Boils

[Florah]

Does anyone get boils especially under their armpits? How do you treat this? What has your GP said? What’s caused it?

Thanks

[Catlover3]

Hi. My daughter has a condition called Hidradenitis suppurativa which causes horrible cysts to form in her armpit and groin. If you keep getting them, it could be this.

[Florah in reply to Catlover3]

Thank you for your response. The GP gave me a leaflet on Hidradenitis. Hows it treated foe your daughter? Any tips on how to manage it? Etc. Doctor wasn’t very helpful & only wants to give antibiotics without exploring the reason

[Catlover3 in reply to Florah]

Hi. My daughter was given antibiotics but unfortunately has had horrible side effects from them so can't take them. The dermatologist gave her some antibiotic cream to use as soon as any appear and it does help sometimes. The next step for her is surgery to remove the chain of cysts that are the most problematic. I hope you don't have to go down this route but she's run out of options now.

[Catlover3 in reply to Catlover3]

Also, she uses hibiscrub to wash the areas where the cysts are.

[Florah in reply to Catlover3]

I’ve refused antibiotics this time round and have requested cream. It’s not good to live on antibiotics. My GP hasn’t referred me to a dermatologist. Is there a cure? Why don’t they take it seriously? Hope the surgery goes ok for your daughter if she has it.

[Catlover3 in reply to Florah]

Unfortunately there is no cure for this at present, only treatments which may or may not work. My daughters worst cysts are in the groin area which is not only very embarrassing but extremely painful and its difficult to avoid friction in that area. She needs to have the chain removed as the last time we were really worried about sepsis as they were so infected. There is no guarantee though that they won't come back in that area again. This is a particularly nasty condition which the dr's really don't know much about. I do wonder if its genetic as her late father had terrible acne when he was young and she was on long term antibiotics for her skin when she was a teenager.

[Rituals]

Hi Florah I’ve had 2 boils/cyst types removed from my armpits. Doctors reckon it could be the deodorant sprays that I’m using. So I don’t use anything that contains aluminium. Also it’s a form of skin bacteria so I try to wash my armpits & groin area daily with a special soap & I treat it with a spray after. I have scars but the lump is gone.

[Florah in reply to Rituals]

thank you for your comment. I will look into other deodorants.. it’s really unpleasant

[Rituals in reply to Florah]

I meant to say also, do you wear loose clothing? I’ve found if I wear anything too tight or rubs the skin it forms into a boil. Keep the area ventilated. Hope you find a solution.

[tid1 in reply to Florah]

Are they just lumps or pus filled? Lumps can be caused by certain kinds of antiperspi

rant. I got them when I used Ban. I changed brands and the lumps went away. Suggest you try a deodorant that is not an antiperspirant. Dove makes these.

[Florah in reply to tid1]

thank you for your comment, Is there why you recommend?

[25047]

I had the same thing a few years, on 2 separate occasions, the best advice I got from my Dr was to stop using a solid stick deodorant, it clogs the pores under your arm, and i have never had a problem since, hope this helps

[Florah in reply to 25047]

thanks for your comment . What do you use now please?