If you notice an inflamed bump forming under the skin of the vaginal area, you might be facing a vaginal boil. This condition is most often connected to an infected hair follicle, but this is not the only possible reason for the appearance of a vaginal skin abscess.

Boils can develop in the outer part of the vaginal area, such as the vulva, labia, or pubic area. They are very often red, painful, and swollen bumps on the vagina, and if you want to get proper advice and diagnosis, clinics such as Doral Beach Gynecology are the right place to visit and ask for help and guidance. If you want to learn more about our clinic, you only have to pick up the phone or contact us online!

Although most boils on the vagina can be successfully treated at home with the help and guidance of a medical professional, it is still a smart choice to call your doctor and have a proper check-up. The vaginal area is, unfortunately, a great environment for developing infection and inflammation due to its moist nature, and hair follicles are very susceptible to inflammation. 

Pimples of the vaginal area can be highly painful and cause immense discomfort, although they are considered benign and very rarely serious. They can become large and turn from a tiny pimple into a big bump on the vagina in just a few days. 

Vaginal Boil ABCs

As mentioned, a vaginal bump or a boil on the vagina is a condition that is recognizable by the formation of a skin abscess in the vaginal area. Most often, the main culprit is the bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause an infection in the root and oil glands of the hair. An infected follicle is called folliculitis, and there are different treatment approaches you can take if you want to mitigate this condition. 

The vaginal boils hurt more the bigger they are until they eventually burst and drain. Most boils appear as small pimples and later develop into big ones in the private area. When there is a group of vaginal boils, experts call this a carbuncle; in this case, the boils are seen as a cluster on the infected area. 

Although they might look bad and be painful, do not worry and panic. Vaginal skin abscesses are not dangerous, and they can be cured simply and quickly if they do not previously disappear on their own. Only in very severe cases do doctors perform procedures of draining, cutting, or lancing the boil. 

Concerning looks, the boil on the vagina can start as a tiny red pimple and later develop into a very sore, white, or yellow-tipped bump. In some cases, the bump tends to grow until it reaches the size of a walnut. 

Causes and Symptoms 

Doctor Talking to Patient

Above, we have mentioned that the most common cause of a pimple in the vaginal area is an infected hair follicle. That said, there are some other reasons a vaginal boil can occur, and they include:

  • If the skin is cut (when you shave, for example), a Staph or a wide variety of other bacteria can enter our system, i.e., the skin around the vaginal area, and cause an infection.
  • Ingrown hair is a very common reason for vaginal boils, although not all ingrown hairs develop into a boil. If the follicle is infected, it is almost certain a vaginal boil will appear. 
  • An irritated area that can occur because of friction caused by tight clothes
  • If you share clothes or towels with someone who has a vaginal boil, the chances of you getting one will be quite high.
  • Insect bites are sometimes the reason for the development of boils on the vagina because they open up the skin and make it susceptible to infection. 
  • Blockage of the Bartholin’s gland cysts
  • Being overweight 
  • Poor hygiene of the private area
  • Diabetes 

It is essential to underline that vaginal boils are contagious due to the fact that they are a type of infection that can spread by skin-to-skin contact. Make sure you practice proper hygiene, wash your hands, keep the infected area clean, and avoid any sharing of your personal items such as your underwear, washcloths, towels, etc. 

Symptoms of boils on the vagina are:

  • Painful bumps
  • Swollen, red lumps located deep within the skin
  • Oozing clear fluid 
  • Development of a crust on top of the pimple
  • Fever
  • Swelling in the lymph nodes
  • Pimples with a white-filled center 

Diagnosis of the Condition 

Vaginal boils are not hard to diagnose, and your chosen doctor can make the diagnosis through a simple physical exam. These exams are not painful, and they are very short. In most cases, there are no tests needed to diagnose a boil, but if you start developing vaginal bumps very often, the medical provider might take a sample of the drainage and send it for further testing. 

You might undergo sexually transmitted infection testing just to rule out potential underlying conditions, but in general, only a physical examination is done to diagnose a vaginal boil properly. 

Treatment Paths 

Woman-Doctor and Patient Sitting and Talking in Hospital or Clinic.

It has been previously mentioned that in many cases, the big boils on the private area disappear on their own within a few days or weeks. Since the symptoms can include a lot of pain, there are some tactics that patients can use to ease the pain and make the bump disappear as soon as possible. 

The following steps are primarily at-home remedies, so treating your condition on your own should not be as challenging. The steps include:

  • Avoid squeezing, cutting, or popping the pimple. This will cause more pain and discomfort and can even further spread the infection.
  • Apply warm washcloths to the area at least three times a day. This will help to bring the puss to the surface and potentially make it pop on its own. Do not use the same washcloth because this is a way to spread the infection. 
  • If you are in a lot of pain, try taking over-the-counter painkillers to help you with the pain.
  • Do not wear tight clothes because rubbing and irritation are not recommended for a vaginal area skin abscess.
  • Clean the area with gentle soap and lukewarm water, and wash your hands before and after touching the boil.
  • Ensure you cover the vaginal boil with a bandage when it drains, and clean the area frequently. 

If you start experiencing severe symptoms and you need medical attention, this is what most often doctors use to resolve the urgency:

  • Prescribe antibiotics to heal the infection 
  • Drain, lance, or cut the boil to drain it 

Prevention 

If you want to prevent the appearance of a vaginal boil, you can keep your vaginal area clean, shave the pubic area often, avoid sharing your soaps, washcloths, intimate care products, or towels with anyone, wash your hands regularly, and change your underwear every day. 

Unfortunately, if you have a weak immune system, there is no guarantee that a vaginal boil will not appear anyway. 

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