Pimple next to scar?

[MarkZ]

Y’all have me paranoid about infection.

I’m just shy of 3 months. I have had a “pimple” directly adjacent to and for the most part touching my scar pretty much the whole time. Looks and feels exactly like a regular pimple. There’s no drainage or anything like that. Not sure if I’m being paranoid or if this is how an infection can sometimes present? No other symptoms.

 

[Chuck C]

Y’all have me paranoid about infection.

I’m just shy of 3 months. I have had a “pimple” directly adjacent to and for the most part touching my scar pretty much the whole time. Looks and feels exactly like a regular pimple. There’s no drainage or anything like that. Not sure if I’m being paranoid or if this is how an infection can sometimes present? No other symptoms.

Hi Mark,
I'm almost 5 months out and had the same thing, right on my scar a couple of times since surgery. Most recent one was 2 weeks ago. Same as you, just seemed like normal pimples, but not a usual thing for me to get on my chest.
My hypothesis is that the scar tissue from the incision causes some blockage of the skin pores. Like you, I was a little worried, but not so much because it really seemed just like a pimple and no other signs of infection.

 

[pellicle]

I’m just shy of 3 months. I have had a “pimple” directly adjacent to and for the most part touching my scar pretty much the whole time. Looks and feels exactly like a regular pimple.

I used to get pimples right on the junction of my scar and "regular" skin when I was less than 30. They were pimples ... sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

When I had my infection it was pretty clearly not a pimple
https://www.valvereplacement.org/th...-may-find-images-disturbing.42314/post-770454

 

[tom in MO]

Y’all have me paranoid about infection.

I’m just shy of 3 months. I have had a “pimple” directly adjacent to and for the most part touching my scar pretty much the whole time. Looks and feels exactly like a regular pimple. There’s no drainage or anything like that. Not sure if I’m being paranoid or if this is how an infection can sometimes present? No other symptoms.

I had a pimple or two on or adjacent to my scar in the weeks post surgery. My cardio therapy nurse had never heard of that and wanted to see. It went away just like when I was in high school I gather it's not common.

 

[MarkZ]

Just to update everyone… it went away.

 

[MarkZ]

So it’s back. Same exact spot. Also it now has a friend directly ON the scar about an inch and a half down. I emailed a picture to my PCP who suggested I come in later this week to check it out.

It’s not growing I guess. Doesn’t feel lumpy (beyond normal zit bumpy at least) and doesn’t look like a big bump like pellicle. My only concern is that there’s a very small white yellow/spot like a whitehead. We’ll see.

Im running an experiment too. I have a “control zit” on the back of my neck. We’ll see the rate at which that one goes away.

 

[Chuck C]

Im running an experiment too. I have a “control zit” on the back of my neck. We’ll see the rate at which that one goes away

It's always good to have a control group. However, be aware that if you can't resist the urge to help one of the pimples along by squeezing it, that may be grounds to have your study rejected for publication

 

[tom in MO]

So it’s back. Same exact spot. Also it now has a friend directly ON the scar about an inch and a half down. I emailed a picture to my PCP who suggested I come in later this week to check it out.

It’s not growing I guess. Doesn’t feel lumpy (beyond normal zit bumpy at least) and doesn’t look like a big bump like pellicle. My only concern is that there’s a very small white yellow/spot like a whitehead. We’ll see.

Im running an experiment too. I have a “control zit” on the back of my neck. We’ll see the rate at which that one goes away.

Well if it's acne having a small white spot is normal. If you have them on your neck, having them on your scar is probably normal too.

 

[Marybeth]

If it were me, I would have the doctor look at it. My husband (20 years post surgery) now has a bacterial infection. Long story. Absolutely NO symptoms till one morning felt poorly, by early evening, temp of 104.8 He is on his 5th week of IV antibiotics. Two. Do not take any chances. Get it checked out.

 

[pellicle]

My husband (20 years post surgery) now has a bacterial infection.

related to the surgery or just a bacterial infection?

 

[Marybeth]

Not related to surgery. He is 14 years out from the second valve surgery.