chisue,
You asked for honorary, so here I am, with not much to base it on.....

When I come up against something in the body that seems to be "ongoing" and doesn't seem to be able to clear up completely, this is what I try (and most of the times it does it.)

I learned about acidolpholis here at the KT (I guess from another honorary MD lol) Acidolpholis is good for fighting or at least keeping things inactive like any kind of fungus type thing. I use it to keep things like athletes foot, thrush mouth, yeast, itchy eyes, from spreading. At the first sign I start taking capsuales and continue for about a week. In his case he may need to take them longer, but continue for a while even if it seems to be clear. This stuff isn't dangerous or strong. I think it is for growing and increasing the natural GOOD bacteria in the body. If he has been on strong antibiotics, then the good bacteria in his body has been killed out and he doesn't have the natural ability to fight things off.

If he is willing to try it, I would suggest taking 2 capsules three or four times a day.

You can get it OTC at WalMart or any drug store.

It's worth a try, can't hurt, but be sure to give it at least 2 weeks.

Could it be psoriasis? Maybe Google that and see if any of the symptoms fit.I would say maybe shingles but if it was that I'm sure it would be much worse being he has had it that long.I sure hope he can find out what it is and get some relief soon.

hayjud: How many milligrams are in each acidophilus capsule you take?

Thanks,
Shirley

Judy is in the same thought path as me.. With long term antibiotics..I'd definately get him on a probiotic or the acidopholis tabs.
And a good quality live culture yogurt if he'll eat it.

Another thought to "dry" up the weepy skin. Low heat hair dryer after his shower or shave, or face washing. Just to "thouroughly" dry the moisture up.

And then at night I'd be using a shea and/or coconut oil cream. Try Burt's Bees or other 'natural' with minimal extra's added.

Minocycline IS A long-acting, broad-spectrum, semisynthetic ANTIBIOTIC drug. Was he taking that at the same time as the Metrogel? If so maybe he had a reaction to the combination.
Metrogel should help if it was Roseacea. I can't say what would happen using the 2 together as I am not an MD.
I can only tell you about my experience. I had similar eruptions on my face, neck and chest ( not all at once), then I started getting crusts on my scalp- sort of like "cradle cap". My dermatologist said the scalp condition was seborrheic dermatitus, caused by air born yeast, and yeast is everywhere. He wasn't sure about the skin but thought it might be similar. He prescribed a special shampoo for the hair and P&Z bar soap for the skin, used twice a day. The soap is non-prescription, but has to be ordered at the pharmacy (About $10 a bar.) P& Z can also be used as a shampoo, it has some of the ingredients of Dandruff shampoos- Head and Shoulders", but is stronger.
He also prescribed a 2% cortisone cream and a topical steroid for the skin. (Not both at once) You might try any over the counter cortisone-like Cortaid. They are only 1% but they might help.
My skin is great now, haven't had a flair up an 6 months. I still get the scalp problem occasionally, but I can handle that.

DH took tetracycline for several years with Rosacea without a problem. Took along time to clear up, but that was several years ago. The cream they gave him did nothing, but irritate the skin. You probably should see a dermatologist, or a good primary dr. You mentioned the one you see said it might be? I would get another opinion. Did he do any blood work? skin test?

It sounds like it might possibly be impetigo at this point.
Need an RX to treat.

Good advice from all.
Let us know how it turns out.

Trin

Gadgets, I really don't know the amount.
I just buy what I find at a good price. I figure it would be a good idea to read the directions on the bottle and for the first few days double that dosage and then follow the amount reccomended.

That's just what I would do to jump-start the process.

The bottle I have in the house right now is chewable wafers with90 mg acilactobacillus dolpholis and 25 mg lactobacillus bifidus.

Thank you all. Keep it coming. The jerk who forgot his office prescribed the Metrogel (while DH was on the Minocycline) is a board certified, highly recommended dermatologist (AND a crack golfer, as plaques in his waiting room attest -- LOL).

New dermatologist will be seeing DH Saturday. I don't know what he can tell given the messed up condition of the skin after the Metrogel and three weeks of Prednisone.

I can't see how the probiotics could hurt. I take them to ward off diarrhea when I have to be on an antibiotic.

DH's face is worst after he showers and shampoos with T-Gel (which he has used for over a year and which has all but ended his prior scalp problems). Next worst is after he washes his face and shaves with his electric shaver. Just washing without shaving also fires up the blotches. Today he tried not washing his face; his face is a little less red and stings less.

Good point about the possible negative *interaction* of the antibiotic and the Metrogel. We read up on Metrogel before he tried it and most posts from folks with roseacea were positive. But...maybe he doesn't HAVE roseacea -- has something else. Maybe it's the yeast problem pamies posted about.

We'll see what the new doc thinks. Thanks to input from all of you we are more prepared to ask specific questions.

Sounds like impetigo to me too and impetigo is a staph infection and needs treatment. Look up images of it online and see if you can figure out what it is. Google, then click images and the type in skin rash.

The photos of impetigo look different from what I see on DH's face. Those are small 'pimple' shapes and not bright red. DH had that once in his teens.

The Mayo Clinic slides that look most like DH's problem are those for "perioral dermatitis" -- and rosacea is evidently one type of this. I can't decipher the 'treatment' listed for this. First they say to USE corticosteroids. Then they say using them may cause a reaction. Huh?

The quest continues...

Asked if there was a topical he could use. Nurse said to try Metrogel; she called in a prescription.
(shudder) I'm hoping that's not the full story. I know a lot of nurses try to play doctor but practicing medicine over the phone and prescribing medication on top of it? S/he should be turned in.

Red, crusty & weeping. Of course it could be a lot of things or even a combination but the description of Eczema from this site says:
"Eczema (from the Greek ekzein "to boil out") and dermatitis generally appear as dry or weeping, intensely itchy skin with raised areas that look like small blisters. In severe cases, atopic dermatitis and eczema symptoms may include crusted-over lesions. Eczema is usually caused by environmental irritants (nickel, detergents, perfumes, hair colorants) or allergies, whereas psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease with a strong genetic component.

Psoriasis (from the Greek psoera "to itch") appears as reddened, rough, raised, and slightly itchy skin covered with silvery, scaly flakes. There is no cure for psoriasis. Common locations are the elbows, hands, feet, and lower back, although some outbreaks include an itchy scalp. Psoriasis can affect the joints and cause arthritis-like symptoms."

I imagine he's quite uncomfortable. Hope he gets some relief soon.