[rw5265]

This is my first time here, so I am not sure if this was the correct place to ask this question... A couple of days ago a sore appeared under my belly fold. It started out as a painful lump and the next day it was an open sore. It hasn't bled very much but it does have pus and a gross smell. I do not have insurance and honestly, I'd be too embarrassed to show anyone, anyway! For now I have just been trying to keep the area around it dry. I was putting hydrogen peroxide around it at first but then became even too scared to try that. Please help!

[WannabeNurse]

clean it with clear water 2-3x per day and keep it dry.nif you can get sterile saline from the drug store then even better!! peroxide and alcohol kill new skin cells, so avoid using either of those as as they will prolong healing. get some sterile gauze and cover it with that, securing it with medical tape. you can put some polysporin on it too. it sounds like a mild infection. The foul odor is caused by bacteria so it is really important to keep the area clean and dry, while the pus shows that your body is fighting a local infection. However, If the area becomes increasingly reddened, swollen, or really painful over the next few days instead of getting better (after keeping it clean, dry, and covered for several days) then you should see a doctor.

i really feel for those without health insurance. it's not something Canadians have to deal with :-(

[WannabeNurse]

and wash your hands for 15-30 sec vigorously before touching the area !!

[WannabeNurse]

and my source of info is 3 years of nursing school, which of course doesn't replace a doctors opinion but the theory behind the practice is the same! :-)

[rw5265]

Thank you so much! It was super painful at first but it is less painful and not nearly as red in the surrounding areas as before. I appreciate your advice!

[WannabeNurse]

great! keeping taking care of it and it should be fine in a few days :-)

[Eydawn]

You can put a piece of clean gauze or linen in there to help keep things dry... talc powder or an over the counter antifungal powder can help too. You said it has a foul smell... is it yeasty/sweet at all? If so, you might have a mild yeast infection there. Happens all the time... I see it at work very frequently.

Keeping everything clean, washed and dry is the ticket. Bear in mind this is my personal opinion and does not represent my educational institution or employer (the disclaimer they make us use if we comment online...)

If the redness returns, increases or streaks away from the sore, you develop a fever, or have increased drainage then you do need to seek some medical attention.

[Locke]

It sounds like you had a cyst that ruptured. I get them occasionally. Just watch it and it should resolve on its own. If it starts getting bigger it's time to go to the doctor- they can get nasty if the infection spreads.