This past Nov. my chin and nose areas started to look red and had lots of red dots. The doctor wasn't sure what I had, so he gave me some steroid cream which didn't do too much. I saw my sleep disorder doctor who thot it was rosacea and gave me some gel which really stung. I endured for hours and by the next day was begging for an appointment with my regular doctor. Then he guessed impetigo and gave me anti-bacterial cream and pills to add to the corticosteroid one. The cream didn't hurt and it seemed to go away a bit.
The problem is that impetigo is contagious. I don't want to contaminate the whole universe by giving it to every random person I meet, right?
Well, aren't we all in luck! I know how to deal with contamination issues. After all I have OCD!
Contamination is right up my ally. I just have to wash my hands every time I touch my face. OK. I know how to do that AND I am conscientious enuf to actually follow thru. After all, this is a REAL contamination situation, not imaginary germs. I can handle this.
So now along with my facial problems, I also have really dry hands from washing them so often. I try hard not to touch my face by my nose and mouth. Amazing how often my face itches! Ever try scratching your mouth area without touching it? If you stick your tongue under your lip and stretch it, with any luck the itch goes away. Good thing I don't have a job where I'm dealing with people because I sure make some weird faces. My dogs haven't complained- yet. I wonder what all the people on the cruise ship are going to think about these weird facial contortions, tho?
Actually, I don't want to have this problem when I go on vacation next week. So tonight I started looking on the internet for alternative skin conditions. I found one that fits what's been going on with me- perioral dermatitis. Rash around the mouth. Not contagious, gets exacerbated by topical steroid creams but does respond to erythromycin which is what I have been taking, on and off, 3 times now. They're not sure what causes this but do say being out in the cold is one. This year I've been taking the dogs outside for a walk/play nearly every day for over a half hour at a time!
Normally I'm not really a outdoor-in-40-below kind of girl. I' m more a 'sit-by-the-window-reading-a- book-feeling-sorry-for-all-those-who-have-to-go-out person. But I will do for my dogs what I won't do for me. I will be mentioning this to my doctor when I go again Friday morning. I will also be stopping that steroid cream!
Is this the universe's idea of a funny joke?
Glad you found what sounds like the correct diagnosis. Sigh. Why can't doctors do that?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, if it was contagious, this would be a tough one. I obsess about passing illnesses on to others too, so I sure get this. But, I honestly don't think there is too much you can do about it. I mean, I wouldn't rub my hands all over my face then touch someone else, but I also don't think it's practical or even possible to wash your hands every time you touch your face. Maybe just washing your hands when you use the restroom, before cooking, and a few other occasional times throughout the day? And if it was Impetigo, well it's not life threatening, right? See, you and I would treat it like it was the Plague, but it's not. Anyway, I know it's easy for me to say this. I KNOW how hard it is. At one point, I thought my cat had ringworm, which is catchy to pets and humans I think. She didn't have it, but oh wow, I was tortured by the thought I could pass it onl
I hear you and now that I'm not contagious what you say makes lots of sense. It's just that WHAT IF.... Screams so loudly in my head.
DeleteAnd, it was like all this contagious-ocd stuff I had perfected so well could finally be useful for something :P
As someone with issues about germs, who notices such things, I feel safe saying that most people don't really change their actions when they are contagious. Got the flu? come on in to work! Got a cold sore? self consciously touch it all.day.long!
ReplyDeleteSo in the interest of your OCD, I think you'd be fine to not do much different even if it were impetigo. As Monica noted, it's not the plague. And many "contagious" things are only mildly contagious, despite what you might read on the internet!
Yes, that's true, Ann. In fact, the pharmacist did mention that I could probably touch my face & something else, and not make it contaminated. But unfortunately that only really gets thru when it's all over. Up until I found out it's not impetigo, I was worried and very conscientious about it; found out it's not, and then all those 'don't worry' suggestions make a lot of sense. It's like static that doesn't let me hear the tiny logical things people say.
Deleteyeesh, Monique, not Monica. Sorry about that!!
DeleteHa ha no worries!
DeleteUpdate: I went to the doctor last Friday but the night before I looked up rash around nose and mouth and found one- a benign one called perioral dermatitis. It is not contagious, goes away with antibiotics. I mentioned this to the doctor and he said that that was what he was treating me for- could have told me!!! Here I was thinking I had a contagious thing and he doesn't update me. Oh well, all's well that ends well. It's mostly gone. I can still see the faint red around my lips, but unless you knew it was there, no one else would see it.
ReplyDeleteOh I can't stand it when doctors don't keep me properly informed!
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