I have an ingrown hair follicle in my armpit. It is a big bump that sort of sore. I just noticed it today. Should I wait to shave until it goes away, or doesn't it matter?
__________________ Carrie (Pa) 31 y.o., married, 1 stepdaughter (10 yrs old). Diagnosed with PCOS in Aug '05. No current treatment.
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You know what, before I knew I had PCOS, i had a bump on my breast and I didnt know what it was, it was right outside the areola...turns out it was in ingrown hair! i actually had to have my dermatologist get in there and extract it! you might want to have a doc take a look at it, i wouldn't shave it if it's infected
Do you shave with an electric shaver or a blade? I definitely wouldn't shave with a blade for now. A gentle trimming with an electric shaver/trimmer should be fine. If it is sore I wouldn't even trim over it, just around it.
I don't want to sound alarmist, but please go to the dermatologist or your doctor ASAP. How big of a bump are we talking? Pea sized? Bigger? Have you ever gotten anything similar before, or in other places? Is it just a normal zitty red color, or an angrier red, or even purplish color? Are you in the last half of your cycle, or even worse, the week before AF?
Sorry for the third degree, but I'm worried, to be honest. I know it's a word that gets thrown around here a lot, but it could be Hidradenitis Suppurativa, which seems to be VERY common in PCOSers. It often first shows its ugly head in the pits for many. If it is, you want to have it removed, pronto. Studies have shown that when it is treated aggressively when it first appears it can sometimes abate, and this is NOT a disease you want.
If the derm thinks it may be HS and just wants to drain (or "incise and drain") it and pack it, refuse. INSIST on it being cut out completely. You won't feel a thing. It's less painful than an I&D actually.
With all that said, it could just be an extra sore ingrown hair. It happens! But finding out for sure is important, trust me.
Please check with your doctor Carrie... especially since it's big and sore. That just doesn't sound like an ingrown.
Keep us updated if you can! I'll be worried about ya!
Dana
__________________ Me (33)/Michael (3o) Together for almost nine long, happy years!
First PCOS dx: 1989 Supplements: One A Day Weight Smart, B Complex, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid (B5), B12, Saw Palmetto, Vit C, Vit D3, NAC, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Chromium Piconolate, Cinnamon, Magnesium, EPO, Zinc Gluconate, Green Tea Diet: "Modified" Zone plan
"You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her" -Anon.
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Hi Carrie, I just wanted to say I have also had one of these and now knowing about Hidradenitis Suppurativa I am leary on what it actually was. I woke up with it one day and thought that I may just have slept wrong, I went to work and it started hurting more and more..that night I showed my brother in law who is a nurse and he said that it looked like a blocked sweat gland. At the time I didnt know that it meant it was Hidradenitis Suppurativa, I put anti-bacterial ointment on it and within 2 days it was gone..and havent had one since. If it is really sore to the touch and bigger than an average pimple, under your arm it is more than likely Hidradenitis Suppurativa and you should get it checked out if you can like Dana says if it doesnt get better. Goodluck!
OUCH! They hurt toooo much!! I woudl just squeeze it , myself. but mayeb see a dermatologist.
__________________ Cathy 32 y/o To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DBF Tom 35 y/o My beautiful girl, Cassidy, 11 years old!!! Leukemia survivor!
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Ingrown Hair Follicle 
