Question: I am trying to figure out what is going on with a skin problem I am having. I have been to a dermatologist, twice, and am going to my GP, tomorrow, for a second opinion. Around the beginning of July, I had a sty on my eye. It ran the normal course and healed but left a hard knot under my eye. Then my face began breaking out and I had what seemed to be severe hormonal acne. Around this time, I also developed an abcess in the crack of my behind, which ran it's course and healed, too. Then, I began breaking out all over my body. I have bumps on my face, neck, chest, shoulders, arms, legs, and a few on my abdomen. It is terrible and there are numerous bumps. They seem to be small red or flesh colored bumps. I can't keep my hands off them and when I scratch or pick them, they turn into weeping "lesions" that crust or scab over. At that point, if I pick and remove a "scab", it leaves a hole/pit in my skin. These bumps become red, inflamed, and painful. The dermatologist told me it was nerves and I was basically picking at nothing and I needed to find a way to "chill out". I feel like it's an infection of some sort (viral or bacterial). I have also been very tired, weak, and nauseated and now, over the last few days, I've begun to have allergy and asthma symptoms. I also began taking Chantix around the time of this all over breakout. Please help me figure this out. It is confining me to my home, due to the horrible appearance of my skin, and it has been like this for almost 2 months now. Oh...and I AM in the perimenapausal stages. Thanks, in advance.

While what you suggested makes sense, acne doesn't seem to be the problem. I do have a couple of acne bumps but, like I said, a couple. Also, I HAVE been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder but it hasn't been positively identified. Other than the couple of hormonal bumps I have, I have more than 100 "other" bumps all over my body. I finally got in to see my primary care doctor, yesterday, and he has diagnosed it as an infection, due to strep or staph bacteria (they "weep" and there is a yellowish to brown center, as they heal). He swabbed a few of the bumps and has sent them to the lab, for cultures. I should find out, Monday, what it is (he said possibly impetigo) and what antibiotic I need for treatment. Until then, he gave me a shot of Rocephan, steroid shot (I also have respiratory issues), and Omnicef to take orally. I thank you for your timely response and will update when I get the culture results. I wish there was an option to attach photos because adults need to be aware that this can happen to them. I have had this for 2 months, visited my dermatologist office twice, and I have finally gotten, what I believe to be, a correct diagnosis from my GP. I guess I should have gone to him first.

Hi. I finally got a diagnosis for this skin problem. It is a Acinetobacter Baumannii infection. I don't know how or where I contracted this bacteria, as I live in Alabama, USA. How long should this be contagious? I have read some articles on this bacteria but some are contradictory. Some say it's "highly contagious", while others say that "healthy" people should not get this infection. I'm also having shortness of breath and my chest is feeling very heavy. Should I be concerned about this? I am using a Dulera inhaler. Also, I have been taking Omnicef, as prescribed by my GP, but he told me to stop taking it and they have phoned in a different antibiotic. Is it safe for me to be around other people without contamination, as long as we don't touch, or should I stay "confined"? And for how long? Thanks for your assistance!!