Red spots on shins getting bigger/painfull

[txdeke]

A couple months ago I had small red spots(pin ***** sized) show up on my shins. They don't itch and are in areas about 2 inches by 4 inches.  Well all of a sudden one of them swelled and looked like a pimple.  It popped and then preceeded to get bigger and hurt like heck.  I kept neosporin on it but it didn't seem to help.  Also they didn't get "infected" like they were at first, they were obviously inflamed but no puss.  They slowly subside over a few weeks then another popped up, then another, now I am on my 4th one.  they start out like a little pimple then end up the size of a nickle to a quarter with a raised center.  Again they hurt and leave a red mark, the first one is still there color wise but the swelling has gone down, and the little red marks are still there.  I have looked all over but can't figure this out.  I have psoriasis on my hed and a couple small places on the legs but this looks nothing like it, not even close. Any help would be much appreciated.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
These painful bumps can be boils or erythema nodosum. Boils are caused by infection of the hair follicle by staph aureus.Erythema nodosum results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the legs below the knees. Apply warm compresses on the boil and keep the area clean.Drainage of the boil is done only when it becomes soft and forms a head.Take some over the counter pain reliever and consult a doctor for examination and antibiotics prescription.If there are recurrent boils,then pls get your blood sugar levels estimated.

If the symptoms persist then get erythema nodosum ruled out from a dermatologist.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.

[txdeke]

Thank you very much for your response.  I have spent hours online trying to figure this out.  The 4th one is a tad bigger and I am afraid it is going to grow just like the other 3.  And it is painfull.  That I don't get?  A pimple or ingrown hair doesn't hurt like this.  
Another question for you.  What about all the little red spots that are there in patches, this is where these big zit type things come from. Have you ever heard of that?  And it is taking months for the area/scared area the other three caused to stop being red, it just looks bad and is embarrassing on top of all the other stuff.

Also why did you mention getting my blood sugar estimated?  Thanks again for your help.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
A boil, also referred to as a skin abscess, is a localized infection deep in the skin. A boil generally starts as a reddened, tender area. Over time, the area becomes firm and hard. Eventually, the center of the abscess softens and becomes filled with pus. Finally, the pus "forms a head," which can be surgically opened or spontaneously drain out through the surface of the skin.

Boil on legs is usually due to plugged sweat glands that become infected or by an ingrown hair.The smaller red spots are infact infected hair follicles which leads to boils.
I mentioned to get your blood sugar estimated because recurrent boils are often a symptom of raised blood sugar levels.So it should be done.

Try the above said treatment and if the symptoms persist then pls get it evaluated from a dermatologist.Erythema nodosum has to be probed.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.