Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Raised Skin After An Insect Bite
Question: hello,
it has been almost 10 years since i was bitten by a brown recluse, per my doctor's diagnosis at that time.
Over time the spot of the bite created a small guarter of an inch raising of the skin, with a very small hole that you could see a black dot of something in the middle of that tiny hole. this week it began releasing an awful smell, i have never squeezed it but it looked like the black spot had gone away allowing me to squeeze it and drain it. Over the last two days i pinched it and virtually got all the pus out to where the small puffy area seemed to go away. but, now i have smelled a really bad smell. after i squeezed it out and wiped it off i can still smell an odor. Help, this is going to kill my love life! :-)
it has been almost 10 years since i was bitten by a brown recluse, per my doctor's diagnosis at that time.
Over time the spot of the bite created a small guarter of an inch raising of the skin, with a very small hole that you could see a black dot of something in the middle of that tiny hole. this week it began releasing an awful smell, i have never squeezed it but it looked like the black spot had gone away allowing me to squeeze it and drain it. Over the last two days i pinched it and virtually got all the pus out to where the small puffy area seemed to go away. but, now i have smelled a really bad smell. after i squeezed it out and wiped it off i can still smell an odor. Help, this is going to kill my love life! :-)
Brief Answer:
Possibility of Sebaceous cyst; I suggest surgical removal
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
I have understood your query and after going through it I would like to keep a likely possibility of a sebaceous cyst.
Opening of this cyst on to skin surface may appear as a black dot, also known as punctum.
This cyst is a collection of cheesy, foul smelling material derived from secretions of sebaceous glands which line the cavity wall.
Over time these cystic contents keep accumulating thus increasing in size.
The contents may discharge through punctum.
However the cyst cavity may refill again over a period of time as secretions begin to re-accumulate.
Therefore dfinitive treatment is removal of the cyst along with its lining wall.
Unless the lining wall is removed the cyst may reform/refill.
I suggest that you see a surgeon and get the desired procedure that would include removing the cyst along with its wall.
Regards
Regards
Possibility of Sebaceous cyst; I suggest surgical removal
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
I have understood your query and after going through it I would like to keep a likely possibility of a sebaceous cyst.
Opening of this cyst on to skin surface may appear as a black dot, also known as punctum.
This cyst is a collection of cheesy, foul smelling material derived from secretions of sebaceous glands which line the cavity wall.
Over time these cystic contents keep accumulating thus increasing in size.
The contents may discharge through punctum.
However the cyst cavity may refill again over a period of time as secretions begin to re-accumulate.
Therefore dfinitive treatment is removal of the cyst along with its lining wall.
Unless the lining wall is removed the cyst may reform/refill.
I suggest that you see a surgeon and get the desired procedure that would include removing the cyst along with its wall.
Regards
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Dr. Kakkar,
thanks for the feedback. just a follow up point. the spot/hole where the puss has come out was in fact where i was bit by what we thought to be a brown recluse spider, and dianosed originally due to the redness of the spot increasing (we drew a circle around it as instructed and the red circle kept getting bigger). it was dormant for at least 8 years (cannot remember the exact date i was bit). so a spider bite can evolve to a sybaceous cyst? In the short term will antibiotics work as i am having to go on a trip. thanks
XXXXXXX
one other point. over the time i mentioned it has never really grown? it was just a little over 1/4 in diameter, maybe raised 1/16 of an inch and it had been like that forever. it just did this, oozing puss.
thanks for the feedback. just a follow up point. the spot/hole where the puss has come out was in fact where i was bit by what we thought to be a brown recluse spider, and dianosed originally due to the redness of the spot increasing (we drew a circle around it as instructed and the red circle kept getting bigger). it was dormant for at least 8 years (cannot remember the exact date i was bit). so a spider bite can evolve to a sybaceous cyst? In the short term will antibiotics work as i am having to go on a trip. thanks
XXXXXXX
one other point. over the time i mentioned it has never really grown? it was just a little over 1/4 in diameter, maybe raised 1/16 of an inch and it had been like that forever. it just did this, oozing puss.
Brief Answer:
It is unlikely that spider bite would have a reminiscent for so many years
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
It is unlikely that a spider bite would evolve into a sebaceous cyst. Secondly, a spider bite usually won't have any reminiscent for so many years.
It is just a coincidence that sebaceous cyst has formed at the same place where you had a spider bite.
It is very common that a sebaceous cysts may grow ever so slowly or remain as it is, for years.
Oral antibiotics would help dry it up, more so if there is also some secondary bacterial infection in it, but as I said there is a possibility that cyst may reform.
Can you upload an Image? Where is it located?
Regards
It is unlikely that spider bite would have a reminiscent for so many years
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
It is unlikely that a spider bite would evolve into a sebaceous cyst. Secondly, a spider bite usually won't have any reminiscent for so many years.
It is just a coincidence that sebaceous cyst has formed at the same place where you had a spider bite.
It is very common that a sebaceous cysts may grow ever so slowly or remain as it is, for years.
Oral antibiotics would help dry it up, more so if there is also some secondary bacterial infection in it, but as I said there is a possibility that cyst may reform.
Can you upload an Image? Where is it located?
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
please see my pic. as you can see it is not that big at all or even noticealbe on camera. the spot is on my upper inner thigh. It's not hurting or sore after i squeezed out the puss. it does have the odor if i rub my finger over it. i don't see any redness or any new look to my leg. i have had cyst on the back of my head removed and i have one that is currently slowly growing on top of my head. not noticeable for me to have it removed yet. based on what you said i probably need to see my GP and get an oral antibiotic. will that get rid of the bad odor?
thanks for your help and advice.
XXXX
thanks for your help and advice.
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Antibiotic would take care of any simmering infection & foul odor due to it
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you.
Yes, the image looks absolutely normal to me.
It is very possible that this was a cyst to begin with & never was a spider bite.
The redness that you had at that time was probably because the cyst may have got infected at that time.
I am not sure whether you noticed the spider at the time of being bitten by it? If not, then spider bite was just one possibility that was kept by your physician at that time.
Whereas the course of events that you recently had is very characteristic of a sebaceous cysts i.e foul smelling discharge from a painless raised bump that has stayed for years Or increased over years and the bump disappearing after you emptied its contents.
Cystic contents itself are foul smelling and bacterial infection too may cause foul smelling pus.
Oral antibiotics would take care of secondary bacterial infection if any. You may take a course.
Topically you may continue with an OTC topical antibacterial.
However, if the cyst reforms in future I would suggest definite surgical treatment i.e removal of cyst along with the cyst wall.
Regards
Antibiotic would take care of any simmering infection & foul odor due to it
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you.
Yes, the image looks absolutely normal to me.
It is very possible that this was a cyst to begin with & never was a spider bite.
The redness that you had at that time was probably because the cyst may have got infected at that time.
I am not sure whether you noticed the spider at the time of being bitten by it? If not, then spider bite was just one possibility that was kept by your physician at that time.
Whereas the course of events that you recently had is very characteristic of a sebaceous cysts i.e foul smelling discharge from a painless raised bump that has stayed for years Or increased over years and the bump disappearing after you emptied its contents.
Cystic contents itself are foul smelling and bacterial infection too may cause foul smelling pus.
Oral antibiotics would take care of secondary bacterial infection if any. You may take a course.
Topically you may continue with an OTC topical antibacterial.
However, if the cyst reforms in future I would suggest definite surgical treatment i.e removal of cyst along with the cyst wall.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thanks very much. I am much relieved. I will get with my GP to ask if he will prescribe some antibiotics.
really appreciate you time and quick responses. This is a great service. i will always keep it in mind.
XXXX
really appreciate you time and quick responses. This is a great service. i will always keep it in mind.
XXXX
Brief Answer:
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX Thank you for appreciating.
Regards
Take care
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX Thank you for appreciating.
Regards
Take care
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
