Construction worker, 23, pops a spot on his lower lip using a woodworking blade and develops an unsightly, rare fungal infection
- The unidentified patient, from Chicago, caught blastomycosis from his blade
- It had been growing for 7 months before the man sought help from doctors
- He was cured of the blood-encrusted lesion 2 weeks after undergoing treatment
This picture will make you think twice before using strange tools to squeeze the pus out of nasty zits.
A construction worker caught a horrific fungal infection after strangely deciding to drain a pimple on his lower lip with his woodworking blade.
Resembling that of a third lip, the unsightly mass had been growing for nearly seven months before the unnamed man sought help from doctors.
The 23-year-old, believed to be from Chicago, was cured of the blood-encrusted lesion two weeks after undergoing treatment.
A construction worker caught a horrific fungal infection after strangely deciding to drain a pimple on his lower lip with his woodworking blade
Stunned dermatologists wrote about the unusual case, caused by the Blastomyces conidia fungus, in the Journal of Emergency Medicine.
The infection is typically found in soil and animal habitats in areas close to the Great Lakes, the Ohio River basin and the Mississippi River.
Is this rare?
Only 50 cases of blastomycosis caused by traumatic inoculation, such as in this case, have been recorded in medical literature.
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However, this is believed to be the first noted case of infection from a woodworking blade, according to the dermatologists.
The man, who presented himself to the John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, had no other worrying symptoms.
Upon questioning, the anonymous patient denied travelling anywhere in recent months or having been around any ill friends.
Writing in the journal, the medics said the patient's condition was 'likely initiated' by the woodworking blade.
They added: 'It [blastomycosis] is usually observed in laboratory or morgue workers, and less frequently in dog handlers after a bite or scratch.'
Don't pop your spots!
The case comes after a New York-based dermatologist warned last May that popping spots could actually make them worse - despite the temptation to squeeze them before a date or an important interview.
Dr Cameron Rokhsar warned that squeezing spots can also damage skin, leading to infection and permanent scarring that is difficult to treat.
Dr Rokhsar explained spots are caused by three factors: overproduction of oil, irregular shedding of dead skin, and a build-up of bacteria.
The skin is covered in tiny openings called pores which allow sweat and sebum - an oily substance the body produces to lubricate the skin and hair - to pass through.
When these become blocked with sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria, spots can form.
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