# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/61 "2010-09-29T23:59:32Z")
The reverse nose hair thing fascinates me. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/62 "2010-09-30T14:23:10Z")
So any updates? did things ever, er, resolve? ---
**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 30, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/63 "2010-09-30T18:50:30Z")
They sort of have, but not in a satisfying way. The thing seems to have mostly healed itself. The red area has shrunk to less than the size of a pea, and the core feels smaller–maybe just because the swelling around it has gone down. I’m going to let it be. It was a little cyst to begin wtih and wasn’t bothering me till I messed with it… I won’t mess with it again. Sorry. I wanted a squirter just as much as all of you did. ---
**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:** [November 17, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/64 "2010-11-17T23:51:42Z")
Update, a couple of months down the line: Last night I got sick of The Thing again, and tried to squeeze it. This time I did manage to empty it of cheesy, smelly material. Still visible under the skin is a dark grayish/black component, which no amount of squeezing would get rid of. I swabbed it well with alcohol and have kept antibiotic ointment on it since, and haven’t had a repeat of the swelling. I’m hoping the dark color is just the lining of the thing, or whatever, and it will soon heal and go away. I guess it’s… a cyst? A very small, well-contained abscess? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/65 "2010-11-18T02:20:44Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I guess it’s… a cyst? A very small, well-contained abscess? A twin? ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/66 "2010-11-18T02:41:15Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I guess it’s… a cyst? A very small, well-contained abscess? Probably a sebaceous cyst. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/67 "2010-11-18T02:43:57Z")
And it could periodically get inflamed/infected, until it’s surgically removed. The sac of it has to come out for it to fully go away, and you can’t do that by squeezing. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/68 "2010-11-18T03:21:04Z")
I’ve had a recurring carbuncle thingy under my right armpit for a year or so. It flares up once every few months, I pop out what should be an impossible amount of pus for something so tiny, there’s a hole left behind, and life goes on. I might go to a doctor if it ever got any worse. But at very worst it’s just a bit painful, and squeezing it out is satisfying. Like the feeling you get when you lose an enormous chunk of earwax. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/69 "2010-11-18T03:34:13Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I’ve had a recurring carbuncle thingy under my right armpit for a year or so. It flares up once every few months, I pop out what should be an impossible amount of pus for something so tiny, there’s a hole left behind, and life goes on. > > I might go to a doctor if it ever got any worse. But at very worst it’s just a bit painful, and squeezing it out is satisfying. Like the feeling you get when you lose an enormous chunk of earwax. This may be [hidradenitis suppurativa](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidradenitis_suppurativa) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/70 "2010-11-18T03:40:47Z")
I had a acnestic zit a few weeks ago. While it would not be worthy of mention among ‘big zit’ stories, it was still pretty big for me. While almost pulling my shoulders out of joint, I was able to express the pus out (nothing dramatic, just a slow ooze), I still suspected that there was a solid plug inside that I also wanted to express. I was on my \*own with it–and I couldn’t quite reach it to get a good grip on either side of it. So. . . I got a pair of needle nose pliers, and very carefully eased them around the zit, slowly closing them. Took a few minutes, but I did get just the right grip and got it to come out, about the size of the “nib” of your basic ball point pen. Again, nothing to brag about, but I usually nip zits in the bud. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/71 "2010-11-18T03:43:44Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > This may be [hidradenitis suppurativa](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidradenitis_suppurativa) Well I am female and do deal with excessive androgens, but I don’t seem to fit any of the other diagnostic criteria. This is only in one spot. That condition sounds way worse than what I have. What with multiple lesions and massive amounts of pain. Of course, after a kidney stone, my pain tolerance has increased relative to that. It takes a lot to faze me. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2010, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/72 "2010-11-18T09:18:58Z")
I actually was a bit naive in my previous post, so allow me to explain: There are three reasons to go to a doctor over an infection: The first is that the infection doesn’t go away in 2 weeks. The second is if you have a fever or other signs of a spreading infection beyond the skin, The third is if the infection keeps recurring. In all of these situations, the doctor will give you a systemic antibiotic to actually get rid of the infection. You will also likely get a cream to put on the infection, which can also be used to depopulate the one place where staph likes to hide out: the lower part of the nostrils. With all the stuff about MRSA-CA, I’m surprised none of the doctors here have popped in to tell of this stuff. It can actually be serious now. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/73 "2010-11-18T12:40:26Z")
> [@](#): > > I got a pair of needle nose pliers, and very carefully eased them around the zit, slowly closing them. Took a few minutes, but I did get just the right grip and got it to come out, about the size of the “nib” of your basic ball point pen. Again, nothing to brag about, but I usually nip zits in the bud. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of getting the core of a zit out. I’ve never used pliers of any sort, but I have used tweezers. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/74 "2010-11-18T12:46:33Z")
Don’t use needles. If you have a diabetic in the family, ask for some lancets used for blood testing. Otherwise, go to the store and buy a box. They have a very fine point and are sterile. If all you use them for is zit-picking, one box should last quite some time. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/75 "2010-11-18T14:18:12Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I’ve never used pliers of any sort, but I have used tweezers. First time for me, but it was in the most tactilely inaccessible part of my back, so I thought it was worth a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/76 "2010-11-18T14:52:28Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The thing would flare up and occasionally I could pop something out of it and then it would go back down. But then it would flare up again and go down again. My expert medical diagnosis is that you had a penis growing out of your breast. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/77 "2010-11-18T15:18:28Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I’m intrigued by the ichthammol drawing salve. I’m going to see if my CVS carries it… I guess they keep it behind the pharmacy counter, like Sudafed. Ichthammol (aslso known as black salve) is mainly made of sulfur-rich oil shale. It has antibiotic properties and it thins the skin allowing the um, pustule, to come to a head more easily. It’s still sometimes used on horses, though even among livestock people (who think povidone iodine aka Betadine is a newfangled sort of thing) it’s considered “old-timey.” I once asked my pharmacist if he sold icthammol, when I had this really persistent eczema rash. I was more joking/making conversation, as I was picking up a steroid cream at the time, but he got all excited at the thought of making some up. There’s little call for compounding these days I guess, and especially not salves. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/78 "2010-11-18T15:30:37Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > 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. That happened to me a couple of times with nasal hairs, and once with an eyelash (no swelling with the eyelash – I noticed it when trying to figure out why my eyeball was being irritated). ---
**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:** [November 18, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/79 "2010-11-18T17:11:42Z")
Yeah, I worked with the ichthammol for a few days on my first round with this thing. The Thing never came to a head, and the bandages I had to put over the ointment–to stop it from making big black stains on my clothes–ripped my skin raw. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655/80 "2010-11-18T17:42:38Z")
Do you reverse nose hair people know that it came from the inside of your nose? People do have hair follicles on the surface of their noses, after all. Either way, I find this strangely fascinating, all of it. Gross in the most delightful way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmon-pustules-never-burst-on-their-own/554655.md?page=3)