Boil on neck, possibly staph...

I have had this thing on my neck for about 4 months. It started out like a blackhead and stayed small for a while. All at once it grew to about the size of a pea, unmovable and very hard. My husband thought it was a pimple and tried to squeeze it (gross, I know but it was bugging me and I couldn't reach it) In the next few days it got big, about the size of a quarter, quite red and painful, sometimes itchy. I made an appointment with my doc. but the next available appt is in 3 weeks. I made the appt. but need to know if this sounds like something that needs more immediate care.

Oh, also about 4 weeks ago I stepped on SOMETHING sharp in my backyard and had a nice deep puncture wound on my foot. I got a tetanus shot and an antibiotic shot but I'm wondering if I might have picked up staph when this happened. That's why I'm worried about this boil.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be a boil or a cyst. Blocked sebaceous glands, swollen hair follicles and excessive testosterone production will cause cysts.

Generally no treatment is required but they become painful then it means they are infected, then surgical excision by traditional wide excision, minimal excision, and punch biopsy excision may be required.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[mlabshire]

Thank you for your response. It has shrunk quite a bit and stopped hurting but is still about the size of a dime. I will keep my appointment as I am getting a prescription refilled anyway and will have her check it just to be safe. Is a cyst something that will pop back up later or will it just go away and stay gone? This thing is in such a visible area. If it will keep coming back I want to keep my hair longer to hide it...

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
A cyst is usually filled with a soft, whitish brown material that sometimes oozes out onto the skin's surface. This material is called sebum. Treatment includes small surgical opening into the skin and removing the sac (excision biopsy). But recurrence is quite common. I suggest you to get the diagnosis confirmed from a dermatologist after examination.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.