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If you want to see spot squeezing, popping or videos showing the removal of blackheads - this is the place for you.

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If you want to see spot squeezing, popping or videos showing the removal of blackheads - this is the place for you.

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Enormous underarm boil... does this need a doctor?

249 replies

lemonsandgingerbeer · 22/06/2021 13:48

Apologies for the stubble

This has come up over the last 4 days and it's super-annoying. Magnesium sulphate hasn't done much, nor have hot compresses (although it has grown pretty big pretty fast).

Should I get to the docs to have it drained?

Enormous underarm boil... does this need a doctor?

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FeatheredHope · 24/06/2021 16:05

Just bookmarking for further pictures ;)
Really hope it starts feeling better soon.

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medebourne · 24/06/2021 16:15

I really feel for you OP. For some reason I used to have a recurring problem with this. They are very uncomfortable indeed and can sometimes spread alarmingly. I once went to A and E in the night when one got particularly bad and the infection was moving down my arm. I am really glad you got antibiotics. They will sort it out.

I had so many different pieces of advice how to deal with them, everybody I talked to have a different idea and that includes the different nurse and doctors I spoke to. In the end I came to the conclusion that it is actually better NOT to fiddle about with compresses or anything else which involves touching them. I really don't think it is a good idea to treat them as a giant whitehead. Please don't squeeze it, however much people on here might like the pic! Just get straight in there with antibiotics and then make sure your whole body is well eg. get lots of sleep, eat well, take bits and drink lots of water etc. This is obviously a non medical opinion, but based on quite a bit of experience.

I got so fed up with them recurring that I went to a homeopath because I felt I wanted a systemic solution. I can't remember what she gave me and I'm not sure I believe in it anyway, but they never came back after that and I think just being able to talk about myself for an hour and being really listened to helped a lot. In retrospect I was very run down at the time and that probably didn't help.

I hope it goes quickly!

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memberofthewedding · 24/06/2021 16:20

This sounds a bit disgusting - my grandmothers recipe for boils etc was to spit on them! Your spit contains compounds from your immune system. So it usually brings them to a head or clears them quickly. I have tried this many times with boils, nasty spots, cuts etc. It always works.

I had a very nasty boil on the labia majora a couple of months ago so even less convenient than under the arm! I took antibiotics (I always have some in the house), used hot compresses and ran the hot shower attachment on it several times a day to keep it clean. I also spat on it several times a day. It burst, discharged and began to evaporate after 3 days but was very sore.

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OrlandointheWilderness · 24/06/2021 16:22

God that looks painful! Not that I'm watching of course...

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WB205020 · 24/06/2021 16:47

@lemonsandgingerbeer
Speak to a doctor ASAP. You need strong antibiotics to treat that. Not to scare you but i had 1 very very similar 10 years ago. I went to the docs too late and the antibiotics didnt work. I ended up in A&E, admitted and had to have an operation to drain it. It grew at least 3 times the size of yours.