Hi newby, welcome to the group. You can get a lot of input here. What works for you, may not work for someone else. I wouldn't pop the cysts unless they took away the pain that much. Maybe (my opinion), this could eventually lead to worse scarring. Like you've lead towards, keep area('s) clean though. I have prescription topicals, and when needed blood coagulation sprays, and pads.

My dermatologist says to drain them. But, he says don't squeeze, because it forces the pus back down and can break open new sinus tracts. Instead use hot compresses to draw everything to a head and open them up, let them drain, then apply neosporin / gauze and use ice packs to get them to close. *shrug*

Like everything else, your mileage my vary. I sometimes squeeze them anyway. (shame!)

My concern about draining them is don't. Unless they open themselves. If your lumps contain fluid and you have not had them cultured, they may contain Mersa or Staph which can spread and be very easy to spreAd dangerous bacteria.

I have never popped mine and never will. I don't want to risk infection. At the first sight of one I apply a thick layer of neosporin to it, and it usually shrinks or disappear by itself in a few days.
The rest I let drain by applying epsom salt and water too....

If I don't drain mine it makes me feel sick. If I have a really bad one(I refer to them as plateaus) I will spend hours in the bath to get them to open.

Hello, from what I was always told you NEVER try to squeeze them for risk of infection and new tracts. I have been told this by many many drs. As far as draining them just be extremely careful. I am too chicken and wait the weeks for them to go away unless they are anywhere down south lol then I go to a dr. It's funny because I was going to post this topic. After the zillion dr I saw, I finally saw a "specialist" who actually was a burn surgeon. I am supposedly stage 3 now and he said my case was mild and to pop them like a zit! I think he's nuts because first they do not POP like a zit. It's impossible. Plus the possible infection. Me thinks the Dr has dipped into the med cabinet. He really had no idea. I can go on and on about him but I won't. I just know my case is so bad 3 drs turned me down because they didn't want to touch it and the ER has banned me from going there for HS because they do not want anything to do with it either. (sorry for venting).
Bottom line...be careful!!! At any hint of infection go see a dr. Just not the one in Madison,WI lol
Wishing you a pain free day :)

I go to my doctor for when these get so painful and I can't do anything but lie down, and they recommend popping them. They're also the ones that diagnosed me with HS. Do I say something to them? Are they doing the wrong thing? It lessens the pain a LOT but does not get rid of it.

I will prick with a needle and let drain on its own, unless it is really painful, then I will pop and soak and then bandage.

HI Scarlett88- I look at any open wound as an opening for infection to get in, not unlike a ripped off blister or pulled off pimple. So I keep everything sealed by not punching a hole in any cysts- however I do treat a cyst like a pimple in regards to trying to keep the area very clean and dry. I have also done a scrubbing like massage from the suspected tunnel area towards the lump which will often bring the fluid to the surface and allow a head to form. I basically treat them like a pimple, until a natural opening forms- then I will try to express (squeeze) out any crap, and keep it bandaged and clean as possible.

I popped and squeezed mine though I probably should not have. It just was a huge relief when they drained. My advice would be to apply tea tree and black seed oil to them in order to speed healing and minimize scarring. Also a hot Epsom salt bath would typically drain them naturally. I echo what others have said about infection. Duoderm bandages did wonders for me in healing them but also keeping the infection out.

Yall crazy im sorry but that is very dangerous to do yourself if it thay bad please get some antibiotics pills cream and powder that will help and far as the pain you can ask your doctor for pain meds green tea help with the pain when i run out my string pain meds advil Aleve and napoxen these are use for the pain and the swelling come on yall why would you put yourself in more pain for just a lil relife for 5mins or so for it to come back with more think google is a ba motherfucker sorry for cussing but come on yall i look up very meds my dr give me to make sure its ok and i will know the side effects then on top of that i research as well did you know when you smell the infactsion that you about to flare up stress tigger it as well but also some ppl on here is helpful

I would say never squeeze (even though it is so tempting to ease all the tension under the skin) because it makes the deep purple-black scarring so much more significant and harder get rid of. It might have something to do with bruising and damaging the blood vessels in and around the lumps even further when you squeeze. But I'm not a doctor this is just what I've observed.

They also say infection is a huge deal as your fingers and nails carry so much bacteria so popping a lump and getting your hands near them is kind of asking for trouble.

If I KNOW one is going to burst and it's going to leave a gaping hole, I will mitigate the process and use a needle before it happens, in sterile conditions, so that healing time will be a lot faster. I then use crystaderm topical antibacterical and cover the area as best I can, obviously it can get hard as the areas can be in folds of skin but I'll keep an eye on it multiple times a day for the next few days and have never had any problems with this method.

Hope you find something that works for you and someone answers your questions!