Medical Emergency?

You need to go to the physician. It could be a boil or an infection in her lymph system. Needs medical attention.

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This does not substitute a visit to a doctor for a professional opinion.

There are many things it could be. Some very simple and others that are very serious.

A lot depends on what it exactly looks like and where it is.

It could be as simple as an ingrown hair if it is a bump above the skin. Often it will be redish and sometimes have a small to large pus pocket on tip. Usually the bump is not very large. It can happen to anyone, it especially may happen where we women often shave like the legs.

If the bump is larger than an average pimple and (if can be seen and is not fully under the skin) seems to be building up fluid or a pus head then it is possibly a cyst. Cyst can be either on top of the skin completely and seen what is taking place or under the layers of skin and can only be felt as a nodule.

As others said, it could be a lymph node that is swollen. They can be swollen and sensitive for several reasons. One of the simplest reasons is she has injured her leg or the area around it and it is attempting to fight off infection. There are more reasons and some very serious.

If the area is hot to the touch, there is usually infection. Do not try to treat it on your own.

My advice either way is seek medical assistance from a medical specialist whether a physician, physician assistance, or a nurse practitioner as soon as you are able this week if it has not subsided this weekend. Truthfully, it may not hurt to visit anyway especially if it is underneath the layers of skin and can not be physically seen just to rule out anything serious.

If it becomes painful enough that she needs a pain reliever give her a tablet of acetametaphin (generic for Tylenol). For inflamation, a tablet of ibuprofen will not hurt. (as long as she has no allergies to either) Both can be taken together. If she has not had ibuprofen (generic for Motrin, although over the counter is lesser strength)

A cold or hot compress at times will help with the swelling and pain to make it more comfortable. Try both to see which works better.

Be sure to tell the medical specialist what you did for it and what medications were taken. If it is visible enough, take a picture of it so they can see what it looks like (just in case it is not as visible at the visit).

Once can never be too careful when it is the health and wellbeing of your child, a loved one, or yourself.

Prayers lifted up and God Bless

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T.,

I am not positive, but maybe a swollen lymph node? Either way, she needs to get this checked out asap. Could be an infection etc. Those things spread quick and she could potentially be very ill very quickly. Get her some help asap. Good luck.

M

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Could be an infected lymph node. Happened to me once (a lump in the bikini area). I don't know that you need to go to the ER, but maybe go to a walk in clinic tomorrow if they're open? Definitely have it checked by the doctor on Monday if it's still there. If she starts running a fever or has any other serious symptoms, I would go in right away. I took some antibiotics and it went away without any other problems and hasn't come back.

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Sounds like an ingrown hair or maybe a pimple or infected pimple. Could be something else, but that's my immediate reaction. Of course, "lump" could mean a lot of things - if it's about the size of a dime or less in circumference, I'd say it's probably a hair or zit; if it's bigger than that, maybe something else.

It could be a boil, an ingrown hair in that area for sure, a cyst, etc You can try putting a warm to hot compress on it to see if it opens up or softens. Look up things to put on ingrown hairs or boils and then if it does not get smaller over the next few days, take her to the doctor. I am sure it is nothing but topical but it is always better to be safe.

I get these from time to time. They are very painful, but generally go away on their own in about a wk. My mom gets them too. It started in my late teens. The first time I freaked out and went to the doc who said it was a inflamed hair follicle and not to worry. Keep it clean in the meantime. I think that underwear that is too tight in the legs causes it in me. Like recently I have needed bigger undies since I am pregnant and I got one of these cysts. Now it is fading away (shrinking). Hope that helps. Might be good to have a doc ck it this time, but after that she can probably skip a visit. My lumps vary from the size of a pea to an olive.

T., it could be a groin lymph node. Does she have a cut or sore somewhere on her leg? That happened to my son and it was very painful. The doctor looked his leg over, and there it was, a sore on his knee that had become infected. The lymph node was swollen because it was fighting an infection. He had to take antibiotics for it.

I hope that's all it is for your daughter. I wouldn't think it's an ER thing, but if you have a convenient care center near you and you can't wait until Monday, you could try that.

Let us know how she is.
All my best to you both, D.

My ex use to get these all the time in this area and it sounds just like it! But his was an infected zit! Yes GROSS!! But it happens because must all people for the most part sweat there. Just call the dr and if this is what it is, they will drain it. Good luck and let me know if this is what it is....Good Luck and hope she feels better.

Could be several things...
a cyst
an ingrown hair
a pimple
a boil
an infection
something serious

She needs to see a doctor. Call Monday morning and get an appointment. In the meantime, a warm compress should help if she's having pain or discomfort.

If that was me, I would think I had a cyst or boil and wait for it to surface more. With my child I would probably take her to the doc on Mon as soon as they open. In the meantime, use epsom salt warm soaks. Good luck.

Updated

Oh yes, and ibuprofen, which helps reduce inflammation.

It could be hidradenitis suppurativa. I was diagnosed with that around your daughters age. I would take her to a dermatologist to check it. It starts with a cyst right on the bikini line like your daughters and is related to sweat glands and hormones. It can be very uncomfortable.

It's most likely a sebaceous cyst.

Apply warm compresses to the area to ease the swelling. Give ibuprofen for pain. Chances are high the sebaceous cyst will come to the surface and eventually break open on its own. The only problem with this occurring is that the sac that holds the sebum needs to come out or you run the risk of having the area fill again. If the sac is removed, it is less likely to return and there is a less of a chance for infection.

It doesn't take long for a doctor to lance a cyst, remove the sac, and close the wound. Between now and then, apply the warm compresses to help the cyst come to a head until a doctor can remove the cyst by removing the sac and sebum then closing the skin to ensure there is no bacterial or other type of infection.

These types of cysts are very common in that area along with the back, upper back, and even on the buttocks. area. People have had them come up on the back of the neck, on the shoulder, and a few on the face as well as the knee but it's more common in the area you mentioned and the buttock area.

Has she been sick lately? I ask because we have glands at the bikini area and the can sweal up if you have been sick. This has happen to me. I hope eveything gets better for her.

God Bless,

R.