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!

Yuck that's horrifyingly interesting! Hope the abs work.

It's not infected and there's no need for antibiotics. The redness is irritation and inflammation, the hole isn't a punctum, it's the site where the infection and pus used to be

Wash it regularly with hot VERY VERY salty water (no bacteria can survive salt) and take the antibiotics

Excellent advice. Just make sure you use enough salt. I would be a bit wary of covering it. Although if it's on his leg, maybe he should wear shorts so his trousers aren't rubbing against it.

Well a Dr disagrees with you on that.

It looks like a pilonidal sinus but obviously in the wrong location.

Hair follicle infection is my guess

I wanna touch it. And squeeze it.

@XDownwiththissortofthingX - It's not infected and there's no need for antibiotics.

Are you a doctor? I tend to be very slow to take antibiotics - poultice with magnesium sulphate is my go to for infections - but that does look like the cellulitis my dd had. That comes with the caveat of me having no medical training whatsoever.

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

And how do you know that???

People should not be telling people that you dont need Antibiotics blah blah even if they are a medical professional, they cant see it, smell it, feel it.....

I will always remember a woman on here years ago, that posted she was ill and looking for advice.
She got the usual, 'You cant be ill if your posting on here' , 'dont waste drs time' 'rest, ur be fine'

Well she died on sepsis!!!!!

Noone should tell anyone that they dont have to see a dr or they haven't got an infection or they 'are ok'

It does look awful, does your Husband know if it is a bite of some kind, or an injury. And has he been, for wan't of a better word,been tampering with it at all. It does need attention now though. I firstly would have been soaking it in hot water in the bath,to soften the area, and put germolene or the like,on it.. But the infection has spread now, so a GP is needed.

@OchonAgusOchonO
Just make sure you use enough salt. I would be a bit wary of covering it.
For ingrown nail infections I keep stirring salt into a ramekin of boiling water till no more will dissolve
then let the water cool a bit
then use multiple bits of loo roll to dab the brine into the wound

OP already has gauze which is the ideal to protect it while still letting air to it

Glad he's been prescribed the antibiotics. Infected hair follicle from the ingrown hair, it's probably very very painful your poor DH.

Hope the antibiotics kick in soon. That wound looks very sore.

Tick bite, botfly, spider bite????

Op puts in the very first post that her Dp had an ingrown hair 3wks ago.

So I'm thinking more than likely it's to do with that?

Disclaimer-no medical knowledge!

@FedUpOfChangingName

As I said, I've had exactly the same thing, identical in every way. The OP herself states that it's the site of an ingrown hair.

What your seeing in the photo isn't the problem, it's the aftermath of a problem that is now in the early stages of resolving itself.

People going on about insect bites and rushing to ER need to give their heads a wobble.

Jesus, op. Please ignore any medical advice from randoms the internet.

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

It doesnt matter what you "think"

You can't give advice and tell someone they dont need antibiotics or what you think for christ sake!

Botflies

Unless the OP's DH has been anywhere tropical very recently, unlikely given Covid restrictions, then it's not a Botfly larvae. The wounds they leave behind look nothing like this in any case.

@FedUpOfChangingName

You can't give advice and tell someone they dont need antibiotics or what you think for christ sake!

In a thread where the OP is asking for precisely that?

Also placemarking.

[quote XDownwiththissortofthingX]@FedUpOfChangingName

You can't give advice and tell someone they dont need antibiotics or what you think for christ sake!

In a thread where the OP is asking for precisely that?

[/quote]
Well yes, because the doctor has prescribed antibiotics. Adjacent advice like "draw around the site" is useful. Advice like "disregard your doctor's opinion, don't bother taking your prescription" is harmful.

@ListeningQuietly - OP already has gauze which is the ideal to protect it while still letting air to it

Oops. I missed the bit about the gauze. Yeah, gauze should be fine so long as it's changed regularly.

I keep stirring salt into a ramekin of boiling water till no more will dissolve then let the water cool a bit

I had an infection in my gum recently and that's how I dealt with it but using a syringe to flush the area. God, did it taste awful. It really takes a lot of salt.

@goodwinter

Well yes, because the doctor has prescribed antibiotics. Adjacent advice like "draw around the site" is useful. Advice like "disregard your doctor's opinion, don't bother taking your prescription" is harmful

I've already said on the previous page the OP's DH should go to see a professional. The antibiotics are precautionary and entirely sensible, but that will heal of it's own accord perfectly well without them.

Good call in the flucloxacillin, I got that for cellulitis caused by a mozzie bite. But despite that certainly do keep an eye on it. Any sign of tracking would necessitate urgent medical attention.

A colleague recently ended up being blue lighted to hospital after ignoring tracking signs on an insect bite. They weren't in long, but an overnight stay with IV meds was required.

People going on about insect bites and rushing to ER need to give their heads a wobble.

The pharmacist certainly disagreed with you when they gave me a 12hr time frame and told me if no improvement in that time it required a trip to minor injuries for antibiotics.

If ever in doubt go to a pharmacy: they generally have a good idea whether topical creams or antihistamines will do the trick, or whether it's beyond that.

Oh eurgh that is gross

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

Advice, yes....

To be told "You dont need antibiotics"
No!!!

You have no right to give dangerous advice like that !!!!!

Skin infections can lead to sepsis quickly !