Weird red bump with whiteheads on my leg... Help!

[Dante365]

Hey I'm 15 turning 16 in October if that matters, but last night I saw on my leg a slight red bum with little white heads. I remember two days ago being at my friends and scratching that area thinking it was just a mosquito bite. So today I woke up and the whiteheads look slightly bigger.. I'm kind of scared/nervous. I know it's not an ingrown hair because I don't shave my legs btw.  Photo of it is attached.

[Dante365]

Hey man thanks for answering, but at the time that I started itching I was wearing cargo shorts and I have not wore long pants in months, do you think it could have been a spider bite? Thanks for your concern though!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From your symptoms it looks like folliculitis. Folliculitis starts when hair follicles are damaged by friction from clothing or blockage of the follicle. In most cases of folliculitis, the damaged follicles are then infected with the bacteria Staphylococcus (staph).

Please keep the area clean and apply some topical antiseptics. Also wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove. Avoid any kind of cosmetics. Topical antibiotics such as mupirocin or neomycin containing ointment are also useful. In case the symptoms persist then oral antibiotics may be needed. Please consult a dermatologist in that case.

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.
1)