Dressy

I’m interested in knowing more about this profession. I have a Master’s in Social Work and played piano (classical) from ages 8 to 18. Although I haven’t touched a piano in 8 years, I could easily get back into it, and music has always been a special part of my life. I’d really appreciate being able to make contact with someone who is knowledgeable about this and who also knows about how the equivalency programs work for other mental health professionals interested in becoming music therapists.

Well, I went to the dermatologist again yesterday… this time she said it was definitely a staph infection and took me off the minocycline, putting me on Keflex 500 mg 2x/day. I told her that I’d been on Keflex before and it hadn’t worked, but she said she wanted to try a 14 day course. This is the stronger dose of the medication (I’d been on the 250 mg. before).

She also told me to use this stuff called DuoDerm instead of band-aids over the lesions. This is almost like second skin, you put your ointment on after cleaning your skin then cut little pieces of this stuff and put it over it.

It’s supposed to have such a strong adhesive that you can’t pick it off… you’re supposed to leave it alone for about 1-2 days until the edges start lifting up away from the skin. It helps a little bit so far, my lesions are leaking so much right now that I have to change the stuff more often.

I found www.stoppickingonme.com and got quite a bit of help there emotionally (the other sites I found weren’t free) and also have started reading THE SCARRED SOUL. It’s been an incredible journey of self-discovery so far realizing that this actually can be considered an addiction…. picking at one’s skin…

I’ll keep you all posted! I am still wanting to pick but I am determined to get better… I am fed up with looking so ugly.

Thanks for being here everybody…..

Dressy

DO STAPH INFECTIONS CAUSE ACNE BREAKOUTS??

taken from: http://www.acneteam.com/do-staph-infections-cause-acne-breakouts.html

The answer to the question – do staph infections cause acne breakouts? – is a resounding ‘Yes.’ Not only can staph infections cause acne, but acne can also cause staph infections. However, staph infections can also look like acne breakouts, when in fact they are not. For example, there is a condition where skin follicles become infected. This condition is known as folliculitus. The condition forms what look like acne pimples in clusters. This is actually a staph bacteria, and needs to be treated by a doctor.

To better understand how do staph infections cause acne breakouts, you need to know what staph infections are, and what causes them. A staph infection, known in the medical world as staphylococcus aureus bacteria, is very common. Most people have staph bacteria living on their skin at all times – no matter how much they shower. However, when it enters the human body, it becomes a problem.

Staph bacteria can enter the human body through open cuts or skin breaks.

It can also enter through acne pimples that have been squeezed or popped.

Common skin infections caused by staph are folliculitis, boils, Styes in the eye,

impetigo

, abscesses, and acne.

Staph infections, if left untreated, can become very serious – even life-threatening problems. If your acne pimples remain red and infected looking for more than five days, you should visit a doctor. You should also be aware that in most cases, just because you have acne does not mean that you have a staph infection. Acne that heals normally usually means that there is no staph infection present.

You doctor will easily be able to determine if you have a staph infection by collecting a culture from the area in question. This is painless, and only involves a cotton swab. If the culture tests positive for staph, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat the staph infection.

**So, the next time you have an acne pimple, and you are tempted to pop it,

remember the question, Do staph infections cause acne breakouts?

Then, remember that the answer is YES. ***