thank you sam bro for your advise and optimism. i definitely hope for the best but have to be prepared for the worst

in the meantime an update, i've decided to stop applying the tetracycline cream, it doesn't seem to work and instead seems to make things worse. i'm trying now to keep the whole area as dry as possible, and after one day, here's my findings

top: still no changes at all on these two "burst pimples" that were the first to appear

left: the two "pimple heads" are gone, but merged as one large depression in the middle of the main protruding lump

right: the three "pimple heads" are still there, only they've turned yellowish. i'm not sure if this was caused by the tetracycline cream, since it can stain clothing as well

underside: the "pimple heads" are yellowish here as well. they came off when i dabbed on them with toilet paper yesterday morning, but strangely they are back, and since i had stopped applying tetracycline cream since yesterday morning it seems unlikely the yellowing was caused by it

surprisingly, without applying betadine or tetracycline, the itch and pain is quite minimal