Ugh, gross question...

**Missy** · 01-21-2009, 06:12 PM

Like a car wreck on the highway we can't help but look at this thread, huh?

It's a gross, and embarrassing question for me.

Here goes. When is a zit not a zit? I have what I thought was a zit on my collar bone. It's been there for awhile. Used the stridex pads, used the "needle" method to remove it, tried to pop it etc. Hubby thought it was a blister when he saw it ovre a week ago. (told ya, it's been there while) It's not zit like in that it isn't coming to a "head". It's hard though, not sore or tender, like a pebble under the skin. It bleeds when poked, but nothing else. It does not cause discomfort at all. But it is annoying to see it there.

So, is it a pimple, or no? What else to get rid of it?

QM · 01-21-2009, 06:16 PM

I'm not sure what it is...maybe someone else will have a better idea. Perhaps you should have a doctor take a look at it. What do you think?

**TigerGirl1226** · 01-21-2009, 06:22 PM

It may be a cyst. I'd call the doc and at least ask. They may want to see it just to check it out.

**nvmommyx6** · 01-21-2009, 06:58 PM

It is probably a cyst!
I would have the Dr take a look just to make sure, I have one of those right on my shoulder too, right where my bra strap goes!!!
Had the doc look at it and she said, either a fatty deposit or a cyst, but if it is not bothering or hurting me to leave it alone and let it finish forming!
They are hard solid balls under the skin when they are finished forming, mine is still "smooshy" so it ain't finished! I get them sometimes, my dad gets them, hubby gets them, no biggie, but I would still have the Dr take a look anyhow so they know it is there when it comes time to lance or drain!!
Mommy

**Cricket1** · 01-21-2009, 09:19 PM

My bet is on a boil. My sister had one there before that she simply needed to get lanced by her doctor. Here's some info: http://www.medicinenet.com/boils/article.htm

Hope it gets better soon.

**Missy** · 01-21-2009, 09:38 PM

It doesn't seem to have any white pus-ish stuff to it at all. Maybe though.

**AmyBoz** · 01-21-2009, 10:11 PM

Maybe it's a skin tag?

**Contrary Housewife** · 01-21-2009, 10:18 PM

If it is a tiny hard white lump and you can't lance it, it is probably a harmless cyst, just a ball of dried out fluid or body tissue that has collected. Leave it so it doesn't get infected. Your body should eventually absorb it. If it gets inflamed, or changes color, or gets bigger, see a doctor.

If it was a boil it would be inflamed and very painful to the touch.

**Nana2two** · 01-24-2009, 05:35 PM

I get them they called mine calcium pimples or deposits. They look like pimples but has rock hard head on it, but nothing comes out. For the most part its nothing to worry about. But if you do start geting alot of them, go to the doctor to have follow up done on it. I get them behind my ear and hairline.

**Missy** · 01-24-2009, 05:50 PM

Yeah it's still there, hasn't changed at all.

**pollypurebred39** · 01-24-2009, 11:04 PM

Since your husband thought it was a blister that suggests that it is bigger than what you commonly think of as a zit, with the exception of those big old nasty blind ones that hurt like the dickens. Perhaps it is built up scar tissue like the one I had gotten on my shoulder and had removed. It just popped up one day and never went away. I had to have it biopsed. Turns out that sometimes the body can develop balls of scar tissue for no ryhme nor reason, and are totally harmless.

Or in the case of much smaller hard pebbles under the skin, I've also had those. They kind of have the look of a whitehead, but do not pop. In those cases I use a clean needle and lance underneath/or beside the little white ball and pull forward to break open the skin and use the needle to ease it out. It is never attached, just sitting there under the skin and it needs an opening to get it out. Yes, it is a little minor surgery, but I'm not paying the doctors appointment fee and the procedure fee for something so simple to do at home.

At the very least I'd put it in the watch and wait catagory. If it changes, like starts growing, changes color. or becomes tender or itches then you need to make an appointment with the doctor to get it checked out.

**Megareader** · 01-25-2009, 08:19 PM

Please have a dermatologist check it out. I had a bump that sounds really similar, it turned out to be skin cancer. Your family doc won't be as well versed in skin issues as a dermatologist, you really need a specialist to take a look.