r/Staphacne Jan 23 '16

How I rid my Staph aureus Healthyalmonds' ears and nose method

251 Upvotes

This is what I find works best to kill and prevent Staphylococcus aureus from living on my skin, scalp, mouth/tonsils, in my nostrils, and in my ears:

[1] 3 times a week I clean my nostrils with chlorhexidine (I use Hibiclens, but it can be a different brand). I use one cotton swab per nostril. I dunk it in the chlorhexidine, then I wipe excess liquid off the swab and onto the inside rim of the bottle (I believe removing excess liquid is important to prevent irritation). Next, I rub the swab all around and as far back my nostrils as I can pinch together with my fingers. I let the chlorhexidine sit in each nostril the rest of the day, but cleaning it out right after likely helps too.

[2] 3x a week I thoroughly wipe in and around my ears with a cotton swab wet with chlorhexidine. I believe it's most important to disinfect my outer ear and behind my ears.

  • I've also used half a paper towel wet with 70% isopropyl alcohol to disinfect my ears.

[3] Two times a week I wash my scalp and body, including my genitals and butt, with chlorhexidine body wash and a bath sponge.

[4] I've learned that my mouth and tonsils were colonized by S. aureus. By using Listerine cool mint mouthwash, with gargling, and by removing deeply hidden tonsil stones with mouthwash-soaked cotton swabs, I am able to get rid of the bacteria. I believe it's very important to find and remove tonsil stones, since the stones contain enormous amounts of bacteria.

  • Acidic and spicy foods have been shown to be antibacterial. This can be an alternative way to directly disinfect the tonsils.

[5] I trim my nose hairs to reduce surface area for bacteria to attach to.

[6] I increased Vitamin A in my diet to reduce my susceptibility to pimples. See here for info on how a Vitamin A deficiency may make a person prone to acne breakouts.

[7] As an extra precaution to prevent pimples, benzoyl peroxide cream can be applied to the face. But be aware that it bleaches cotton clothing!

I've had S. aureus on my belly button, scalp, and most parts of my skin. Feel free to click the two links to read about how I use chlorhexidine to kill the bacteria from those sites.

Check out this link to see how the location of the acne breakouts can be tied to the location of where S. aureus is living on the body.

I have accidentally gotten chlorhexidine in my eyes on several occasions while showering and there has been zero short/long term damage to my eyes. It does not feel pleasant, however.

Please do not hesitate to contact a medical professional with any questions and concerns.


r/Staphacne Nov 04 '17

RESEARCH The location of your acne may determine the source of your acne-causing bacteria.

93 Upvotes

In my experience, people who primarily suffer from pimple breakouts on or under their nose are more likely to be carriers of Staphylococcus aureus in their nostrils.

Pimples on or under the mouth may come from S. aureus living on the tonsils/teeth/mouth which can get to the lips and chin via saliva.

With ears, neck, and jawline pimples, that may indicate S. aureus is living in/around their ears.

Cheekbone pimples can also come from S. aureus in the ears.

  • I learned that I was rubbing ear Staph on my pillows as I slept at night. Then I would shift my cheeks onto that spot and essentially incubate the bacteria in my skin. That resulted in deep cysts around my cheekbones. Once I regularly disinfected my ears, that problem went away.

Scalp and forehead folliculitis can be due to S. aureus living on the scalp skin. Also, sweat and hair washing can have the bacteria travel to the back, causing back acne.

Additionally, pimples on or around the thighs may indicate butt or genital colonization by S. aureus.

Armpit colonization can cause boils in the area.

Also, keep in mind that the bacteria can cause both mild and severe pimples. I've had Staphylococcus aureus cause pimples on my face that ranged in size from tiny white heads to deep cysts that left scars.

The location of your acne may narrow down where you need to fight the bacteria that's causing it. See this link for how I eliminated my pimple-causing bacteria.


r/Staphacne 7h ago

Staphylococcus aureus facial acne/folliculitis

2 Upvotes

31 years old, male, 85kg and 175 height.

​I am looking for advice on how to clear a persistent Staphylococcus aureus infection that is causing acne-like breakouts on my face.

​Current symptoms:

​Breakouts on my face, specifically around the chin, sideburns, lips, and cheeks.

​Medical history:

​Previous locations: About 3 years ago, I also had these breakouts on the lower back of my head (nape area) and on the sides, behind and above my ears.

​Past Treatments:

​3 years ago: I was prescribed an antibiotic (green capsules, I believe the name ended in "-cycline"). I took them for 4 months. While taking them, my skin completely cleared up, but slowly returned after I stopped.

​Follow-up testing: I had a skin swab (from an active breakout), a nasal swab, and a throat swab. The test confirmed Staphylococcus aureus in the skin lesion, but my nose and throat came back negative.

​Targeted antibiotic: Based on the antibiogram, I was prescribed Moxiral for 1 week. My skin cleared up completely.

​Current status: Since taking Moxiral, the breakouts on the back of my head have not returned. However, the facial breakouts have gradually come back.

​What should my next steps be? How can I completely eradicate or manage this bacterial infection long-term so it stops coming back?

​Thank you!


r/Staphacne 3h ago

Is this impetigo?

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1 Upvotes

r/Staphacne 5h ago

Skin Scraping - Advice

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1 Upvotes

I have been dealing with something for years. Kind of off and on in severity.

first picture: left in January 2025. Middle is May 2025 and right is July 2026

Second picture: is yesterday

i haven’t tried much over the years.

- stopped trimming my chest hair but as you can see that didn’t help.

- have been using 4% benzoyl peroxide foaming cerave wash night for about two weeks currently.

most of the time it’s just red marks. the picture I take are usually when I get one or two white pustules so it’s not always white pustules. most of the time just red irritation.

I have probably dealt with this for years and never really thought much of it. I remember having occasional flat red marks about 20 years ago, but it seems to be more consistent now with the occasional white pustules.

should I get a skin scraping to see if it’s fungal? I think my family doc said he could do it.

I am not really sure what to do and want to avoid trial and error on antibiotics as they occasionally have other gut issues when I take them. My last round was Amox/Clav for a sinus infection in September 2023.


r/Staphacne 6h ago

Cluster of pustules around nostril; bacterial infection, HSV, or something else?

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1 Upvotes

r/Staphacne 15h ago

Has anyone else had a similar area of breakout? I’ve tried so many topical & oral antibiotics, nasal decolonisation, chlorhexidine etc. Nothing seems to work.

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2 Upvotes

r/Staphacne 17h ago

QUESTION What is this? Fiancé says could be staph or MRSA

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1 Upvotes

The surrounding area is hard like a big mass, I feel a bump on the inside of my lip were it could be, thought it was a pimple and popped it twice now, hurts a lot


r/Staphacne 1d ago

Staphylococcus aureus facial acne/folliculitis

3 Upvotes

31 years old, male, 85kg and 175 height.

​I am looking for advice on how to clear a persistent Staphylococcus aureus infection that is causing acne-like breakouts on my face.

​Current symptoms:

​Breakouts on my face, specifically around the chin, sideburns, lips, and cheeks.

​Medical history:

​Previous locations: About 3 years ago, I also had these breakouts on the lower back of my head (nape area) and on the sides, behind and above my ears.

​Past Treatments:

​3 years ago: I was prescribed an antibiotic (green capsules, I believe the name ended in "-cycline"). I took them for 4 months. While taking them, my skin completely cleared up, but slowly returned after I stopped.

​Follow-up testing: I had a skin swab (from an active breakout), a nasal swab, and a throat swab. The test confirmed Staphylococcus aureus in the skin lesion, but my nose and throat came back negative.

​Targeted antibiotic: Based on the antibiogram, I was prescribed Moxiral for 1 week. My skin cleared up completely.

​Current status: Since taking Moxiral, the breakouts on the back of my head have not returned. However, the facial breakouts have gradually come back.

​What should my next steps be? How can I completely eradicate or manage this bacterial infection long-term so it stops coming back?

​Thank you!


r/Staphacne 1d ago

10 year old staph inside of his nostril- stressed :(

1 Upvotes

My son had a scab in his nose towards the outside on the septum (obviously from picking) and he picked the scab off a few days ago and a boil popped up the next day. I took him to the doctor yesterday and the doctor said it looks like staph and started him on Bactrim, mupirocin, and said to wash with Hibaclens every day for a month. He started the Bactrim last night and today the boil had swollen up and gotten a head on it, he had a mild temp 99.8 so I called the doctor and they had me bring him in to check it out. He said it coming to a head and getting a big bigger means the antibiotics are isolating it and pushing it out. They also gave him a Rocephin shot to hit it harder and quicker. Well we also have an 8 year old and a 5 month old and I am terrified of them catching it. They have no open wounds and the doctor literally didn’t sound concerned about anyone else catching it at all. He also gave me his personal number to contact him at night if I’m scared or if something happens. Google is so inconsistent on if we are all going to develop staph or not and I just want to know if any of you guys have experience with this or with your kids and everything was okay? Thanks.
\- a very stressed mom


r/Staphacne 2d ago

Staphylococcus aureus facial acne/folliculitis

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2 Upvotes

r/Staphacne 2d ago

is this staph infection?

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1 Upvotes

i train bjj and these spots keep coming back on my legs


r/Staphacne 2d ago

Staph?

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2 Upvotes

Located on hip, started off as a small blister or pimple, scratched it in accident in sleep, woke up next day to painful red bump. Been getting more painful and red. No chills or fevers yet but pretty painful when I touch it even slightly. Been about 5 days since I noticed it.


r/Staphacne 2d ago

Guys Please Comment

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1 Upvotes

r/Staphacne 2d ago

Question about 10m old nasal crusting

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1 Upvotes

r/Staphacne 3d ago

QUESTION lip fillers

3 Upvotes

would it be safe to get lip filler if i carry staph in nose and on skin


r/Staphacne 2d ago

Could this be staph?

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1 Upvotes

I have a few spots that popped up just like it but this is the worst one .


r/Staphacne 3d ago

Staphylococcus epidermidis

1 Upvotes

Hello, i recently tested pozitive for Staphylococcus epidermidis from my breakouts. Does anyone know any products that could help? or what should i do? I ve been on antibiotics but nothing really changed and i want to focus on my skincare routine now.


r/Staphacne 4d ago

QUESTION Diagnosed with rosacea, then acne, then staph aureus in 5 years, massive flare-up despite treatment

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7 Upvotes

I've been dealing with worsening skin problems for over 5 years now.

What started as a strange red patch on my forehead was diagnosed as rosacea. With every flare-up it seemed to get worse. In the first years it happened about once every six months, but each flare-up got more intense than the last.

Over time I've seen several dermatologists, and each one seems to say something different. It's driving me crazy. First it was rosacea, then acne, and then staphylococcus aureus (that last one was confirmed through a culture).

I've had a lot of treatments by now: all kinds of creams, antibiotics, and even isotretinoin. Unfortunately I had to stop the isotretinoin after 3 months because of a huge amount of unpleasant side effects. Right now I'm doing a decolonization treatment with Betadine and Inderm.

Things had been fairly calm for the past few weeks, but now I suddenly have a massive flare-up: my skin is painful and inflamed. Despite the medication, this flare-up is breaking through with full force. I've never experienced it this badly. So the medication doesn't seem to be doing much (I've been using it for 3 weeks now).

I've also changed a lot myself: I work out 3 times a week, eat very healthily, and I quit smoking more than a year and a half ago. I've also become very clean about hygiene: I change my pillowcase daily, wash my hands regularly, and so on. I have an office job, so I don't get much sun.

Can anyone tell me where I should go? I live in the Netherlands and I've already been to the hospital and to a clinic, but I find the care really substandard. Every doctor seems to say something different, and there are also a lot of changes in who's treating me. It's just awful.

Is this acne? Staph? Or something else? Any help is welcome.


r/Staphacne 4d ago

Wondering if Staph

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1 Upvotes

It doesn’t hurt at all and doesn’t have any symptoms to it really started about a week ago also assumed it’s a infected in grown hair.


r/Staphacne 4d ago

Is this HS? What to do?

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1 Upvotes

Hi, iv been having a reoccurring issue with my inner thigh. It only happens in this exact spot. Every 2 months I get this little bump that looks like a pimple right next to my boil scar. Then it makes the big scar turn into a huge boil. Does this happen to anyone else? What do I do? And is there anyway to prevent that little bump turning into this big nasty boil? I've tried doctors. All they want to give me is antibiotics and steroid shots. Im tired of it. I shower 2 to 3 times a day. Could this be food related?


r/Staphacne 5d ago

need help to cure this

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2 Upvotes

I have these acne on scalp from many years. They come and go. Tried many treatments including various oral antibiotics, clindamycin gel, bp, fusidic...

Nothing seems to have worked for permanent cure. I don't want to visit dermatologist anymore. What can I do to pinpoint cause and cure this problem? Please help


r/Staphacne 5d ago

Started as bug bites

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2 Upvotes

These started as bug bites. I contacted our pediatrician for oral abx. Does it look like staph/impetigo? New spots keep showing, and now she has one in her nose


r/Staphacne 5d ago

Hey all, I really need some good advice.

2 Upvotes

I was diagnosed with a severe everlasting sinus infection that’s behind the bone. Because of this I was put on bactrim and I am having the absolute worst time of my life. I mean, I knew it wasn’t going to be fun, but I’m literally vomiting because of how much drainage I have and my mucus is so damn thick it’s hard to blow my nose or do a nasal rinse. The only time I can blow a lot out of my nose is after I vomit which sucks. Please tell me there is at least one person reading this that experienced this before. I really need advice because I am about to stop taking the medicine I can’t handle this. My stomach hurts all the time now and I’m so nauseous.


r/Staphacne 5d ago

QUESTION Impetigo vs. cold sores?

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1 Upvotes