Painful lump on bikini line - warning photo

[bbbid]

I'm in a downward spiral of health anxiety. Lump appeared 2 days ago, has grown to this and is VVVVVV painful. Stingy painful. Currently lying legs akinbo with a hot flannel on it convincing myself I might die. Any suggestions?

Ouch! Magnesium sulphate to draw it out to a head. It's a white paste sold in pharmacies. Put a pea-sized amount on and cover with a dressing. People suggest hot baths. Keep going with the flannel as a hot compress. Take some ibuprofen and make sure to take regular photos and provide updates especially if it erupts 😁 if no improvement by Monday see a GP. Also if very painful then an ice pack might be soothing. The heat will help draw it up and out though.

I had one of these once and it was an abscess from ingrown hair after a dodgy home waxing session. I was told not to draw it out, they gave me strong antibiotics and it went. My sympathies - they are v painful and if you have pants on it catches all the time. I’d say go to a walk in asap to get antibiotics. Don’t wait until Monday you’ll feel even more crap by then. And a heat pack feels good but heat helps bacteria multiply and spread (ask me how I know!). If they give you tablets tomorrow you’ll start to feel a bit better by Monday.

It'll be fine. I have two of the buggers at the moment as I have a condition that causes abscesses
They're mostly just annoying!

Is it normal to be 10/10 painful though or am I just a wimp 🫣

Yes, absolutely normal to be so painful you can’t have underwear against it; struggle to stand up or sit down as the movement pulls on the skin and the nerve endings surrounded by the infection.

Hot compresses using flannels, hot baths, and magnesium sulphate paste applied regularly to encourage it to come to a head are the way to go. However, if you begin to feel unwell, temperature, flu like symptoms or the like, please make an appointment with your GP or go to your nearest walk in/A&E as you may need antibiotics or even surgery to clear out the infection.

@bbbid hi, I've a similar lump on the same area. How did you manage to get rid of it? Thanks.