# C'mon, pustules NEVER burst on their own. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 22, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655 "2010-09-22T15:44:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/41 "2010-09-23T16:56:19Z")
> [@Mr.Accident](#): > > _edit_ Nm, just saw that Broomstick linked it earlier. If you mean the “burst on its own” one, that’s not it, but scroll down that old thread for the link to “Favorite Pimple Stories,” and her multi-part saga begins with post 44. ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/42 "2010-09-23T21:02:36Z")
Yeah, another vote for that black crap they sell at drugstores. My late husband once got this TERRIBLE, huge, painful boil on his ass (started as an impacted hair, I’m sure) and the solution was HOT compresses several times a day and a few applications a day of this black, stinky, tar-like stuff we got at the local WalGreens. It headed up and began draining within a few days after he started using the gunk (he’d been doing the compresses and washing with anticeptic solution for a few weeks to no avail…the pressure just kept building up and it got larger and more painful and refused to head up UNTIL he started the black gunk, when it began to improve immediately). I have a tendency to get boils on my torso from time to time; staph, both according to me and my Dr. And MOST boils are some form of staph or soon become infected with it. I got a few this summer and was reminded of what he’d told me years ago when I last had them; swimming in chlorinated water can kill off beneficial organisms on the skin and allow for the overgrowth of resistant strains of things like staph and just generally fuck up the flora and fauna. Yep, I swam in our complex pool almost daily this year and have gotten both topical yeast and staph boils for the first time in years ☹ (I refuse to give up swimming, though…I just have to compensate for my propensity for skin issues, lacking a regular NON chlorinated place to do so.) I find tea tree oil can help, as can this OTC Staphocin stuff (whatever it’s called). And internally, aside from eating well and general nutritional support, there is a natural, broad spectrum antibiotic called Nutra Biotic made from grapefruit seed extract that works wonders for me. (it is also sold as a liquid which can be taken in water or applied topically, but I usually take the pill form). It knocks stuff out rapidly in my experience, including a NASTY sinus infection I had last year. (My Dr. concurred that it was a viable option to prescription antibiotics when I asked him about it, pointing out that it is essentially the same thing many Drs’ use to clean under their nails before going into surgery…most bugs have not developed any resistance to it and it is potent and perfectly safe, even for pregnant women or for children). No, I don’t own stock in the company, wish I did. Just offering my personal, unpaid testimonial. Always a good idea to take probiotics along with any antibiotic you take, and just in general, imo. Good luck. Boils SUCK. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/43 "2010-09-23T22:55:23Z")
I once had a recurring painful red red area on the tip of my nose that flared up and died off without ever giving the satisfaction of a proper zit. This went on for a few months then, one week it got worse…redder and redder bigger and bigger and bigger and so painful to the touch! Then…finally, a head appeared with a tiny black dot in the middle. Of course I attacked it with a sterilised needle, ah! bliss. But, hang on! what the heck is that black dot? let me get my wife’s eyebrow tweezers and give it a little pull…then a bit more pull…then a bit more…then…SHIT! IT’S A NASAL HAIR! It had grown through my nose from the inside over the course of the months and was about an inch long. No wonder it smarted somewhat. It was hideous You ever see “the thing”? it was like that. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/44 "2010-09-24T06:04:20Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I once had a recurring painful red red area on the tip of my nose that flared up and died off without ever giving the satisfaction of a proper zit. > > This went on for a few months then, one week it got worse…redder and redder bigger and bigger and bigger and so painful to the touch! > > Then…finally, a head appeared with a tiny black dot in the middle. Of course I attacked it with a sterilised needle, ah! bliss. > But, hang on! what the heck is that black dot? let me get my wife’s eyebrow tweezers and give it a little pull…then a bit more pull…then a bit more…then..SHIT! IT’S A NASAL HAIR! > > It had grown through my nose from the inside over the course of the months and was about an inch long. No wonder it smarted somewhat. It was hideous You ever see “the thing”? it was like that. I had the same thing happen only it was on the side of my nostril and “only” about a half inch long. Gives me the willies just remembering it. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/45 "2010-09-24T07:00:20Z")
I love the dope. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/46 "2010-09-24T14:59:47Z")
I have never heard about such a thing. Now I’ve heard about it twice. I hope to never hear of it again! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/47 "2010-09-24T15:11:05Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I have never heard about such a thing. Now I’ve heard about it twice. I hope to never hear of it again! You will, these threads pop up on a regular basis. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/48 "2010-09-24T15:37:26Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > If you ever bought a custom title, it should be “Pustule Princess.” 🙂 I agree with this one. I just sat here and read it all again. **Broomstick** has a wonderful way with words: she can paint a picture that just sticks in your mind for weeks. I I could donate to get her a custom title, I would. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/49 "2010-09-24T15:51:28Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > You will, these threads pop up on a regular basis. 😃 O I see what you did there… ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/50 "2010-09-24T18:07:00Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I have never heard about such a thing. Now I’ve heard about it twice. I hope to never hear of it again! Really, I’m hoping I get one! Does this phenomenon have a name? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/51 "2010-09-24T21:58:25Z")
> [@Ann\_Onimous](#): > > > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > > > If you ever bought a custom title, it should be “Pustule Princess.” 🙂 > > I agree with this one. I just sat here and read it all again. **Broomstick** has a wonderful way with words: she can paint a picture that just sticks in your mind for weeks. > > I I could donate to get her a custom title, I would. Only if the custom title could contain a link to the story in question. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/52 "2010-09-25T00:12:49Z")
…I think I’m feeling a bit faint. I just went back and reread several of the previous zit threads, including Broomstick’s classics. Thanks. I think. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/53 "2010-09-25T04:13:45Z")
Yes, it’s hot for boils. Also, if you get a fever or even just achy, you probably need to go the doctor, who can give you an antibiotic cream. Also, he can test you to make sure it isn’t MRSA. That stuff is a bugger. My sister was in a wreck, and cut open and infected, and ever since then she’s had recurrent problems with it. If she doesn’t get a full round of antibiotics, the infection will pop back in a couple weeks. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/54 "2010-09-25T17:33:26Z")
I’m almost afraid to ask, but… **overlyverbose** , how is _ahem_ your husband’s cyst a _knuckle deep_? Did it just eat away at the skin? The pictures on emedicine health that people linked to were very small and pimple-sized like. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/55 "2010-09-26T03:37:50Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > I’m almost afraid to ask, but… > > **overlyverbose** , how is _ahem_ your husband’s cyst a _knuckle deep_? Did it just eat away at the skin? The pictures on emedicine health that people linked to were very small and pimple-sized like. It was extremely deep and got infected. The doctor had to dig out all the tissues under and around it. When he’s healed, the doctor is going to go back in and surgically remove the hair follicles to prevent it from happening again. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/56 "2010-09-26T04:23:02Z")
Salicylic acid. The strongest is in the foot care aisle and is called “Wart remover.” It will gently peel the top layer of skin off, allowing the follicle to clear itself. It usually works overnight. Normally I’d also recommend hemorrhoid cream to mask the redness next day - but being pregnant I’d say anything which could potentially absorb throught he skin is a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/57 "2010-09-26T12:24:35Z")
Oh, honey, hemorrhoid cream is TOTALLY legal in pregnancy. Believe me. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/58 "2010-09-26T13:56:20Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > It was extremely deep and got infected. The doctor had to dig out all the tissues under and around it. When he’s healed, the doctor is going to go back in and surgically remove the hair follicles to prevent it from happening again. Ick. I am so sorry you have to clean it! At least there’s a good solution for prevention in the future. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/59 "2010-09-28T03:25:14Z")
Hey, ZipperJJ…I had exactly the same nostril hair reversal thing happen to me. A pimple-like lesion that had a bit of pus and a looonnngggg hair that emerged from the top of my nose like some B movie monster. If only I had pictures and had woven a bracelet from it…OK, it wasn’t more than a true inch long, but “Damn!..That’s impressive on its own!” Now I wonder if there is a 4th/5th/6th to be shared? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/60 "2010-09-28T15:05:13Z")
Here’s a tip I learned from a nurse, and this seems a great place to pass it along. The problem with squeezing difficult blackheads, zits, whatever, it that it is obviously just a tad to far below the surface to pop on it’s own. By squeezing you’re really just making it worse, pushing it down even further rather than just popping it out like a ripe zit. What you need to do, what she taught me to do, instead, is to pull it apart from either side, which will force it up instead of down, and is more likely to open the covering skin, which is what is really needed. She actually told me that this is the mistake people make, and end up making a simple thing into something much worse. It seems counter intuitive, when it’s so successful with ripe zits, but it only has to be slightly further down, for squeezing, to be the totally wrong approach. After you’ve softened it up, with salve or compresses, and you want to have a go, try pulling it apart rather than squeezing it together. Yes, it’s more difficult to get a grip but with a little practice you’ll get it. Good luck, keep us posted! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655.md?page=4)