Boils in the genitals generally appear in the form of lumps that grow in the pubic area or around it. The appearance of boils in the genitals can sometimes heal by itself. However, in certain cases, this condition can cause discomfort due to pain or itching.
Boils usually result from a skin infection or inflammation of the hair follicles or oil glands in the skin. At first, the skin will appear red from inflammation, then swell and form lumps. This condition is followed by the formation of pus about 4-7 days after infection.
At first boils can be itchy, then become painful and cause discomfort. Boils in the pubic can grow on the outside of the pubic, around the pubic hair, or in women on the lips of the vagina.
Understanding the Causes and Risk Factors for the Growth of Boils
The appearance of boils on the genitals can be caused by several things, including:
Bacterial infection
Most boils are caused by a bacterial infection Staphylococcus. These bacteria generally enter through small wounds in the skin that are often not recognized.
Inflammation of the pubic hair follicles
Boils can also be caused by the entry of foreign objects, such as dust and dead skin residue, into the skin or clogged oil glands causing infection. In addition, the condition of ingrown hairs (ingrown hair) on pubic hair can also cause hair follicles to become inflamed and boils appear.
There are several factors that can increase the risk of developing boils on the genitals, including:
- Certain diseases, such as diabetes
- Weak immune system, for example due to poor nutrition or side effects of immune-suppressing drugs
- Poor body hygiene
- Wrong way to shave pubic hair
- Exposure to chemicals or clothing materials that can irritate the skin around the genitals.
How to Treat Boils on the Pubic
Most boils on the genitals are generally mild, so they do not require special medical treatment. Boils will go away on their own in a matter of days or weeks.
However, to speed up the healing of boils on the genitals, you can do the following ways:
1. Keep your body clean
Boils can heal quickly if the skin around the boil is kept clean. Therefore, you need to regularly maintain body hygiene, especially the pubic area, by bathing at least 2 times a day. When bathing, use a mild chemical soap so as not to irritate the skin and trigger boils.
2. Avoid squeezing or touching the boil
When a boil appears on the genitals, try not to touch it often, let alone break the boil. This action can actually hurt your skin and risk making the infection worse.
If the boil is large enough and feels very bothersome, it's a good idea to consult a doctor for proper treatment.
3. Give a warm compress on the boil
You can help relieve symptoms and speed up the healing process by compressing the boil with warm water. This method is useful for reducing pain and drawing pus to the surface. After that, the boil will generally burst by itself.
If boils on the genitals or other parts of the body do not go away or are getting worse, you should consult a doctor for treatment.
To treat severe ulcers, doctors can provide several treatments in the form of:
Administration of drugs
To treat large, inflamed boils, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, either in the form of oral (oral) or topical (topical) medications, such as creams, ointments, or gels.
Usually, you can apply the topical medication after you shower and dry your body. Your doctor may suggest that you apply an antibiotic ointment or cream to the boil 2 or 3 times a day for a few days.
To relieve pain symptoms due to ulcers, doctors can also prescribe pain relievers such as paracetamol.
Incision and drainage
If home remedies are not effective or the boils are getting worse, immediately consult a doctor so that the doctor can conduct an examination and determine the appropriate treatment for boils on the genitals.
One of the actions that may be carried out by doctors is incision and drainage. Incision and drainage is done if the boil is severe or large and has a lot of pus. Incision and drainage can also be done to treat boils accompanied by abscesses.
The doctor will perform this medical procedure by making a small incision in the boil, then the pus and blood in the boil will be sucked out with a syringe. After that, the doctor will close the wound and give medicines such as antibiotics to support the ulcer healing process.
Although classified as mild, be aware of boils in the genitals that are accompanied by symptoms such as fever and chills, swollen lymph nodes, unbearable pain or the appearance of other boils.
You also don't need to hesitate to consult a doctor so that the examination and treatment can be carried out quickly and accurately.