Eczema infection

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hi docs, i understand this may be outside your scope of practice but i have been getting different responses from different doctors which has been disheartening, so i figured its worth a shot. My question is whether or not weeping or oozing eczema is a sign of infection and needs to be treated with antibiotics. I had a severe flare up 3 weeks ago which resulted in being prescribed prednisone ( and a course of antibiotics) which im currently tapering off of. im now on 15 mg and signs of the weeping are coming back. if i treat the area with steroids or protopic the weeping will stop, but im wondering if theres any contraindications to this. I can allow the weeping to continue and see if it goes away, but that would most likely put me out of the gym for a couple weeks.

thanks.

2

It may be a sign of infection, but without further history and examination we can’t tell you from here, unfortunately.

I also sounds like you may need a bit better “chronic” regimen for controlling your eczema. I’d recommend seeing a dermatologist for this.

3

“if i treat the area with steroids or protopic the weeping will stop, but im wondering if theres any contraindications to this”

Shafeel, I’m guessing you are wondering particularly about this:

“Topical steroids may also increase the likelihood of skin infections because steroids inhibit the immune function of the skin.”

Eczema: Steroids and other topical medications

But your experience apparently says the opposite: things get better with the topical steroid.

So then:

  1. Has no doctor observed pus or anything else that looks specifically like infection?
  2. Has no doctor suggested combining a topical (anti-staph) antibiotic with the topical steroid, just to be on the safe side?