Hey guys,

Im a 19 year old male student - a few months ago I got a cold sore which developed into impetigo. I have had 5 courses of different antibiotics (fucidin cream, flucloxacillin, erythromicin, co-amoxiclav and bactroban).

All of the antibiotics have had the same effect including the double course of co-amoxiclav & bactroban which I have finished today (there were a 14 day course of obth at the same time). The antibiotics clear up everything that looks infected and leave a reddish patch of skin above my lip where the infection was ,this just looks like dry skin ready to heal.

The problem is, it doesn't heal - instead of going away, after each course of antibiotics has finished the red patch has developed again into the crusty, brown impetigo 3-5 days after I have finished the antibiotics. All the websites say to expect the red skin after the antibiotics take effect and that it will clear itself up, but it doesnt!

I've tried putting moisturiser on the effected area, I'm thinking about going to see a dermatologist next time instead of my GP as this has been going on way too long now.

Any ideas/advice on why this isn't going away? Thanks alot,

Sam.