Here Comes A Dermatologist’s Detective Story Based On Boils

While boils are seen in most people, the causes vary. Identifying the right one is what is necessary to keep them away. This story gives you all the needed information.

Here Comes A Dermatologist’s Detective Story Based On Boils

Why Do Boils Happen?

At one point or another in their lives, most people have had boils. Usually caused by a staphylococcus infection but one that’s routinely treated with antibiotics is an unsightly and painful condition. People with boils should not wait to see a doctor as occasionally the boil gets so big that it forms an abscess that has to be drained. Dermatologists see boils all the time and we don’t regard them as particularly difficult to treat on the whole. 

The only exception as in medicine there is always an exception was M, an attractive woman physically very fit frustrated by a recurring case of boils on her buttocks and hip. Prescribing the usual oral antibiotics that are the standard treatment, she had already been treated by another doctor. For a short while, the boils had gone away only to return with a vengeance. Making sitting very uncomfortable for poor M the boils weren’t just ugly as they really hurt.

It was decided to treat her with an oral antibiotic, an anti-bacterial cleanser once a day in the shower, and also an antibiotic ointment in her nostrils in case she was a staph carrier. The boils cleared up completely as it seemed to work beautifully for a while. Later they came back to another location. 

Determining The Cause Of Boils In Case Of M

Going through every detail of her life, sitting down with M we tried figuring out the source of her infection. When asked how she kept herself so slim midway through the conversation, she replied Yoga at least a couple of times a week, Pilates, cardio, you name it. She was asked if she showered to the gym after every class. Unless they shower immediately after the class, they risk infection as sometimes people pick up staph bacteria from gym equipment or yoga mats. Whereas cleaning off the equipment with an anti-bacterial wipe, M always took her own yoga mat at the gym. And she also did wash her gym clothes every day. 

Thinking about it she was asked if she puts the clean gym clothes into the same bag every time? When she answered she did, we let her bring the bag the very next day. Swabbing the inside all over, we sent it off to the laboratory to be cultured. We had our answer a week later which is the time a culture usually takes and M’s gym bag was teeming with staph bacteria from her sweaty gym clothes. This was the reason she was constantly getting re-infected and we were having such difficulty eradicating the boils.

Subsequently, M threw away the gym bag, went on antibiotics again, and finally, her boils were gone a few days later and haven’t returned since then. 

How Do Bacterial Infection Happen From Gyms?

Bacteria can lurk in places you never expect so in case of a recurrent skin infection, some detective work may be in order as the moral of the story is. 

As bacteria thrive in warm moist environments, it is pointed out that it is vital to shower immediately after exercising while we are on the subject of skin infections linked to gyms. Made from natural fibres preferably 100% cotton, wear loose gym clothes. Especially for men who wear them to indoor cycling classes, tight Lycra shorts are not a good idea. As a result, we observe plenty of male patients developing staph or fungal infections like jock itch.

As most people workout at the gym nowadays, the rate of infection is high. It may have been one person infected with the staph bacteria and spreading to those who all work out there. It is necessary to keep yourself clean after each workout session. Not at the gym but your home, as there can be chances of infection from the gym even after a shower. This is where most people forget to keep themselves clean.

Especially during the current pandemic crisis, in case your gym is open, always make it a point to use sanitisers and anti-bacterial wipes every time you use the gym equipment.

Finally, We Conclude The Story

In the case of M, the infection was from her own bag that she used to carry the used sweaty clothes. The place least suspected by any doctor. But luck was favouring M and so she was happy to pinpoint the cause of infection. This is just one example you can use to clean your bag every day with an anti-bacterial solution to keep them clean.

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