# Picked zit infections - ewwwww **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 11, 2000, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723 "2000-01-11T05:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/1 "2000-01-11T05:54:00Z")
Yeah, I know, you’re not supposed to pick them. I also know everyone does. At the moment, I am one of the unlucky ones. This is **gross**! It’s a good three-quarter inches in diameter and right on the middle of my chin. I have to wear a Band-Aid on it so as not to make everyone who sees me lose their lunch. But of course there’s nothing funnier looking than someone with a Band-Aid on their chin. I almost called in sick today just to spare myself the embarrassment. How do I make it go away? And anyone else have an infection story they wanna share 🙂 ? ---
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/2 "2000-01-11T06:13:00Z")
Well, I have my lovely lung abscess … IV antibiotics might be a bit much for an infected zit, though; try some Neosporin. Catrandom ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/3 "2000-01-11T06:25:00Z")
I’ve had Neosporin (well, Polysporin actually) on it for a couple days, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. Plus, it makes the Band-Aid slip off. And if there is anything funnier looking than someone with a Band-Aid on their chin, it’s someone with a Band-Aid only **half** on their chin. Maybe I will call in sick tomorrow ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/4 "2000-01-11T06:40:00Z")
Put a cold spoon on it…Oh wait that’s for hickeys. Never mind 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sylence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Sylence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylence)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/5 "2000-01-11T07:10:00Z")
Try bacitracian (sp, definitely) ointment. You can find it in the pharmacy. – Sylence * * * I don’t have an evil side. Just a really, really apathetic one. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/6 "2000-01-11T07:13:00Z")
Warning: if gross pimple stories really bother you, stop reading now. Ruadh, you have my sympathies. I don’t really know what to do, but if it makes you feel better, I’ll share a gross story from my past. (Gross stories always make _me_ feel better, after all…) I’m a flutist, and like all flutists, I have a sort of bumpy callus in the fold under my lip. I am not making this up. It’s not really noticeable, but everyone I know who has played the flute for a significant amount of time has this little bump. Anyway. When I was in seventh grade, it got infected. Turned into a gigantic green pimple that HURT. It looked hideous and was painful. I actually missed a day of school because of it, and embarrassingly enough, had to sit out a few days of band because I just couldn’t put my flute against it. As I recall (that was nine years ago) I put warm compresses on it, and it went away after a few days. I know that isn’t really what you have, but just wanted to let you know that you wouldn’t be the first person to stay home because of a zit. * * * ~Kyla “Anger is what makes America great.” ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/7 "2000-01-11T07:16:00Z")
In lieu of real medical advice, I’ll chime in with folk “wisdom”. If it’s still that large and generally yucky, you still have some white-cell stuff going on, i.e. pus and infection issues. Further home surgery is not recommended. Trying to exacvate will just compound the fracture, to mix medical metaphors. Yeah, what the heckers; call in sick. Pride is essential to human survival. Hot wet packs on “the site” will help bring the whole thing to a head, so to speak. When it is clearly visible, _then_ you can consider self-therapy with the sterilized means of your choice. Beware, though, because attempted cures often just force more infection into an already troublesome situation. Oh, hell, call in sick for several days. Snooze, veg out and invent creative explanations. Then if anyone is tacky enough to ask about the bandage on your chin, you’re ready: - it was a duelling mishap - it was received in passion; I can’t possibly elaborate - I was rescuing a cat from a burning building, but the poor creature was panicked and hadn’t been declawed. Glad I could help, Veb ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/8 "2000-01-11T13:18:00Z")
You could always go to a doc-in-the-box clinic and have them lance and disinfect it, but that would probably run you around $100. Do you have a family practitioner you could see? The hot compresses and antibiotic ointment is the way to go, otherwise. I speak of current experience as I got a nasty boil in a tender spot three days ago. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Thin\_Skin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@Mr\_Thin\_Skin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Thin_Skin)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/9 "2000-01-11T13:36:00Z")
Ruadh, forgive me for not knowing your gender, but if you happen to be male, you can claim it’s an ingrown hair. I get large toothpick sized hairs on my chin frequently. I usually pluck them out before shaving, but sometimes they get ingrown. It is just like you described. Eventually, they do come to a head, and this huge, gross, twisted hair comes shuttling out. Frequently, you will find the bottom part expanded and cone-shaped. After it comes out you heal rather quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/10 "2000-01-11T14:05:00Z")
## What?? No pictures?? * * * Coldfire: second to none but Satan. * * * “You know how complex women are” - Neil Peart, Rush (1993) ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/11 "2000-01-11T19:49:00Z")
**Veb** I love your list of excuses. The only one I can add to that is, “What, are you stuck in the NINETIES? Bandaids are the newest fashion accessory!” You might start a trend. * * * That which does not kill me just makes me really irritable ---
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/12 "2000-01-11T20:32:00Z")
Oooh, I like that idea! You could get the day-glo kind, or the ones with cartoon characters (Bart Simpson, maybe?) Catrandom ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/13 "2000-01-11T21:19:00Z")
Made it to work again. Unfortunately, I’ve just come back from a two week vacation, and my inbox is the height of a small child, so I really couldn’t justify taking the day off. However, I do have some progress to report. It’s a bit smaller (and good thing too 'cause I ran out of the big Band-Aids) and instead of white spots oozing pus it’s mostly just scabs now. I hope that means it’s getting better??!! Kyla: I absolutely **loved** your story! Thank you so much. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/14 "2000-01-11T21:26:00Z")
Get a good supply of the big circular band-aids, and doctor them up (pun intended) with alternating circles of fluorescent red and green. Like a target that just demands attention. You’ll see people turning red and nearly bursting to keep from staring at it. That way, you’re the one being amused, not them. * * * **FixedBack** “Moderate strength is shown in violence, supreme strength is shown in levity.”~~_G.K.Chesterton 1908_ ---
**Author:** ![Gundhilde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@Gundhilde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundhilde)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/15 "2000-01-12T00:22:00Z")
I guess you don’t need my advice now, but this is what I’d suggest: If you must pop it, do the warm compress thing, then sterilize a needle (burn it, alcohol, something) and poke gently at it. Once you’ve got it open, soak some cotton in alcohol, hold it against one side of the zit, and push gently on the other side. Don’t let it get to the point where it bleeds too much, or it’ll get a huge scab–just do it enough to get the pus out. Clean it with alcohol, put some zit cream on it, and it ought to go away pretty quickly. Warning: This is just my suggestion. If this doesn’t work for you, please don’t come after me with the needle and murderous intentions. * * * “Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past.” --1984 ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/16 "2000-01-12T01:19:00Z")
Then handcuff your hands behind you so you can’t pick it. ---
**Author:** ![Studi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Studi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Studi)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/17 "2000-01-12T02:06:00Z")
Okay, this is the absolute bottom of the barrel people. I’ve had a wart for two years on my foot, does that count? I’ve named it, Melvin. * * * “I may not be smart, but I can tell chicken shit from chicken salad.” - Lyndon Johnson ---
**Author:** ![timmar68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@timmar68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timmar68)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/18 "2000-01-12T04:01:00Z")
Years ago I was on a first date. We were at his house playing cards. I looked across the couch then I saw it. It was alive! I saw a zit on his forehead. Now, zits don’t bother me, as a rule. They are a normal part of puberty. But this was…was…:::shudder:::. There it was…on his forehead…OOZING! Yes, I saw the pus (or whatever it was) actually form on the zit, right before my very eyes! It repulsed me yet I couldn’t look away. (Oh, the things I share!) * * * MaryAnn No, stupid, it’s a boat! ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/19 "2000-01-12T05:04:00Z")
eww Now, where’s the oddest place you’ve ever gotten a zit? I’ve had them inside my ear, and a friend had one in his armpit. I’ve also had one that made me cautious sitting down. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723/20 "2000-01-12T06:28:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Okay, this is the absolute bottom of the barrel people. Someone who wasn’t around when we covered felching, obviously … [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picked-zit-infections-ewwwww/12723.md?page=2)