Infected Hair Follicles, Please Help

[JOHNNYD1986]

Hello. I have been using a CPAP for about 6 months now. Over the past 2 months I have started getting these really bad sores on the back and top of my head that I think are infected hair follicles. They are usually red and painful and after a few days develope puss. They are causing very nasty scars and scabs on my head.

Unfortunately, I can't afford health insurance and I am looking for some help as to what to do. I have a feeling the cause is over tightening of my mask, but I have to tighten it to get the mask to seal properly over my face. I am using a full mask that covers from the top of my eye brows to just under neath my lips. It is a Fit Life mask by Philips. I have been using the standard head straps that come with the mask. Last month I replaced the mask out of my own pocket because I know they need to be replaced every 6 months. I make sure to clean the mask properly and soak the head straps in mild soap weekly.

Another problem is that I know I have staph bacteria as I had bad infection over the summer on my leg. I was told by the hospital that once you have staph it never completely goes away. So I am not sure if this is factoring into the equation or not.

Please help! I have short hair because I am balding and can't stand to have these hideous, painful scabs/scars on my head any more. I don't know what else to do. I can't afford to go see a doctor/dermatologist so I am forced to go by suggestions of people that have possibly had the same problem.

Thank you so much!

[jabman]

Ok first could you please go to the User Control Panal anf fill out your equipment, text is perferd.
I am not farmiluar with your mask But if you are having to tighten it then maybe you need to try a different mask, you might be able to take that one in and swithc out for a different one if it hasn't been past 30 days. But I am not sure about that since you don't have Ins.
For the sore bumps on your head you could try what is called a PAP CAP, which covers your head.

[Pugsy]

Can you make some strap covers for your straps that seem to be digging into your skin? Normally these straps don't abrade the skin but perhaps you have very delicate skin or the straps are too tight.

It is fairly easy to make some little fleece sleeves to cover the straps so they can't cause abrasions to the scalp
Padacheek makes many different kinds but they aren't hard to make yourself if you are handy.

http://www.padacheek.com/index.html You can stroll through here to get an idea what I am talking about.

[JeffL]

If you don't have access to some kind of free clinic, there are web sites where you can ask a dermatologist, like these:

http://tinyurl.com/3cjl7fz

http://tinyurl.com/44bs5ya

https://www.dailygazette.com/ask_a_doctor/dermatology/

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/dermatology/

I've never used those sites, but on the surface, it seems like better choice than asking a bunch of CPAP users.

[purple]

Sounds like MRSA, which can morph into flesh eating bacteria, which requires a surgeon to remove parts of your body. Really a bad thing if it is near soft tissue which does not get a lot of O2, or the eyes.

Run to a nearby medical center for help. I know that a teaching center take a lot of charity patients. Frankly if you can not go to an insta-care outreach clinic in the next 24 hours, go to the ER. My only problem with going to an ER is that many will not give the pills in your hand. Even if you tell any of them that you can not pay. It is potentially MRSA, it is a critical care ER issue. Just you might rather go to an insta care clinic that takes patients in the order they show up, no appointments, in place of an ER. As it would be a lot cheaper and ER's can make you wait a long time too. You would prefer a place that can give you the antibiotics in your hand in place of a prescription on paper, which means you still have to find a way to pay for that.

This is not an issue to wait for advice. You should have been at the docs office from the very beginning. I had three MRSA infections this summer and the one thing that the docs harped on was I should have gotten into them sooner.

[codinqueen]

If you are able to get a prescription somehow, and you live where Publix supermarkets are, some antibiotics are free at Publix, and also I think K-Mart pharmacies have certain antibiotics free. Check to see if your area has any free clinics for uninsured clients. If you can find a free clinic, they give you medicine free usually, if they stock it. Call your local United Way to ask if there are any free clinics in your area, or if you could get any funding for a Dr visit. I hope you can get some relief. I also think you need a different mask, maybe the swift Fx would work for you if you could find one from a fellow CPAPer that they don't use. Good Luck!!!

[Alshain]

Another problem is that I know I have staph bacteria as I had bad infection over the summer on my leg. I was told by the hospital that once you have staph it never completely goes away. So I am not sure if this is factoring into the equation or not.

This is MRSA (Meticillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus), a form of staph that is resistant to antibiotics (including Meticillin obviously). However what you have on your head could be simply acne due to sweat cause by the mask straps. Never the less, the fact that you had MRSA this summer makes me think you should err on the side of caution and get it looked at as soon as possible. You don't need to go to the ER, just get an appt with your doctor and tell them you suspect possible MRSA and where on the body it is.

[purple]

Be nice for the OP to report back on what he did and how it came out.

Bactrim treats some MRSA, and there are other treatments. Bactrim can cause dramatically low blood sugars.

As I had MRSA three times last summer, I have had several talks with my doc on the subject. MRSA can appear to be an insect bite. It can happen to anyone of any age, although more likely in people who have immune system problems, such as diabetics like me. It is more likely to recur in those who are aging or have other immune system problems. It likes damp warm places to grow. MRSA is suspected to be on nearly everyones skin, so it is a matter of getting a skin break to get it started. MRSA builds colonies on the skin. Aside from seeking quick treatment, the long term treatment is to very carefully scrub ones skin with a strong antibacterial soap (with a brush) and the let the soap stay the skin for five minutes before washing it off. I mistakenly used generic antibacterial soap (which has .1 something Troclosamine) rather than Dial foaming antibacterial (.4 of the active ingredient). One can also buy Hibiclens OTC, usually used on patients skin before surgery. Oh wait, better information than me. http://www.hibiclens.com/mrsa_information.html

[RandyJ]

Hello. I have been using a CPAP for about 6 months now. Over the past 2 months I have started getting these really bad sores on the back and top of my head that I think are infected hair follicles. They are usually red and painful and after a few days develope puss. They are causing very nasty scars and scabs on my head.

I have had the same problem due to the headgear. I bought the fleece headgear covers from padacheek that have helped a lot. The other thing that helps if you have an infected hair follicle is to wash it (a lot) to promote healing and I like to apply an astringent like Sea Breeze a few times a day.

[CarpeNoctum]

Hi...
I think flesh eating bacteria as a diagnosis is unneccesarily alarmist. Folliculitis is common and especially for short haired hat wearers. Keep the area clean, apply an antibiotic ointment daily and let the sun shine in...
CN

[Padron192664]

I think I read a study recently that people who suffer from sleep apnea are at a higherrisk to be infected with a flesh eating bacteria.

[borgready]

I have picked up that nasty bacteria. This is my theory. No doctor has put his rep on the line to say anything yet. This bacteria is speading through out our society. You go to a doctors office or hospital and you pick up the bad bacteria. This bacteria likes moisture and heat. It gets down in the pores and causes the pore to be irritated by turning red. The pore can get puss in it. This puss needs to be drained. If its a small pimple bust it and drain it before it gets big and out of control. I don't know how you get the bacteria culture on your body under control. I have used calamine lotion and A n D baby rash cream. These have zinc oxide in them. Somehow it messes with the bacteria and helps control it. It doesn't get rid of it. I don't know if the antibotics will get rid of it or not. I don't know how long the bacteria can survive off of the body. I think it just spreads and gets all over anything people touch or come into skin contact with. Gyms are bads places to pick this stuff up. People are sweating and hot. Prime conditions for the bacteria.

I would say you straps, pillow case, pillow, sheets, need to be soaked and washed in bleach. Maybe swimming in a pool that has chlorine in it might help controll the bacteria culture on you body. Just swim for say a half hour.

[RandyJ]

While all MRSA is staph, all staph is NOT MRSA.

I agree with CarpeNoctum that it may be unnecessary (and probably unhelpful) to inject flesh-eating bacteria conjecture into this discussion.

Folliculitis (or infected hair follicles) is very common and little more than a painful nuisance.

[xenablue]

I would suggest you use an antibacterial soap to wash yourself and your hair.

xena

[nanwilson]

I would suggest you see a doctor and not expertiment. Once you get it under control use some kind of cotton cap, like the papcap.