Skin infections which won't go away - mum is not helping

[Dayperson]

I hope I am not alone in this, mum keeps getting skin infections, first under her breasts, now today I gave her a wash and she has one in her belly button.

She does not make things easy for us, she wears the same clothes 24/7, doesn't wash unless I wash her (been trying twice a week) and keeps tucking her T-Shirt in which means she overheats and makes the infection worse.

Any suggesions? I am thinking she needs some more looser fitting clothes, but until it gets warmer that won't be possible. Is there anything I can do about the infection? Should I keep nagging her not to tuck her T-Shirt in?

 

[lemonjuice]

Take her to the GP. Sounds like a fungal infection, for which she can be prescribed something.

 

[Beate]

I concur. She needs creams. You might have to apply them as she'll probably not do it herself.
And nagging doesn't work with someone with dementia, I'm afraid.

 

[Dayperson]

Mum had this last year around the same time of the year and we kept taking her back to the doctors as the cream she was prescribed didn't work and she had to wait 3 months to see a dermatologist by which time it had almost gone but she was given more cream. I think if we go back to the doctors we'll go though the same thing again. My aunt suggested trying foot odour powder as creams are wet and make it spread whereas the powder dries it out. I have tried this but mum now refuses to allow me to put it on her. She is much more agitated and agression than last year so it is much harder to treat.

 

[TiredHills]

I had this with my MIL and we were given hydrocortisone cream. It was so bad under her breasts it had gone back to bear skin. It was an infection due to not washing or drying herself properly and wearing the same bra and clothes.
I'm now her full time carer and wash her every morning and evening and (touch wood) we haven't had a repeat of it since!!!


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[Dayperson]

Ended up not taking her to the docs but now I change her into bed clothes and get her washed and dressed in the morning. Since then the infection has gone or nearly gone and she doesn't smell as bad.