Do I stick a pin in it? (Gross picture attached)

[CaterpillaNavilla]

I have a huge boil on my head - can’t get a Drs appointment for love not money. DH thinks I should go to A&E - i think this in neither an accident, nor an emergency. Do I stick a (sterilised) pin in it and see what happens??

@Bouledeneige that sounds incredibly satisfying

Looks like a cyst. I’ve got a massive one on my back. The NHS won’t remove it, it’s classed as cosmetic. It’ll be a private job. Don’t put anything into it, if it gets infected it can make you quite ill.

Would magnesium sulphate be any use on something like that?

I had a not infected cyst removed under local anaesthetic many moons ago and it was pretty quick. I hope you can get it seen OP.

My friend went private but it wasn't cheap

Can you call over to the gp surgery and ask them in person for an appointment.
It’s impressive. I really want to hear all about it when the appointment happens. I don’t think I could resist it. All the best.

Definitely don't jab it. I would be tempted to phone 111 if you can't get an appointment as if its infected you will need antibiotics.

Dh had a cyst removed from his back a few years ago. Went private, and was about £500. Nhs wouldnt do it as cosmetic. It will need careful removal and stitches. Might be able to get removed if not just cosmetic. But if hot, might be infected.

Pilar cysts will sometimes grow rapidly, become painful, get infected, or some combination of the three.

You can try to relieve some of the pressure if you are extremely careful about hygiene, but it will fill back up. You need the whole sack removed.

How about asking your local pharmacy for advice? They are good place to go to for information and signposting to services that are appropriate. As you say, it's not an A&E thing. In Scotland we have Minor Injuries but even then this doesn't seem appropriate. I'd be asking my pharmacist myself.

And forgot to say, no poking!

[quote CaterpillaNavilla]@Bouledeneige that sounds incredibly satisfying [/quote]
Honestly - don’t.

I know it’s really tempting, but get it dealt with properly - it’s clearly infected. Go to a small injuries clinic why don’t you, they might sort it.

If you've got Simply Health or similar you could get an appt with an online GP who could do a referral to dermatology or recommend a local private one?

It looks like a Pilar cyst.
DO NOT stick anything in it. You won't solve anything and you risk a nasty infection.
It doesn't necessarily look infected but you need someone to have a quick look at it in case needs antibiotics. If you can't get gp appointment ask a pharmacist to take a look at it.

Is there a skin clinic near you ? Like a better than average beautician ?

Could you phone and ask for advice or an appointment ?

Is there a walk in / triage centre near you ?

I really want to pop it

I want one!

@MunchyMonsters 😂😂

Trouble with cysts is you never know quite how deep they are - I had one that I was all ready to Dr Pimple Popper myself (if I could reach the thing - it was on my back) but fortunately before I could it got infected and GP referred me to hospital to have it properly sorted.

In hindsight this was only a good thing as the blooming thing was 4cm deep

My DH had one and contrary to the popular experience here his GP did see it and give antibiotics. However a year later it bubbled back up and went hot and red and squishy.

And then it exploded with no human intervention. It wasn’t nice.

I did post pictures on sporners corner before anyone accuses me!

We had a daily dressing change and as per the nurse suggestion ‘encouraged it’ to gently drain.

Then another course of antibiotics.

It’s not come back and there is a big dent where the offending item used to be!

Sore and growing, I think it is an infected cyst.
It is actually an emergency because you need antibiotics if it is infected indeed, but the kind of emergency that grants you an urgent appointment at the GP, no A&E.
If GP is impossible, maybe try out of hours or A&E, they will see you, but you will be the last in the list, so hours of wait!

I got one in my neck recently. It started bothering me a bit, but after a few days it was throbing, and huge, till the pressure got to much and it started draining itself, even with the antibiotics.
I was lucky I did not get an abcess.
I am now going for an appointment to get it removed in March.

Go to Urgent care if you're unable to get a doctors appointment

Have you tried calling the GP mid afternoon? You can’t get through in the morning at ours but I can usually get an answer between 2 and 3.

I'd go to the doctors, poke my head through the screen and flash it at the receptionist and ask for someone, anyone who wanted to deal with it. They'll know who

@moocow123456 me too!

@MunchyMonsters

So I managed to get through to the GPS electronic booking system, received a text asking for photos, submitted photos and heard nothing more 😫

I think it might me infected as it is quite hot and has grown quickly.

There is minor injuries nearby but I’m not convinced it counts as a minor injury? They’re overrun with people at the moment as the GP surgeries are turning them away! Ridiculous.

I’ll resist the urge to pop it phone the Drs tomorrow morning and beg them to let me talk to nurse

Any update op?

Mine went funny quite quickly...... raging temp and felt awful