DEAR DR. GOTT:
My son has bumps on his head. They itch and break open. He has had them for three years and once a year he sees a skin doctor who told him he had folliculitis. He has been put on 500 mg of ampicillin daily. It helps but if he stops, they come back.
My son is now 24 years old and I am worried that he will have long-term effects from taking ampicillin for so long. We have tried lots of herbs, tea tree oil and liquid silver but nothing seems to work. I have noticed that you say Vicks is good for fungus but you only recommend it for nail fungus. Is there anything else that can be done for him?
DEAR READER:
Folliculitis is an inflammation of one or more the hair follicles. It can occur anywhere on the body and is usually the result of shaving, friction from clothing or blockage of the follicle. Most cases are caused when staph bacteria enter the skin but some cases are caused by a fungus.
Symptoms include itching, rash and pimples or pustules that may crust over. Treatment often consists of topical or oral antibiotics (if bacteria are the cause) or anti-fungal medication. Hot moist compresses may help drain infected pus and fluids from areas with extensive infection. Folliculitis may recur but often responds well to treatment.
Your son doesn’t appear to have a fungal infection if he is responding well to antibiotic therapy. He seems to have a rather severe case in that is returns immediately after stopping medication.
I recommend you and your son return to the dermatologist and request that samples be taken of his lesions for further testing. In this way, the exact cause can be identified and proper treatment to eliminate the bacteria thoroughly rather than just keep it in check which appears to be what the ampicillin in doing.
As for long-term effects from the ampicillin; I don’t believe it will harm your son, but it will not help him either. The longer he continues to take the antibiotic, the more resistant the folliculitis will become. Over-use and misuse of antibiotics are what cause resistant bacteria, leading to more harmful strains. This is not to say that your son is either over-using or misusing the medication, but I believe that over time it will eventually stop being effective and he will be left with a severe condition.
Your son many also benefit from a second opinion by another dermatologist who can provide a fresh view of the situation. Perhaps your son doesn’t have folliculitis or has an unusual variation. This second opinion can likely shed new light and provide new options.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Medical Specialists”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
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