A 25-year-old female asked:
My nose is peeling and under it is raw red skin is that mrsa or a cold sore? i am a nurse
3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bernstein Joelanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 62 years experience
Culture: The only way you can identify MRSA is with a culture. You should see a dermatologist for a specific diagnosis.
Certainly, a culture will identify if a bacterial organism is present and what antibiotic is specific for it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
1 comment
Dr. J. Lawrence Dohan commented
Dermatology 59 years experience
First decide if it is infection or something else. A significant % of normal people will culture staph.
Jun 10, 2014
Dr. J. Lawrence Dohananswered
Dermatology 59 years experience
Probably neither: You will benefit from a diagnosis. Possibly you are reacting to something you have used there such as peroxide or alcohol or Bacitracin or neosporin, etc. When you go to the dermatologist, bring everything you have used. Avoid scrubbing.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Ayyaz Shahanswered
Dermatology 29 years experience
Red Skin: Without performing cultures (viral and bacterial), it is difficult to say with 100% certainty. It would be best to get to a qualified provider who is able to perform a Tzanck smear and that would clinch the diagnosis immediately. Cultures may take days to get results back.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. J. Lawrence Dohan commented
Dermatology 59 years experience
culture of staph is VERY common from people with perfectly normal skin. First make a diagnosis, then do a culture if indicated.
Jun 10, 2014
Last updated Nov 7, 2018
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