Need Impetigo Help!?
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Your bird could be the reservoir of either staph or strep bacteria which can cause impetigo. Staph is the usual culprit in bullous impetigo, and it's common enough in all sorts of places including on the surface of your own skin. The key is to prevent the bacteria from spreading from your spot to other spots on the skin. If you suspect this spot, keep it covered with a bandage until is it dried out and nearly healed. Don't touch it unless your hands are fresh washed, and wash them again immediately after you finish with an antibacterial soap. Be really careful about the bandage itself, especially if the sore is weeping, as it will be full of the bacteria. Use a separate washcloth to wash the area, and don't use it anywhere else. Showers are best, using an antibacterial soap, and using towels, washclothes, and clothing only once before washing. So far as trying to see if it's your bird buddy harboring things, there's not any good way. My recommendation there would be to wear gloves when you clean the cage, use a bleach solution to sanitize it afterwards, and cleaning it each day. And be really careful handling the bird. It doesn't take much to scratch the skin, and transfer the bacteria from either the claws or your own skin beneath the surface. You might want to avoid skin contact, other than perhaps your hands, and then wash really well afterwards. You just have to attack any possible sources of the bacteria and try to eliminate or limit them as much as you can. Using an antibacterial soap to wash with, being really mindful of keeping clean hands and not touching other skin after touching the spot will help. The peroxide isn't much help, as it's liquid and will damage skin as much as it helps. You want the spot to dry, after all. The antibiotic ointments can help, and keeping the spots covered all the time. Another thought, since you are a fellow- when you get your hair cut, does the barber use a razor or clippers on the back of your neck? If they are irritating the skin and it's either not a new razor or a clean clipper, you could be getting it from that. They used to call it barbers itch. You might do well to not have the neck hair shaved at all until things are all healed, and then only if it is with a brand new razor. If it comes to it, have a trusted friend in gloves shave the back of your neck, if you need to. If you have longish hair that covers your neck, you may also want to get that off the skin. Staph likes moisture, and one of the best ways to limit it is to get airflow and light in. Your hair can also spread it from one spot to another, just brushing across the neck. And if it's not showing improvement in a couple days, you will want to go back to the doctor. The sooner you get the antibiotics going, the less invasive it will be. If it gets spread to other spots it can be really hard to get back in control, as you have already discovered. You did well to start treating immediately, and maybe that will help this time to avoid a repeat performance. Good luck.
make sure you wash your clothes every time you wear them using a strong detergent. Wash towels after every bath. keep bird off your back. stay clean. Keep using antibiotics between breakouts? Wash often and stay dry. Ask your doctor why it's coming back. Are you in close contact with anyone or anything that could cause it, even for a few minutes?
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