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!

@XDownwiththissortofthingX - 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.

How do you know it's resolving? It looks like the cellulitis my dd had. Cellulitis occurs when bacteria get in through an opening on the skin and can be very serious.

I agree that the suggestions about it being an insect bite etc are pretty speculative by people who haven't read the op properly. However, if it is cellulitis, that can turn to sepsis and kill you, so if the redness is spreading, then a trip to A&E is warranted. Oral antibiotics don't always work and IV may be required.

That said, it will more than likely clear up in a few days with the oral antibiotics, particularly if washed out with a strong saline solution.

LTB!

It's just the missing scab. I get things like this frequently with ingrown hairs, it's always a small ulcer under the scab (I'm a picker...). That's literally just what a bad infected hair looks like when the scab is gone. I have 4 or 5 a year

If he's got antibiotics now (which he does), he'll be completely fine. I'd only worry if it started hurting, the infection was spreading, or it was hot (or he had a temperature), or smelled bad. You can really easily tell if a wound is badly infected (in person, not picture).

Ahh go on, give it a squeeze! How big is the hole?

So many people saying get it seen when OP said ages ago he's been prescribed antibiotics. RTFT.

I had an ingrown hair at the top of my inner thigh about 2 years ago, the whole of my inner though down to almost my knee swelled up and was red, but not massively so, I was given antibiotics and told to use frequent hot compresses. It wasn't hot or painful so doctor wasn't too concerned. It did clear up although I've been left with a weird fleshy sticky out thing where it was!

Hope the AB work soon

It might be a tick bite. I was reading about this a few days ago there was an article in the news. Google tick bites. It does look similar.

@NowWashYourHandsPlease

That sounds awful and amazing. Did you ever give it a squeeze? Did you get the hair out?

The antibiotics are precautionary and entirely sensible, but that will heal of it's own accord perfectly well without them.

You can't possibly know this though so it's silly to say it as if it's a fact you're sure of @XDownwiththissortofthingX

Glad you've got it seen to OP, hope your other half is feeling better soon!

Absolutely take the antibiotics.

My ds had a small friction burn on his elbow in January from soft play. Didn't look anything. Ended up in hospital with cellulitis. You've no idea what could happen. Make sure he has the antibiotics

I don’t know how you can keep your fingers off it. I’d love to squeeze it.

So the redness is around 2 inches across, isn’t getting any bigger. The hole itself is about 1cm.

He will definitely be taking the antibiotics and I’ll post some update photos later of it hopefully getting smaller!

@MashedPotatoBrainz

LTB!

Ha ha. Seconded.

Just watched a bot fly larvae emerging and it
left a hole like that, only watch if you aren’t easily grossed out. the guy that made the video must be a bit weird vimeo.com/116518067

Hydrogen peroxide. Get it from any chemist. Put it on a cotton wool ball and put it on it at least twice a day while you're waiting for anti-bios and then while taking them.

Had a burn on my leg once when travelling for several months that was infected and luckily was staying with a nurse who basically saved me from blood poisoning with that stuff. Always have a bottle handy now.

OP, you're meant to sound the for sporner threads, FYI.
(Thank you for sharing)

@VeganCow - that is really cool. But yes, I agree, he is obviously a bit weird

If that were on my leg I would have sterilised the area, got some tweezers in the hole and probably pierced around it to see if any pus comes out! I'm terrible I can never leave things alone!

Put a little bit of foos beside the hole and see if anything comes out

Joking aside the antibiotics should sort it out quickly.

That looks nasty. Good that he's getting treatment and I look forward to updates.

When ds had similar it took 3 weeks of 3 different antibiotics (2 simultaneously) to clear. He also had to go to the nurse every few days and they gave us iodine patches and a special dressing to wear over it and change daily. The infection spread from his wrist to elbow at its worst, good idea to draw around it so you can see how much it is spreading.

It eventually left him with a little hole in his arm like someone had taken a clean scoop out with a mini melon baller. No idea what it was, started with a swollen bump/spot which turned black and just sunk in when it burst, he had been messing around near/in a burn the day before so we thought maybe an insect bite. Might have a picture somewhere....

Imagine the relief of squeezing it if there's something behind it. Ahhhhhh

Eeek. I’d want a debridement on that. They draw a line around posters are 100% right. Get a line drawn around it and write the date and time.

After infection was gone, still stained by iodine.

Fuck. I’ve just put botfly into you YouTube.

I was prescribed fluxocillin for mastitis last month, foul tasting sulphur ones. 500mg four times a day. I had awful trots absolutely no warning when I needed the loo so tell him to prepare for that. Also was not allowed paracetamol for two months hepa. something contra indicated.
Had to time it between meals, nothing an hour after or two hours before I think or vice versa.

My friend had a horse fly bite like this ended up in theatre having an op to clean it out. Keep an eye on him OP