One person turns to SteadyHealth for help describing a "big blood-filled bump" that looked like something "out of a horror movie" on their inner thigh. Initially, they thought it was a boil — but now they're not too sure. Others soon jump in describing problems that match the original poster's description. Conditions ranging from a staph infection to hidradenitis suppurativa, ingrown hairs, and Bartholin's cysts were suggested. While people came together in commiseration and solidarity as they thought they were talking with others who had "one of these things", we also have to recognize that the descriptions were in many cases quite generic. Not all these people, we should assume, were dealing with the same problem.
What do the experts say?
The internet now plays a large role in our lives, and that includes the way in which we take care of our health. Some questions can be tackled online just fine. Ask what viruses can cause the common cold, for instance, and you'll be able to find objective, scientifically-accurate, information on the web. Ask whether weight gain is a side effect of birth control pills, or what do to when you find a lump in your breast or scrotum, and the same thing holds true.
What could it be?
If you, too, have a "blood-filled skin bump", it could be any number of things, and this list is not exhaustive:
- Ingrown hairs can, indeed, have the appearance of a small blood-filled bump, especially if you've been picking at the site. Ingrown hairs are usually nothing serious and will resolve on their own.
- Blood blisters can result from friction that also damages the blood vessels just under your skin — these can strike the thigh area if your thighs rub together as you walk, or you wear clothing that rubs against your skin. Because sweat make them more likely to appear, some people use talcum powder to keep the area dry.
- A hemangioma is a bloody-looking nodule that is often present at birth but may also appear later in life, and that can occasionally bleed. They rarely cause complications.
- Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic and painful skin condition that looks a bit like a very aggressive, nasty kind of acne and that often affects the armpits and groin region. People with this condition will often notice pus, but bleeding can also take place.
- Boils are infections that surround follicles or groups of them. They can, as several posters pointed out, be caused by staph or MRSA infections. Most boils get better without medical treatment, healing faster if the person applies hot compresses, but recurrent boils or boils that just don't heal do require a doctor's attention. Pus, again, wasn't mentioned much in the thread, but boils are characterized by its presence; it's hard to miss their volcano-like appearance.
- Even squamous cell carcinoma of the skin can cause "blood-filled bumps" that can also start bleeding spontaneously. This demonstrates that not all skin lesions are harmless and medical attention is indeed required if you're not simply dealing with a passing pimple.
What now?
Most people will be able to recognize an ingrown hair, a pimple, a boil, or a blood blister resulting from friction. If you're pretty sure you're dealing with something completely harmless, it is usually not necessary to seek medical attention. The people participating in this thread, however, weren't sure what they were facing — and they were clearly worried enough to have lengthy online discussions about their blood-filled skin lesions. Rightly so, too, as some people reported having them for a long time.
They may send you away with the message that you're just suffering from pimples or ingrown hairs and have nothing to worry about, in which case you can stop worrying. If something more serious is going on, however, you'll be glad you saw a doctor so you can receive a proper diagnosis and treatment.
"Should I pop it or wait for it to pop itself?" was another question people asked. The general rule is that you leave pimples, boils, and ingrown hairs alone aside from keeping them clean. "Popping" them may be what makes them turn into a "blood-filled bump" in the first place, and keep in mind that opening skin lesions can invite bacterial infections in. If you are indeed dealing with something more serious like skin cancer, hidradenitis suppurativa, or hemangioma, you really don't want to mess with that stuff yourself.
Some people also asked questions about antibiotics. Here, again, you really need a doctor to determine the correct diagnosis and to prescribe them to you if you need them. You don't want to take medication that isn't going to cure your particular problem, and thereby contribute to the worldwide problem of antibiotic resistance.
Discussion highlights
Questions
Inquiring minds wanted to know:
- Anybody know anything?
- like you I popped it with a saring and couldnt beleave how much blood poured out what the hell are these things
- i had a huge bump (like a little marble, looked almost like a nipple) on the my inner left thigh and is was kinda tender, i had one around that area there before but not this big , its been a couple months since i had the 1st one, anyways i tried poppin it cause i thought it might have been a boil, but this time i pulled it away from my skin and man blood shot out, i was grossed out, thought it was like something from a horrior movie o.O lol , anyways i keep squezzin till it slowed down , the blood was a deep red, well the was yesterday and today its almost completly gone, its a lilttle sore, but man i wanna wha the heck that was, thouhght i may have been a ingrown hair but i really dont grow hair there.
- anyways if you guys have any suggestions on what that may have been id appercate it .
- I too would love to know what this is.
Symptoms
People described similar skin lesions in the following ways:
- I got these bumps since I was about 14 & I'm 19 now.I assume I got these bumps because of my period but I was wrong.
- I would get them from my legs rubbing together if I walk to much.I assumed they were just big pimples and I always popped them with a sewing needle.
- (I would clean The needle before hand) usually these bumps do pop up often but usually near The same spots in my inner thighs near my private area.
- It usually happens in the summer months and they leave scars of hard round places under the skin.
- they arnt as blood filled but they still hurt really bad.
Speculation
Members also jumped in to speculate about the possible causes of blood-filled skin lesions:
- I too have hydroadenitus supertiva and although there is no cure there are preventative habits and surgeries.
- I have been getting them since I was a kid so I know it is not a STD.
- I finally found a doctor that told me it is actually a common problem.
- Hey yeah, if you're visiting this page right now, with a medium or normal sized boil of some sort on your skin, its NORMAL.
- Its either due to friction and the building up of heat.
Suggestions
What can be done about this problem? Members made the following suggestions:
- But I highly recommend the surgery to relieve pain for those with chronic problems.
- Aside from the surgery I have been able to keep them under control by eating healthy.
- The cure is to release the adductors below the pimple.
- Massage and foam rolling help, but ultimately you will have to strengthen your glutes contralateral to the boil and address rotation in the pelvis.
- When you have restored alignment and proper circulation to your lower body, these pimples will stop appearing.
In conclusion
Anyone dealing with a blood-filled skin lesion that worries them, isn't going away, and may be causing them pain should see their doctor for diagnosis and, if necessary, treatment. Self-care may be the answer for uncomplicated pimples or ingrown hairs, but if you don't know what you are dealing with, you need to get off the internet and into your doctor's office.