Lump

... Here's the deal: my wife and I are currently in New York City, and she just discovered this lump today. I wanted to get her to a clinic right away, but she’s digging her heels in because we’re flying back home to the States this Saturday, and she insists on seeing her own doctor once we're back. Does anyone have any idea what this might be? We were thinking maybe it's just from all the walking we did before we arrived (we've been on our feet for 10 days), but she thinks it might just be a subcutaneous cyst since it isn't hurting at all. Please, if anyone knows what this could be, let me know.
Thanks!

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/z...nkyy/photo.jpg

Oh boy, she really let that one grow out—honestly, I suspect the hair removal process might have triggered this whole mess. Perhaps try posting this in the cosmetics thread on this site or maybe under this topic instead? Who knows, maybe someone else who’s dealt with the exact same thing will chime in. Some women... well, they practically need a scalpel sometimes.
Please, be very careful with hygiene (for both partners)—she shouldn't be picking at it, and she definitely needs to minimize friction. Also, she should hold off on any hair removal for now, especially using an electric trimmer (though some women are sensitive to waxing too, or even just shaving). Once things settle down, switching to sugaring might be a good move; since it follows the natural direction of hair growth, it should help prevent these kinds of inflammations in such sensitive areas. If that doesn't work, laser hair removal is truly the gold standard for those prone to ingrowns, even if it is a bit pricey. And if she isn't comfortable doing it herself, she really ought to leave it to a professional.
It won't do much good to rely on her for advice, but do pick up some antiseptic cream. It would be wise to seek a professional opinion—if not from a private dermatologist, then at least a licensed esthetician. At the end of the day, look, just because you see a doctor doesn't mean you have to head straight to the ER. It could stay like this until Saturday; it might improve, or it might get worse. If it flares up, she'll be stuck racing to an urgent care clinic, which is a nightmare since so many doctors are on vacation right now, and it being the weekend doesn't help either. In the US, it can be quite difficult to snag an appointment with a private dermatologist before Monday or Tuesday—not to mention trying to get into a public clinic! If you're going to wait until it gets bad, please, be proactive and call a private specialist tomorrow to get on their schedule. I'm no expert, so I can't say for sure—especially without seeing it in person—but she might actually need a round of antibiotics.

This isn't a gynecological issue, Selim.

Joshua Hill9 said:... Here's the deal: my wife and I are currently in New York City, and she just discovered this lump today. I wanted to get her to a clinic right away, but she’s digging her heels in because we’re flying back home to the States this Saturday, and she insists on seeing her own doctor once we're back. Does anyone have any idea what this might be? We were thinking maybe it's just from all the walking we did before we arrived (we've been on our feet for 10 days), but she thinks it might just be a subcutaneous cyst since it isn't hurting at all. Please, if anyone knows what this could be, let me know.
Thanks!

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/z...nkyy/photo.jpg

In any case, this looks like something that requires surgical intervention—an incision.
Regardless of how it formed, it's likely an inflamed atheroma, a furuncle, or some other similar issue. A dermatologist isn't going to do much with this at this stage.
Go straight to a surgeon...🙂

Hannah Williams5 said:In any case, this looks like something that requires surgical intervention—an incision.
Regardless of how it formed, it's likely an inflamed atheroma, a furuncle, or some other similar issue. A dermatologist isn't going to do much with this at this stage.
Go straight to a surgeon...🙂

Before you go that route, though... try applying a thick layer of Ichthammol ointment. It might just pop on its own.

hiddenridge12 said:Before you go that route, though... try applying a thick layer of Ichthammol ointment. It might just pop on its own.

Oh sure, or it’ll just spread across your entire body, bringing along systemic inflammation, cellulitis, and about a hundred other complications.
Run for the hills or get out of there!

So, here’s the situation... most people just call it a boil—though this particular one is relatively small, compared to the ones I've dealt with in the past. I've had them before where the dark spot was practically the size of my palm, surrounded by this hard, incredibly tender tissue. And when they finally burst? You’re left with a literal crater—and I am not exaggerating when I say you could almost stick a finger in it. My dermatologist suggested it was caused by some sort of bacteria—she actually had the nerve to ask if I wear skirts too often—suggesting that friction against compromised skin allows the infection to take hold. Then, she offered this utterly absurd suggestion: that I should just puncture it with a needle, collect a sample of the discharge, and send it off to a lab for microbiology testing.

It’s a ridiculous idea, frankly—how is one supposed to do that when the pain is so excruciating? It hurts when I sit, when I stand, when I walk... hell, it even hurts when I'm perfectly still. I can feel this sharp, stabbing sensation deep inside. Though, I suppose there is a perverse kind of comfort in that sensation—it means it's finally about to pop.

Once a boil starts forming, there isn't really a magic cure... 😢
The only thing you can do is try to coax it into ripening faster. You can pick up some Ichthammol ointment at any local drugstore, and honestly, even those old-school home remedies aren't half bad. You can actually feel them working. For instance, using charred onion—mashed up—or maybe some wild garlic, assuming you can actually find it growing nearby.

Anyone who has ever dealt with this knows exactly what I'm talking about.