What is this?

[MxGrl]

I have had a smallish bump on the top of my inner thigh for about 2-3 weeks. At first I thought it was a wired zit. But I'm not sure. It's not as dark as a bruise but similar. It may be from trying to pop it. It's not painful but I know it's there. I'm sixteen and I don't spend alot of time in the sun or tanning. I don't take any mess with this side effect because all the stuff I take is from a naturalist and doesnt have side effects. I just want to know what it is so I can stop stressing out completely about it. I was terrified to google it cause google always comes up with the worst thongs possible and it scares me a lot.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Cysts are often hard and may be discolored. It can be filled with a soft, whitish brown material that sometimes oozes out onto the skin's surface. It is basically due to swollen hair follicles. 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 dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[MxGrl]

It doesn't hurt though. I'm glad to hear that it's nothing to be concerned about though. Is a cyst supposed to be sort of hard and discolored like this. It's not bothering me except that I know it's there and I have always had a problem with health anxiety where I'm always thinking it's cancerous when I know in my head that it's not. I

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
First of all relax as it is nothing to be scared of. As mentioned earlier it looks like a small ingrown hair or cyst which is very common in the area. Apply warm compresses, Neosporin ointment and calamine lotion and avoid messing with it. You  can take anti-inflammatory pain killers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If the lump persists then it will be best to get it evaluated from a dermatologist as in some cases, a small incision or nick 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.

[MxGrl]

I believe I also forgot to mention that it is sort if hard. I'm probably just paranoid but is this something I should be extremely concerned about. I go see my naturalist in july but I'm so scared about this!

[MxGrl]

Nevermind that. I would nit say gone away actually. It just isn't dark in color anymore. Or as big. I'm just gonna keep putting peroxide on it and see whAt happens. Doubt it anything serious. But I'll see what happens.

[MxGrl]

It seems to have gone away on it's own. I appreciate the advice though. :)

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Going by your age and symptoms it looks like an infected hair follicle or boil. Boils are caused by infection of the hair follicle by staph aureus. Hair follicles that are blocked by greasy creams, petroleum jelly, or similar products are more vulnerable to infection.

Apply warm compresses and keep the area clean. Take some over the counter pain reliever and consult a doctor for examination and antibiotics prescription. Till then you can apply topical antibiotics like Neosporin.

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.