armpit pain caused by my stupidity?

Question: I have a painful bump underneath my arm caused by me picking a hair out...i am obsessive compulsive in that area. I hate hair...even after i shave, i still see hair. well, i am learning my lesson the hard way cuz now i have a swollen bump, the size of a golfball under my armpit and it is painful...a lot of people tell me just to put a heating pad on it and it should go down...what are my chances it will?? I do not have medical. If i do have to have them lance it, exactly what do they do and am i awake when they lance it?

Answers:
Are you running a fever? If you are, you should see a doctor right away. If not, you can probably give it a small wait-and-see.

You probably have an infected follicle. You said it's "golfball" size, which is pretty big. I suspect that most of the lump is the swollen lymph node that is closest to the site of the infection, however, you probably do have some fluid built up that needs to drain. I'm sorry you don't have medical coverage, because I know that makes it more stressful to make a decision about whether to go to the doctor. I would say that if you treat it with heat and anti-inflammatories (like Advil or Motrin) and it isn't starting to feel better by tomorrow, you should see a doctor. You don't want the infection to spread. Some infections can be very serious. Good luck :)

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Yep you caused it. Sounds like an infection. Use hot packs on it. Wet is better than dry to penetrate the skin. The infection should drain out the hole you pulled the hair out of. If it doesn't then an MD would give you an antibiotic first. If lancing were needed, they freeze the area with local freezing (like dentists) and then make a quick cut in the top of the bump. You will have a small scar.

1. Soak with wet heat.
2. Apply something like tea tree oil to it.
3. STOP PICKING and PLUCKING
4. Get some mental health help with yourhair obsession.

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the bump is what you call an abcess. i'm not sure what the heating pad is going to do, but you might want to go to the er and get a real medication for it.

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