# Deep pore (about 5 on the TMI-ometer) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 29, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266 "2003-05-29T14:35:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/1 "2003-05-29T14:35:37Z")
A few years ago I felt a pea-sized lump under the skin of my cheek. There was no blackhead or zit apparent above it, but being a curious sort, I went into the bathroom and gave it a hard squeeze. There was a “pop” sound, and out came a squiggle of some white goo. So I squeezed again, and out came some more. And more. And more. Until I had about a foot-long worm of the stuff in the sink. This gunk wasn’t your normal blackhead sebum, which tends to have a black head, and is sort of yellowish and solid. This stuff was pure white and much less viscous. Now, the lump returns about every month, always explodes out with a “pop”, is always white and quite voluminous (though nowhere near as much as the last time), but _smells of the after-shave cream I use_. There is never a blackhead or a zit there. So what is this gunk? Is it an accumulation of after-shave cream? If so, how does it get in? How on earth is it being stored - is there a huge chasm under my skin, or a tunnel? Why isn’t there a blemish associated with this thing? And finally - is there anything I can do about it? It’s gross. ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/2 "2003-05-29T15:12:55Z")
Dude thats Weird, I have to think something is going on in there, I’d see a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/3 "2003-05-29T15:28:12Z")
Cool! Any pics? ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/4 "2003-05-29T15:31:01Z")
Sounds like a sebacious cyst. Do a search. There have been numerous threads on the topic before. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/5 "2003-05-29T15:33:32Z")
I had something like that on my arm a while back. It was like that because there was a small cut that had become infected and a bit swollen. (I didn’t, erm, smell the gunk though) But it only lasted a few weeks, not as long as the one that you have, though. I’d see a doc. ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/6 "2003-05-29T15:37:01Z")
Why doesn’t cool stuff like this ever happen to me? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/7 "2003-05-29T15:37:28Z")
Can one normally squeeze sebacious cysts? I thought they were, like, big lumps that stick out of you, whereas this is entirely invisible. My agent and PR people say no pics, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/8 "2003-05-29T15:58:58Z")
Yep, you can squeeze the cysts. ([remember the pimple tread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106449)) And they can blend right in to your normal skin terrain and you only notice the ball when you press on it. I have a small one under my arm that only flares up every couple of months, and yes, it smells like my underarm deodorant. You should talk to your doctor or dermatologist about it. It’s not good to risk infection with something on your face. ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/9 "2003-05-29T16:31:28Z")
She won’t thank me for saying this but my missus has one of these on her shoulder. I get the pleasure of squeezing it every month or so - I’ll have to have a sniff the next time. You and her can go off to the lepers’ corner of the pub next time we’re out for a pint and chat about it to your little infected hearts’ content. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/10 "2003-05-29T16:37:17Z")
I will never let on that I know. Furthermore, I withhold responding to your insult, **mwap** , due to your superb observation of apostrophe etiquette. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/11 "2003-05-29T18:05:55Z")
I agree that good apostrophe etiquette is worth rewarding. I have nothing further to say, except that I can feel a hard lump on my left jawbone that I think–no, never mind… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/12 "2003-05-29T18:26:10Z")
Egads, do any of you people _not_ smell your bodily puss? I tend to rid myself of the vile stuff toot sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Anahita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9a28c/32.png) [@Anahita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anahita)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/13 "2003-05-29T18:34:12Z")
Why? Why oh why did I read this. Please empty the contents of your pore BEFORE tomorrow evening. Does your wife get grossed out about it? ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/14 "2003-05-29T18:45:06Z")
**jjimm** you have an interesting zit AND a dreamy voice. Now tell me why I wouldn’t be in love. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/15 "2003-05-29T19:19:45Z")
I wish my husband’s sebaceous cysts would smell like health and beauty products. I would be squeezing those bad boys all the time. Unfortunately they do not smell like deoderant or shaving cream AT ALL. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/16 "2003-05-29T20:14:47Z")
Most sebaceous cysts I have encountered (on myself and other people) smell like super-concentrated dirty gym bags. I do have a small sebaceous cyst on my left shoulder that smells like Sea Breeze (or whatever astrigent/skin conditioner I happen to be using this week). It looks like a normal sebaceous cyst though. ---
**Author:** ![DarkPrince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@DarkPrince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkPrince)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/17 "2003-05-29T21:30:28Z")
Reading this thread right after finishing the What is THAT?! one, I have come to the conclusion that humans are the most disgusting creatures in the universe. ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/18 "2003-05-29T22:56:52Z")
Jeez you people! Smelling your zits and cysts? That’s just a little on the “wrong” side, if you ask me. Do you guys smell your earwax too? Or your shit? Sheesh! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![da\_pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@da\_pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/da_pope)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/19 "2003-05-29T23:09:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by roadkiller \* > \*\*Jeez you people! Smelling your zits and cysts? That’s just a little on the “wrong” side, if you ask me. Do you guys smell your earwax too? Or your shit? Sheesh! 😃 \*\* NO! earwax is for tasting. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266/20 "2003-05-30T01:28:04Z")
Not SMELL no… Ok a few times I had an itch in there that was reached with a pen cap that a few hours latter I appsent mindedly chewed on… :smack: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-pore-about-5-on-the-tmi-ometer/178266.md?page=2)