Skin boils/abscesses

I’ve been dealing with this issue for years now. It used to just be occasional boils, so last year I finally decided to tackle it once and for all. I went to see a dermatologist who took one look at me and diagnosed it as acne. Based on those tests, I started taking Accutane. I was on it for six months, but even then, I kept getting these hazelnut-sized boils popping up on my thighs, buttocks, and lower abdomen—sometimes two or three at a time. I saw the dermatologist every month for supervision while they adjusted my Accutane dosage. I eventually stopped the Accutane in the fourth month of this year because summer is coming, and you aren't supposed to take Accutane during sunny weather. While the acne on my face and back cleared up, these boils on my thighs, butt, and lower stomach just won't go away. A month ago, I went back to the same doctor, and now they're claiming these are staph infections. They prescribed me Maxine, which I took for two weeks, but it did absolutely nothing. At my recent follow-up, the doctor just said, "enough with the antibiotics," and handed me some black ointment instead. Now, the boils are still appearing, and honestly, they feel more frequent and intense than before.
Has anyone else dealt with something like this? I’m starting to get the distinct impression that my dermatologist isn't actually looking at me as a patient to be cured, but rather as a way to line their pockets.

I’m dealing with something pretty similar. It used to be a massive ordeal, but once I figured out what was actually going on, things settled down. ☕
For me, the issues always popped up in the folds—right under the waistband of my underwear and on my backside since I’m sitting at a desk all day. I tried everything you can think of to soothe it: zinc oxide, various ointments, even those old-school home remedies.
It flared up back when I was heading into labor, too. My OB-GYN finally cleared things up by explaining it wasn't an ulcer, just inflamed hair follicles caused by constant friction. He prescribed some Betrion ointment, and that did the trick. Now, whenever I feel one coming on, I just apply it and I'm good to go. 👍

Honestly, I spent months fighting a losing battle against them. Between the endless doctor appointments, trying various prescriptions, and dealing with the whole medical circus, I was just exhausted. Eventually, I threw in the towel. I’ve always been pretty picky about what I put in my body—I value my stomach health way too much to spend months feeling nauseous from medications that aren't even doing the trick.
A close friend actually recommended this specific cream called Lion-M, swearing by it. I started applying it consistently for about a month, and man, what a difference. Everything cleared up beautifully; the breakouts matured quickly and then just vanished. Now, whenever I feel something coming on, I just dab some on and they disappear fast. I regularly order this stuff through link removed, so if any of you are interested, I actually have a coupon for a bundle of three creams which gets me a nice discount. The code is k067kremavelika.

So, does anyone actually know what causes those hives?

I just popped one up on my back—it’s driving me absolutely crazy with the itching. 🙂

Hey everyone...
This started popping up about two months ago, and honestly, I’ve spent way too much time digging through the internet for answers, though most of what I found felt completely off base. Basically, I’m dealing with these internal lumps forming all over my backside, almost like subcutaneous cysts or something. When I feel them or try to squeeze them, some fluid comes out, but the bumps themselves stay there—they have this slightly hard tip that just won't budge no matter how much I mess with them. They eventually seem to clear up, only to resurface in the exact same spot or just move a few inches over. I'm looking for some actual help here, preferably some concrete advice if anyone has dealt with this. Thanks.

It’s honestly a curse, you know? People who haven't dealt with this just don't get it. I mean, my very first infection—just little pimples on my butt—started when I was only 10 days old. My pediatrician kept giving me injections, but they either didn't work or would partially clear up only to come right back, and it's been that way until today. The only difference is that now they aren't just tiny little spots anymore; they're these massive, disgusting clusters that are constantly inflamed. Sometimes I have several going at once. I haven't had a single day without battling these damn boils since I can remember. I've ended up in the ER more than once because the inflammation gets so bad it spikes my fever... and my doctor? Honestly, she has no clue what to do with me.
I shower twice a day, religiously, and I use specific antibacterial soap on that area. I toss my towels straight into a 95°C wash after every single use. I try so hard with hygiene—for myself, the bathroom, the bedroom, everything my skin touches—that it almost feels like I'm becoming obsessive-compulsive about it. I’ve tried every cream under the sun, antibiotic tonics, even oral antibiotics that my doctor had to keep prescribing because I had such a severe flare-up for months. Those antibiotics absolutely trashed my stomach, too, and yet the boils still wouldn't budge. I even tried changing my diet; for a while, I went strictly macrobiotic. NOTHING. Nothing worked. Not a single thing I've tried has made a dent... and seriously, if anyone mentions Lion-M cream to me... I might actually lose it! Last night, I was at the surgical ER over at Washington, D.C. General, and I had one of the most unpleasant experiences ever with this incredibly rude doctor. He basically accused me of not washing myself, implying that's why I have the boils, and told me he had smarter things to do than cut them out and that I wasn't an emergency. I just gathered my things and left with whatever dignity I had left, even though I was in absolute agony... So, here I am, mostly just sitting on a massive boil on my backside, dying from the pain, typing this out because I'm scouring the internet for the billionth time looking for anything that might help, and I stumbled upon this thread. I totally, completely understand everything you guys are saying above.
I'm so frustrated that, despite the unbearable pain, I'm actually considering grabbing a razor and just cutting it open myself. Anyway, sorry I can't offer any solutions, I just really needed to vent all of this. 😠😠😠

Did they ever bother taking a swab?

Henry Evans2 said:It’s honestly a curse, you know? People who haven't dealt with this just don't get it. I mean, my very first infection—just little pimples on my butt—started when I was only 10 days old. My pediatrician kept giving me injections, but they either didn't work or would partially clear up only to come right back, and it's been that way until today. The only difference is that now they aren't just tiny little spots anymore; they're these massive, disgusting clusters that are constantly inflamed. Sometimes I have several going at once. I haven't had a single day without battling these damn boils since I can remember. I've ended up in the ER more than once because the inflammation gets so bad it spikes my fever... and my doctor? Honestly, she has no clue what to do with me.
I shower twice a day, religiously, and I use specific antibacterial soap on that area. I toss my towels straight into a 95°C wash after every single use. I try so hard with hygiene—for myself, the bathroom, the bedroom, everything my skin touches—that it almost feels like I'm becoming obsessive-compulsive about it. I’ve tried every cream under the sun, antibiotic tonics, even oral antibiotics that my doctor had to keep prescribing because I had such a severe flare-up for months. Those antibiotics absolutely trashed my stomach, too, and yet the boils still wouldn't budge. I even tried changing my diet; for a while, I went strictly macrobiotic. NOTHING. Nothing worked. Not a single thing I've tried has made a dent... and seriously, if anyone mentions Lion-M cream to me... I might actually lose it! Last night, I was at the surgical ER over at Washington, D.C. General, and I had one of the most unpleasant experiences ever with this incredibly rude doctor. He basically accused me of not washing myself, implying that's why I have the boils, and told me he had smarter things to do than cut them out and that I wasn't an emergency. I just gathered my things and left with whatever dignity I had left, even though I was in absolute agony... So, here I am, mostly just sitting on a massive boil on my backside, dying from the pain, typing this out because I'm scouring the internet for the billionth time looking for anything that might help, and I stumbled upon this thread. I totally, completely understand everything you guys are saying above.
I'm so frustrated that, despite the unbearable pain, I'm actually considering grabbing a razor and just cutting it open myself. Anyway, sorry I can't offer any solutions, I just really needed to vent all of this. 😠😠😠

Is it just one pimple or several? Is it localized or everywhere? I dealt with facial cysts—huge, pus-filled boils—but I got them under control with regular cleanings by a dermatologist. There's a great one in San Francisco that I highly recommend.
She drained mine and applied a local antibiotic. For me, it was genetics and diet. Once I cut out certain foods and fixed my nutrition, it cleared up.
I did swabs too, but everything came back negative. Now I just scrub my face with baking soda twice a week and apply lemon juice.
Try exfoliating that area more often; it can't hurt and might help. To me, it looks like ingrown hairs. 🤔
And go see a good dermatologist, though unfortunately, almost all of them are private practice.

Hacker, you should definitely see a dermatologist. I went to see Dr. Smith (unfortunately she only takes private patients), and she was the first one to actually give me a diagnosis after years of bouncing between doctors, listening to useless advice, endless testing, and a mountain of antibiotics.
Changing my diet helped me a ton; even my dermatologist was surprised. I’ve been on LCHF for 10 months now and haven't had any new ulcers (it took about 3 months to see real progress).
Good luck, and I hope you made it back to the ER and they sorted you out. At Mount Sinai, they just did the incision under general anesthesia for me.