Noticed some red bumps on my legs mixed in with the psoriasis, so luckily my dermy nurse daughter was here to diagnose it as infected hair follicles--folliculitis. All the years I've had psoriasis and scratched it bloody I never got an infection! This is frustrating for me cuz if I can't get rid of it with topical antibiotic ointment in a couple days she told me I should show it to my doctor. I'm sure that would mean going off the Enbrel til it clears.
I'm just a little p.o'd cuz my husband is a 'picker' he is constantly picking these little scabs all over his body, and he assured me the doctor told him they weren't infected, but I'm sure he never even showed them to his Dr. Our other nurse daughter told him they look like mrsa, but I hope she was just joking!
Grrrrrrrrrr I'm so mad! I've been feeling so much better since starting Enbrel! I wanted to ask if anyone else has had this happen and were able to stay on the biologic while treating it?????
Folliculitis comes and goes. I was loaded with it during adolescence but haven't had it that badly since I discovered better ways of shaving. MRSA is throughout the community not just in hospitals and gyms any more. A lot of us are carriers where it resides in our noses. It does not needed to be treated unless the person gets sick from it.
I get sick less often now that I am treated than I did before I started the Bios. My doctor does not have me stop the Enbrel for most common infections. Her rule of thumb is if you run a fever or are leaking pus then you need to hold it until the antibiotics are done.
The best way to avoid folliculitis is to wash your hands well, shave with a shave cream, a clean newish blade and hot water. Most likely you had something on your nails and scratched yourself. Some of us use antibacterial soap (like Dial) to prevent it if we are prone to it. I find I can use other soaps most of the time but shower 1-2 times a week with Dial to prevent it. I also use antibacterial soap at the kitchen sink as we raise chickens and eat their eggs. I am not sure it does much but it makes me feel better after rinsing the eggs.
MRSA infections appear in people whose immune system is way compromised. Like people who have cancer or HIV or have had organ transplants or are on large dose of steroids or chemotherapy. Remember the Bios only suppress one small piece of our immune systems that are way over active and making us ill.
It is good to be careful and proactive but it is also really important to arm ourselves with knowledge and keep all this new (sometimes overwhelming information) in perspective. Don't let your mind run off to the fear place. Fear is an unruly beast but we need to pull in its reins. Buy the book as suggested under Book reviews, The Facts: Psoriatic Arthritis. Talk to your doctor about what kind of infections should you hold your Bio for? Practice yoga; good for the body and the mind, learn to breath.
A dear friend of mine use to say before she died of brain cancer, "All is as it should be". I have "AIAISB" printed on my desk to remind myself. And "Breath".
This type of infection is rather common and occurs anywhere skins rubs, especially in overweight people. I wouldn't blame nor do I think you would need to drop the biologic. I have a speed script of doxycline at my local pharmacy. Works well for midsection. The best approach is to dry out the skin, but possible with the psoriasis. Well, I hope it clears soon.
Thanks for the info, michael and mataribot....I added the discussion cuz I knew someone could give me some good feedback. I had asked the pharmacist what ointment would work best and he suggested one that has triple antibiotic and pain relief.
Michael, I did buy the book and read the first few pages, but due to my crazy busy life that's all the farther I got.... And, because I don't get 8 hours of sleep any night ever, if I sit down to read or watch TV I usually fall asleep! But eventually I will read it.