Wtf is this on dp’s leg?! <Gross picture warning>

[TeddyIsaHe]

Dp had an ingrown hair 3 weeks ago that has suddenly decided to go bananas. I’ve forced him to call his GP and waiting a call back, but wondering if any MNers could shed some light in the meantime!

In the UK we get horse botflies, huge hairy things that look like bees. Fortunately they don't lay their eggs on humans.

I’ve stuck a dressing over it to keep it clean. If there’s no change or it gets any worse at all he’ll go to the walk-in tomorrow afternoon.

Good call on the fluclox, it's probably a flucloxacillin sensitive staph infection as someone has said upstream, which can get nasty if untreated. If it's not better soon though I'd go back and get it swabbed to send for culture just in case it's something more resistant.

Good that he's on the antibiotics. Have you drawn around it? You should still do that to track it in case it continues to spread. If it does continue to spread, get back into gp ASAP or go to A&E.

"Please draw a line around it. He needs to see a doctor with this and get this treated. Without treatment this could be extremely serious"
RTFT

I'm not sure a dressing over it is a good idea tbh. What type of dressing is it? Is it breathable?

This is just the end result of an ingrown hair that has become infected, and what you see is what's left after the skin ruptures and the infection drains. I've had exactly the same myself on the back of my thigh. It's actually completely painless, so sometimes you don't even notice.

I'm not sure a dressing over it is a good idea tbh. What type of dressing is it? Is it breathable?

I assume the dressing is to protect the OP from anything crawling out of it tonight

Personally I'd wrap him in duct tape

I would be tempted to draw 2 eyes with 'surprised' eyebrows above the hole, just so every time I looked at it I was amused rather than horrified.

Have you tried shining a light in there to see if there is anything in there, or if it's a bottomless pit?!

Seriously though, that is grim, your poor DH. Although I definitely want to know if it erupts or something.

Watch the cuterebra videos on YouTube while you’re waiting for something to happen 😀

looks like an infected tick bite. If the black thing is a feeding tick,
the red bullseye rash is a typical indicator of Lyme disease, a very serious tick-borne infection which requires immediate medical treatment with anti biotics.

if you don't know how to remove it safely, don't touch the tick. . your local pharmacist can provide a tool and show you how. But DH must start antibiotics and get a blood test right away, either GP or
go to A and E.

PLEASE draw a line around it (in permanent marker as it will wash off otherwise).

Often the first antibiotic prescribed doesnt work on infections like this and you have to know so that you can go back for a different kind. The only way to know is if the red area is reducing or increasing in size.

PLEASE draw a line around it. (From someone who has dealt with this many times on herself, DH and DSes)

I do not know how you're resisting to squeeze that. You just know there's going to be heaps of puss inside

Poor DH hope it's better soon. Keep us updated with photos if you like

Draw round the redness in biro so you can see if it’s getting worse. They did this with my Dd in hospital and biro’ed the date for good measure!

It’s just a sterile lint free square thing taped on. It can definitely still get air etc in. Just thought it’s better to have something there to stop any grot getting into the crater!

Oh and a line has been drawn!

@Laiste

Oooh shit.

I don't think you need to be drawing a line round it to see it's 'angry', as my mum used to say.

That looks livid!

Indeed. Hope he gets seen quickly @TeddyIsaHe

It's not a tick bite etc. it's the aftermath of an ingrown hair 100%.

Don't take my word for it, best not to take any risks and go see a professional, but I'm absolutely certain. It's identical to mine, right down to the pallor of the skin around the hole.

It'll close up itself within a few days. Skin is amazingly elastic.

Oh god 🤮

That is truly unpleasant. I always fancied being a doctor, and think I could cope with an arm that had come off, but for some reason small things like that really give me the heeby jeebies!

I appreciate the photo, but that is an urgent GP appointment for strong antibiotics and maybe a wash out, so maybe walk in first. It looks like cellulitis is forming and he will have scarring permanently.

ffs you DP has a pus blow hole in his leg, how have you NOT sorted that. lol

defo LTB

@etinox
It looks like a pretty standard ingrown hair abcess.
Wash it regularly with hot VERY VERY salty water (no bacteria can survive salt)
and take the antibiotics
keep the mouth of the wound open so the puss can come out (which it will)
but hot salty water is the simplest and most effective way to clean it

I would be very very careful and take this seriously.

I think he needs more than oral antibiotics to be honest.

Things like this can lead to ulcers that can take years to heal...

It needs proper care and attention and proper dressing....

I can’t see the photo well but that looks quite big?

If he is feeling unwell or that is spreading please take him to A&E. Sometimes antibiotic tablets aren’t enough for an infection like that and he could get sick. He might need an antibiotic drip or minor procedure. Hope he is ok.