Blocked hair ducts under arm

I get them occasionally - well, sebaceous cysts, which I think is what you're talking about.

Very sore and ranging in size from petit pois to kidney bean.

I usually find a deep breath and a firm squeeze sorts them out quite quickly, althoug I'm not sure that is sound medical advice.

Once drained they go back to normal in a day or two

Is it not an ingrown hair? I get them sometimes and sort them out ruthlessly with the aid of tweezers. They do feel simply huge - it's amazing that one little hair can feel as if you've got a roll of barbed wire under your skin!

WSS!

I'm with P&P on this one, I get them a few times a year and agree, a firm squeeze to relieve the pressure and (TMI) goo, works wonders

I dont think I can go for the squeezing it myself as I am to much of a wimp. The doctor said blocked hair duct so I take it that means the same as in growing hair?

It sounds like an ingrowing hair. I get them sometimes, and while you can sort them out with tweezers, it can be a bit awkward, depending which arm they're under! They sort themselves out eventually if you don't mess about with them and keep using the antibiotic cream.

But where's the fun in that?

Good point...

If you can't get to the hair with tweezers or see it, or if you feel that it's not quite 'ripe' enough to be squeezed, try covering with magnesium suphate paste (about £1 from the chemist) and some gauze overnight. It is basically a drawing ointment and it will draw out any pus and the hair. It's a miracle worker.

I had a really severe case of this a few years ago and it was agony! I "dry shaved" one evening and the days after 4 bumps started swelling up in my armpit, they were the size of walnuts in the end! I came down with fever and had to go to hospital where they lacerated them and put me on antibiotics.

Hot baths to soften the bump and then put pressure on it helps unless it is really severe.

WSS. I hate to sound like Captain Sensible here but squeezing them can make them worse as you're breaking the skin and allowing outside bacteria in under the skin - not really a very good idea as your arm pit isn't the cleanest of places.*

*When I say 'your' I don't mean *your* I just mean anyone's arm pit isn't very clean.