The Cyst that wouldn't leave

[Irisheyes]

HI
About 2 years ago I developed a lump on my outer labia majora (close to the crease in my leg) Little did I know an ingrown hair was doing evil things inside of me. Eventually a cyst formed, and I have had it drained, picked, popped and surgically removed. The first surgery did not heal properly due to a sloppy stitch job by the doctor and more of the same problems ocurred, it would fill up, break , bleed, etc, not to mention it hurt. So I have been seeing a dermatologist for the past 6 months. She has put me on sulfa antibiotics, injected me with cortisone and finnally two weeks ago I went through another surgery where she extracted the remaining scar tissue and cyst particles. I thought all was well, the sticthes were removed in a week, but now i see the "red hole" forming again and it is tender. I am utterly upset, and am deperate for alternative advice. I am an active healthy 25 year old, but I refrained fom all exercise during the heal time. I have also noticed that whenevr I wear underwear it seems to constrict and irritate the scar and the cycle starts up again. so am I not supposed to ever wear underwear again??? Im aggravated and my Doctor is on a 3 week vacation. Please offer me some expert advice.
Thank you!!! and one other thing-I purchased a 40 dollar jar of an all natural scar healing remedy, I am waiting for it to arrive-do you think I wasted my $$$$

[jroeglin]

Ok, I think I may have what you are describing here. For the past couple of months I have had a "cyst like thing" down by my vaginal area (more like on the upper inner part of my thigh) and it seems to get really big and hard. Eventually it seems to kind of fade away. Well, just recently I got another one almost right next to it, and this time it got really big, it almost hung off my leg, and I popped it tonight. Alot of blood and puss came out (some of the blood looked almost black and "stringy" like) This is really gross i know, but it is driving me crazy. So, when it popped tonight, not all of it came out, so it is still there. Now it's like there is a hole in it. Is this an ingrown hair or something like that? I am definitely prone to cysts-had a cyst surgically removed on my tailbone, and one on my head. So, is this an std? Or just a gross thing that is going to come and go?

[ollieoop]

Hi Irisheyes, I too have suffered from same problem, for years until I had surgery removal last spring.  One thing I can pass on to you is to see if the cyst acts up a predictable times.  Mine always started shortly before my period.  Knowing this allowed me to wear loose panties, start taking warm baths, and applying bacterial ointment before the cyst got out of hand.  After surgery, don't you know the cyst (or where the cyst was)would still feel itchy and slightly swollen for the week before starting.  The cells carry their own memory.  A friend who also had them with her periods also had them for a number of months after a complete hysterectomy!  I haven't read of any connection between cysts of this nature and women's cycles, but I am certain about what happened with my body.  Good luck.

[ezzy]

hi i have two white lumps, look like white heads on my testes, they are close together and i try to ignore them. hopefully there nothing i try to fotget they are there. can you help me. wot do you think. thanx ezzy

[BUTTERSCOTCH20]

HEY I NOTICED THE SAME THING IT SOUNDS LIKE A WEEK AGO IF U COULD WRITE ME BACK ANG GIVE SOME INFO THAT WOULD BE GREAT

[sharon29570]

Hi, Irisheyes, I also had the same problem as you do. Could you please email me at ***@**** so I could talk to you about this. Thanks

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Most of the cysts I have seen in the groin and not true cysts, but rather inflamed follicles.  These are best left alone, as neither surgery nor antibiotic treatment eliminates them, and may indeed aggravate the problem, as seems to have been the case with you.

The good news is that with gentle topical treatment--and a lot of patience--you should heal quite well, even if slowly and perhaps incompletely.  My advice is that you apply nothing stronger than the over-the-counter antibiotic bacitracin, that you keep the site padded with a soft and "breathing" dressing like moleskin so it won't rub against your underwear, and that you avoid all other interventions for a period of 4 months (and no squeezing, picking, or similar actions!)

By the end of that time, there may be some slight remnant of the condition, but too little to bother with.  You may in other words be left with a slight under-the-skin lump and perhaps some discoloration, but living with these is better than taking aggressive action which makes life worse rather than better.

You should corroborate this suggestion with a visit to another dermatologist.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff