I have a ....

I have a strange bump on my breast that appeared a about a week ago. It looked like a pimple at first and so i just left it alone. I just noticed that now there is a small black dot on it. Its light pink and is on the outside ring of my nipple. I have never had anything like this appear on me before and was wondering if it was an STD or somthing( even though i get checked every year for all STD's and have always been clean). Do you know what it could be and should i be worried and go to the dr's???

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I'm sure it's not an STD; sounds like a furuncle (boil), but hard to tell without seeing it.  Go to your doctor or other health care provider.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[Sarah_C]

Many whave small bumps on their areolae (the darkened skin around the nipple). These bumps are the tops of organs called "the glands of Montgomery" or "Montgomery's tubercules"

There are normal organs which help lubricate the areolae by secreting tiny amount of oils onto the skin.

Sometimes these tubercules can become blocked and even infected. Often the blockages can become sebaceous cysts.

Although these cysts are usually not dangerous it would be an excellent idea to ask your doctor - it could be something else, and even it it is not, the matter that comes out of a sebaceous cyst is very unpleasant to smell.