joke!

But, hopefully, you get what I mean. I didn't want the specialist to see me looking well. The whole point of the appointment was to try and see if I could get on Dupixent. More of that in a future article.

It looked like I had impetigo

During the appointment, he asked about the breakout of strange blisters around my nose and upper lip, which turned into a honey-crusted mess. He mentioned that it looked like a bout of impetigo. The doctor went on to say that I would need some antibiotics to clear the infection and explained that it normally occurs when there is a break in the skin and bacteria can form. His lack of concern relaxed me, but I got worse and worse as the week went on.

The infection was spreading

Four days into the antibiotic treatment, the infection had spread from my nose to my eyes. It looked like I had some weird tropical disease. I was in full panic mode and went to A&E at my local hospital. To cut a long story short, I was given extra antibiotics for which I am still on. And a nasal cream to stop the infection from spreading any further.

The start of 2022 is not how I envisioned things going. In the past, although I have had a lifelong battle with eczema, I have never before needed emergency medical attention. I have said this in previous articles, but I feel that my immune system has compromised due to COVID jabs. It might be a mind thing, and I may totally be wrong. Got no hard evidence, but it could be Ockham's Razor. Sometimes the simplest explanation is right there in front of us, staring us in the face.