# Wanna see my abscess? (TMI, obvi) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 20, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125 "2014-03-20T00:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/61 "2014-03-22T04:37:46Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Whatever happened to good, old drawing salve? > > A quick google shows it is still available. > > Let me guess: I’m am one of a dozen people on these boards who knows what “drawing salve” is. I special ordered PRID for people several times when I was in retail pharmacy. It shouldn’t be used on an open wound, and some people really swear by it for psoriasis and other skin rashes. The thing that doctors (and dentists too, if they do root canals) must brace themselves for is the smell. Some of them smell really, really bad. I had a root canal a couple years ago, and I was afraid of that more than anything; my fears were unfounded, because there was no smell. But some people have told me that when their abscess was opened, or the pulp chamber was entered, it smelled like someone broke open a cesspool :eek:, and they thought, “That was in my body? No wonder I felt so terrible!” ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/62 "2014-03-22T13:43:10Z")
Hey. Sorry about the golf joke, glad you’re getting better. On the drawing, I was proved wrong once on substances added that turn out to be bad for your case, so I won’t go for two. That said, what about a clean hot wet wash cloth applied to the surface? The old school barbers used to wrap them on faces to open pores before shaving. Even if it only has the placebo “spa effect” of feeling nice, it doesn’t sound like it would hurt you or cost you money. ---
**Author:** ![Inter\_Alia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@Inter\_Alia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inter_Alia)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/63 "2014-03-22T16:12:55Z")
No apology necessary, **Count Blucher**. I thought it was funny. I have been applying moist heat, which seems to be helping. It definitely looks less red today. I think the antibiotic ointment is helping too. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/64 "2014-03-23T15:38:39Z")
Any further updates? ---
**Author:** ![Inter\_Alia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@Inter\_Alia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inter_Alia)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/65 "2014-03-23T18:53:19Z")
Thanks for asking! The abscess is still draining, but the red area is a little smaller today than yesterday. My fever broke, so I’m feeling a lot better than I was. Putting heat on it six times a day is getting annoying, but I want that sucker gone. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/66 "2014-03-24T05:34:21Z")
This doesn’t see to be the overgrown sebaceous gland boil. There are the swollen sebaceous gland cyst boils… some doctors suggest the gland should be removed so that it doesn’t just instantly reform as a cyst… But its not always required to excise the gland, as the bacteria produce poisons which kills the gland material anyway!! Who knows, perhaps the insides will turn liquid (the bacteria produced toxins and killed it all) and form a big hole, and perhaps it will all just heal up straight away. (the bacteria didn’t poison the flesh.) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/67 "2014-03-24T13:24:32Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > If \*_Inter Alia_ does the YouTube Abscess and Pimple Cruise she’ll also realize she’s far from a worst-case here, which may also be somewhat reassuring. For a second I though this was an actual novelty cruise like [Monsters of Rock](http://monstersofrockcruise.com/) or something. Like, how badly do I not want to be on _that_ boat? ---
**Author:** ![Inter\_Alia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@Inter\_Alia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inter_Alia)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/68 "2014-03-24T16:15:05Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > Who knows, perhaps the insides will turn liquid (the bacteria produced toxins and killed it all) and form a big hole, and perhaps it will all just heal up straight away. (the bacteria didn’t poison the flesh.) There is a [hole](http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag207/elyse0228/2014-03-24090554_zpsb4088fa2.jpg) now! OMG, no one told me anything about a hole. This freaks me out more than the spreading redness, the pain, and the pus. THERE IS A HOLE IN MY SHOULDER. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/69 "2014-03-24T19:27:15Z")
Maybe you could have a stud or something put in? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/70 "2014-03-24T19:37:10Z")
> [@Inter\_Alia](#): > > There is a [hole](http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag207/elyse0228/2014-03-24090554_zpsb4088fa2.jpg) now! OMG, no one told me anything about a hole. This freaks me out more than the spreading redness, the pain, and the pus. THERE IS A HOLE IN MY SHOULDER. I would go to your local pharmacy and ask the pharmacist about getting a couple hydrocolloid dressings. They’re like bandages but they help maintain a wet environment that promotes granulation and angiogenesis. In other words, they help rebuild the missing tissue. Hand on my heart, I had a bigger hole than that in my shoulder in february and all that’s left is a scab and I used hydrocolloid dressings. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/71 "2014-03-24T20:26:17Z")
> [@Inter\_Alia](#): > > There is a [hole](http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag207/elyse0228/2014-03-24090554_zpsb4088fa2.jpg) now! OMG, no one told me anything about a hole. This freaks me out more than the spreading redness, the pain, and the pus. THERE IS A HOLE IN MY SHOULDER. You will be Fine! +1 on Inner Sticklers advice. …but Whatever You Do, Don’t draw eyes above it and try to make it sing…! ---
**Author:** ![Inter\_Alia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@Inter\_Alia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inter_Alia)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/72 "2014-03-24T21:20:13Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I would go to your local pharmacy and ask the pharmacist about getting a couple hydrocolloid dressings. I’ve never heard of these, but I’m going to see if anyone around here carries them. A quick Google search tells me that a lot of people with adhesive allergies (which I have) don’t have a reaction to hydrocolloid dressings. If that turns out to be true for me, I can honestly say you’ve changed my life, **Inner Stickler**. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/73 "2014-03-24T22:00:28Z")
I bet the pharmacist would have a suggestion if they’re contra-indicated for you. I’m going to post some pictures of my healing process below and I have to warn you, they’re really gross. [A few days after beginning the antibiotics.](http://imgur.com/WpNt0fr) [Same day](http://imgur.com/eSwpLjA) [A week later.](http://imgur.com/pS3qKNT) [Same day.](http://imgur.com/FbQusKo) [4th week after starting the antibiotics](http://imgur.com/Lqj2XS5) [Same day](http://imgur.com/I15NKz9) You can see as time progressed, the hole got shallower and shallower. It’s currently a little knob of scab sitting on top of perfectly normal-looking skin. I think there might be a slight scar or some discoloration where the scab is but my body completely fixed the hole. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/74 "2014-03-24T22:13:10Z")
I had a freakin’ _canyon_ where mine was, but it healed up to a scar so thin that most people don’t notice it unless I point it out. Remember, there’s still some swelling present. It WILL look better and it WILL heal up! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/75 "2014-03-25T00:51:20Z")
> [@minionkat](#): > > I knew exactly which video this was going to be before I clicked. I have to agree. They really needed someone with a stronger stomach to do the video. This could have been amazing. I find his gagging more off-putting than the actual excision. I introduced my mother to the wonderful world of zit popping on YouTube with several videos, including this one. She loves it. 😃 Ha! Me too. This is just the most bizarre video, with the audience, the black gloves, the whole backyard scene and most of all, the guy with the boob growing on his back. I want so badly to know how long it took to grow that monster. I’m also curious about his plans for the golf ball-sized unit on his shoulder. Another party perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/76 "2014-03-25T02:11:11Z")
> [@Inter\_Alia](#): > > OMG, no one told me anything about a hole. Sorry, I did mention that the scar is likely to be a divot - that’s from the remnants of the hole. It really isn’t as bad as it looks, I swear. You’re comparing it to an area that’s both swollen and raised from your normal skin level. It will settle back down. Bodies are good at filling in holes. Just keep an eye on it so it doesn’t seal back over with nasty still stuck inside it. ---
**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:** [March 25, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/77 "2014-03-25T02:46:46Z")
> [@Dr.Woo](#): > > Ha! Me too. This is just the most bizarre video, with the audience, the black gloves, the whole backyard scene and most of all, the guy with the boob growing on his back. Seems to me the gloves are a sanitation measure - I mean, washing your hands in someone else’s pus is probably not the best thing to do. And doing the “expressing” outside makes a lot of sense - the next rain will wash the erupting pus off the trees and other foliage, you won’t have to wash off floors, walls, ceilings, furniture… The audience - well YOU watched, didn’t you? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/78 "2014-03-25T03:29:48Z")
> [@Inter\_Alia](#): > > There is a [hole](http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag207/elyse0228/2014-03-24090554_zpsb4088fa2.jpg) now! OMG, no one told me anything about a hole. This freaks me out more than the spreading redness, the pain, and the pus. THERE IS A HOLE IN MY SHOULDER. That pus took up space. It will fill in. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/79 "2014-03-25T15:04:34Z")
> [@Inter\_Alia](#): > > THERE IS A HOLE IN MY SHOULDER. > [@GaryM](#): > > Maybe you could have a stud or something put in? Rule 34? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Inter\_Alia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@Inter\_Alia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inter_Alia)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125/80 "2014-03-25T15:38:07Z")
Hey, no Rule 34-ing my abscess! The hole is a little [bigger](http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag207/elyse0228/2014-03-25083102_zps1b43be90.jpg) today. The abscess is still draining. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-see-my-abscess-tmi-obvi/684125.md?page=5)