Ulcers on the labia are an unpleasant and common occurrence, which indicates the improper functioning of various systems of the female body. It leads to a woman’s poor health and pain in one of the most sensitive areas.
Such acne can appear in any person for various reasons. This may be insufficient adherence to intimate hygiene, or, conversely, excessive adherence to it, which disrupts the microflora of the mucous membrane, where the most unexpected infections can penetrate. Also, an abscess on the labia minora can be a sign of a serious illness. If you notice such acne, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Why do boils appear in the groin area?
Causes of boils in intimate places:
- insufficient compliance with the rules of sexual hygiene;
- weak immune system;
- high air humidity for a long time;
- lack of vitamins;
- hypothermia (in rare cases, overheating) of the body;
- diabetes;
- damage to the mucous membrane and subsequent entry of infection inside.
A boil on the labia most often appears when the seasons change, because it is during this period that the factors for the formation of boils in the intimate area arise - humidity, vitamin deficiency and weakened immunity.
Symptoms of an abscess (ulcer) on the vulva
The appearance of a boil on the labia gives a woman a lot of unpleasant sensations.
This pathology has characteristic, pronounced symptoms. It is extremely difficult not to notice the development of an abscess, since the process is accompanied by pain in the intimate area.
Symptoms depend on the stage of development of the disease:
- At first, when the boil just begins to mature, slight redness and swelling can be detected at the site of its formation. It can be painful as a result of friction from clothing and pressure.
- As the boil grows, the discomfort intensifies - this area itches, pulsates, and the woman experiences a tugging pain. There is swelling of the labia and soreness of the tissues adjacent to the boil.
- General symptoms of the pathology include weakness, temperature, sometimes exceeding 38°C.
- The boil becomes purplish-red in color, and a necrotic core forms inside.
- In some cases, enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes may occur.
- When the boil opens and the purulent contents come out, the unpleasant symptoms gradually subside.
Stages of manifestation of a boil
Manifestation and stages of development of an abscess on the genitals:
- First, redness and swelling appear , which are accompanied by itching;
- A boil on the genitals appears as a red lump that hurts when touched and causes discomfort when walking. If the boil is located on the labia minora, sexual intercourse also causes pain.
- After a few days, an abscess appears in the form of a white spot, which hurts even more and stings.
- Then the boil opens and a purulent core remains, which resolves over time.
As with normal inflammation, during this period the temperature may rise and weakness may occur.
The formation of a boil can be confused with other diseases, the symptoms of which involve rashes, but in these cases there is no purulent core.
Causes of furunculosis
The appearance of vaginal boils can be caused by many different conditions and factors:
- Infection.
Inflammation of the follicle is caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Chlamydia trachomatis. These same microorganisms can live in the female body for years without causing noticeable symptoms. Chlamydia is often discovered only during pregnancy or during a routine gynecological examination. - Skin diseases
. One skin condition that causes vaginal boils is folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicle by bacteria. This infection is often a side effect of irritation caused by shaving the genital area or applying cosmetic wax to the pubic area. The boil may be small at first, but after a while it begins to fester. - Cysts
. A common cause of vaginal furunculosis is a Bartholin gland cyst. This type of cyst is caused by an infection of the Bartholin glands, which are located under the skin near the vaginal opening. - Sexual infectious diseases.
Sexually transmitted infections and genital piercings can also cause an abscess to form.
Women with oily skin and thick pubic hair are most susceptible to developing boils.
Treatment of a boil
In the absence of irritating factors, the boil in the groin will go away on its own, but if the boil appears directly on the labia, then the doctor must decide how to treat it.
Pulling ointments
Such ointments are used against boils on the genitals at the initial stage; they draw out pus and contribute to the development and formation of an abscess. Thus, the boil matures and opens faster.
Your doctor may prescribe the following ointments:
- Ichthyol ointment - can be used when a boil just appears on the genitals, used in the form of compresses that are applied for 2-3 hours.
- Heparin ointment - has anti-inflammatory, vasodilating and antiseptic effects, cannot be used during pregnancy.
- Syntomycin ointment - in addition to drawing out pus, it has a drying and healing effect; for furunculosis, it is used under a bandage.
Levomekol
Levomekol can be used as a remedy for acne on the genitals, due to the presence of antibiotics. It can be used both in the treatment of chiryak directly on the labia and in the groin in women. This ointment is considered one of the best for fighting boils.
The ointment is soaked in sterile gauze and applied to the skin; this dressing prevents the spread of infection and soothes inflammation.
Surgical intervention
If the boil in an intimate area is very large, you should consult a surgeon.
Removing a boil on the genitals consists of several stages:
- local anesthesia;
- opening an abscess in an intimate place;
- removal of purulent-necrotic masses;
- treatment of the labia with hydrogen peroxide;
- applying a bandage with healing and disinfecting ointment.
You should not open the abscess yourself - this can introduce an infection into the wound and lead to serious complications.
Using a laser
This method is more innovative than the standard surgical removal of a boil in the vagina. It clears up in 20 minutes, and there is no scar left after treatment. To treat chiria on the genitals, you only need one procedure.
To carry out laser cleaning, you do not need to wait until the boil on the genitals matures; it can be carried out at any stage of the development of inflammation. This method has no contraindications or side effects.
To prescribe this procedure, you need to consult with a doctor who will conduct a diagnosis and, if necessary, sign the patient up for laser cleaning.
Folk remedies
When it comes to boils on the labia, you should be careful with traditional medicine. The mucous tissue and skin in the intimate area are very delicate, and when using garlic and onion compresses, they can be easily damaged.
In this case, traditional medicine should be considered solely as an adjunct to the main drug treatment.
Suitable methods:
- Freshly squeezed nettle juice has a beneficial effect on the condition of the blood; you can drink it 3 times a week, 15 ml each. while eating.
- a teaspoon of dandelion (roots and grass) in a glass of boiling water for 3 hours, clear the infusion and drink 1 tbsp. l. up to 6 times a day. This remedy also cleanses the blood and prevents the formation of new boils.
- Applying a honey cake helps draw out the pus; you need to mix a cake from flour and honey and apply it to the labia at night.
- Place 15 burdock seeds water and cook for 20 minutes over low heat, then cool until warm and drink.
How it is formed
The appearance and further development of chiryak takes place in several stages or stages:
- Primary stage (infiltration) - in the place where the infection has entered the body, there is a slight swelling, then thickening and redness of the skin and swelling of the tissues appear. This stage usually lasts from 3 to 5 days, accompanied by mild itching, pain when pressing, and pulsation in the affected area. A small boil is usually about a centimeter in size, while a large one can reach 3 cm.
- Secondary stage (progressive necrosis) - the boil suppurates, inside which a necrotic core is formed. The light-colored purulent head stands out against the background of the burgundy boil. After 3–4 days, a mature boil breaks out on its own, sometimes requiring its opening with the help of a surgeon. During this period, the patient’s temperature often rises, nearby lymph nodes become enlarged, and muscles ache. After the pus drains out, a hole (crater) remains at the site of the wound.
- Tertiary stage (healing stage) - within a few days, the crater becomes scarred. The small scar will lighten over time and then disappear. How quickly the recovery period will pass will depend on the quality of hygienic and therapeutic procedures. It is important to follow all recommendations prescribed by your doctor.
Differential diagnosis
A dermatologist can make a diagnosis only on the basis of an initial examination. The formation of a boil has a characteristic clinical picture, so the specialist does not experience any difficulties in determining the causes of the ailment. The need for differential diagnosis arises when a significant area of suppuration is detected and several boils appear in the perineum at once in order to exclude or confirm diseases of the carbuncle, cystic formation, hidradenitis or pilonidal sinus.
When a carbuncle forms, inflammation affects not one, but several hair follicles located nearby. A carbuncle is three times larger than a boil. Its maturation causes pain, which intensifies during urination and when moving the body. The formation of pus provokes the appearance of symptoms of severe intoxication.
Cystic formations on the vagina most often appear in girls entering adolescence. With the development of this disease, deep damage to the skin occurs. The seal occurs near the female genital organ, between the base of the lips, where the Bartholin gland is located. It constantly grows, gets injured when walking and provokes the addition of bacteria. Secondary infection causes the formation of purulent foci, which can be mistaken for furunculosis.
Hidradenitis causes many small ulcers to appear in the perineum. The sweat gland is affected, not the follicle. It can only be treated with surgical cleaning.
Pilonidal sinus is a boil that occurs in the intergluteal fold. When it forms, fistula retractions are detected. Signs of the disease are most often observed in men aged 16 to 25 years with thick hair in the coccyx area. Pathology develops when hair begins to grow into the subcutaneous tissue.
Considering how different the causes of purulent-inflammatory reactions in the perineum can be, it is advisable to consult a doctor to make a diagnosis.
Acne after childbirth - what to do?
A couple of weeks after giving birth, a woman may notice painful pimples or even large boils on the labia minora. This occurs due to microbes entering the sebaceous gland during labor or lack of personal hygiene afterward.
During the postpartum period, a woman’s body is weakened - the immune system is reduced and cannot resist microbes that, when entering a favorable environment, cause inflammation.
What to do:
- at the initial stage, apply Vishnevsky ointment or honey cake to the genitals;
- after the boil bursts - Levomikol.
All this should be done after consultation with a gynecologist, who will rule out other possible causes.
Surgical intervention
There are situations when a boil that has arisen on the labia cannot open for a long time. If compresses with ointments do not help to break through the abscess, the help of a surgeon is required.
The surgical intervention takes place in several stages:
- local anesthesia is used - the doctor administers an anesthetic drug that relieves pain;
- then an incision is made using a sterile instrument and the purulent contents are removed;
- After cleaning the cavity of the boil, the doctor will treat the wound with disinfectants and apply ointment. The therapeutic bandage is changed at least once a day.
Classic removal of a boil on the labia
Surgery is a radical measure that allows you to eliminate a pathological focus that can negatively affect the general condition of the patient, as well as provoke the risk of spreading infection. The classic scheme of surgical treatment involves dissection of the abscess followed by drainage of the wound. Drainage is necessary to prevent the edges of the wound from bonding and the recurrence of suppuration. If necessary, the doctor can stitch up the walls of the opened cavity. To eliminate pain, the patient is given a local anesthetic.
Subsequently, the wound is treated and disinfected. To speed up the healing process, a bandage with an ointment containing an antibiotic is applied to its surface. The dressing is changed daily.
Complications
Complications can occur for three reasons:
- Breaking inside is rare, but requires prompt consultation with a doctor, as it causes diseases of a purulent-inflammatory nature.
- Ignoring genital inflammation and its causes - you should find out the cause and carefully handle the affected area.
- Injury to the boil and infection during self-medication - boils may itch and hurt, but it is not advisable to touch them or try to pierce them.
Attention! If the boil has broken through, then you need to remove the pus with clean hands, treat it with hydrogen peroxide, and then apply a bandage with Levomikol. After treatment, you need to treat your hands with an antibacterial agent.
What complications can there be:
- furunculosis of the labia - multiple chiria;
- phlegmon - diffuse purulent inflammation;
- sepsis - purulent inflammation that affects all organs;
- Erysipelas is an infectious disease.
Drug therapy
Treatment of the pathology usually depends on the symptoms and complications that accompany the boil and the cause of the inflammatory process. Many women seek help from a doctor late, trying to cope with the abscess on their own. In this case, surgical intervention is usually required.
Levomekol and Ichthyol are used as methods of conservative therapy. These ointments are used to relieve inflammation and swelling. Based on the results of the analysis to identify the pathogen, the doctor prescribes antibiotics (Dicloxacillin, Tetracycline, Erythromycin). The course of treatment is no more than two weeks.
Prevention
If from time to time large boils appear in the groin area and on the labia, then you need to take preventive measures:
- avoid spicy, fatty and spicy foods;
- maintain personal hygiene - change linen daily and disinfect damage;
- avoid hypothermia and stress;
- take vitamins to maintain immunity;
- removal must be careful and accompanied by disinfection treatment.
If boils continue to appear on the genitals even if these rules are followed, it is necessary to undergo a complete diagnosis of the body and identify the causative factor.
How to treat women during pregnancy and breastfeeding
The body of pregnant women becomes vulnerable due to a decrease in protective forces. The immune system weakens and the expectant mother is susceptible to infections and inflammations, including the formation of boils in the intimate area.
Women during pregnancy and nursing mothers should be treated only under the supervision of a doctor. The choice of medications for therapy is limited, since many drugs can harm both the expectant mother and the fetus.
Antibacterial and immunostimulating agents are rarely used, in exceptional cases. To strengthen the immune system, use a balanced diet enhanced with vitamins and microelements.
Of the medicinal ointments that effectively help in the treatment of boils, it is worth noting Ichthyol and Zinc. They are quite safe and are approved for pregnant and lactating women.
For local therapy, traditional medicine is used:
- To speed up the ripening of boils, you can use onions boiled in milk as a compress. Duration of the procedure: 6 – 8 hours.
- Mix a fresh chicken egg with 1 teaspoon of natural honey, add flour to obtain a thick consistency. Form cakes from this mass and apply one at a time to the boil for several hours.
- Pour the crushed flax seed into cotton bags. Place one of them in hot water one by one and apply it to the boil.
- At night, make a compress from a plantain leaf washed in hot water. This procedure has an antibacterial effect on the affected area.
Preventive measures
Prevention of the development of furunculosis on the genitals (that is, preliminary measures to avoid the appearance and, accordingly, the need to treat boils in intimate places) is a significant solution to the problem. It is much easier to follow simple recommendations to prevent the onset of the disease. Intimate places require special attention and care. It is important to ensure proper thermoregulation of the skin, protecting it from excessive overheating and hypothermia. Critical temperature fluctuations can provoke the development of the inflammatory process.
Strengthening the immune system prevents pathogens from causing inflammation. The body itself localizes the source of infection, preventing a serious illness that may require surgery to eliminate.
Compliance with hygiene measures: washing hands, body, genitals. Hygiene prevents the creation of favorable conditions for the development of bacterial flora and helps prevent infection.
Disinfection of skin lesions, wounds and abrasions. Any wound is a gateway to infection, which can subsequently affect the hair follicle. Deep cuts should be sealed and protected with a bandage or bactericidal plaster.
Sources
- https://mfarma.ru/dermatologiya/poyavlenie-furunkulov-v-intimnoj-zone-u-muzhchin-i-zhenshhin-kak-lechit-infektsiyu
- https://netzudu.ru/intim/furunkul-na-polovoj-gube
- https://estetica16.ru/infekcii/furunkul-na-intimnom-meste.html
- https://udermatologa.com/zabol/pio/fur/chirey-ili-furunkul-na-polovyh-gubah/
- https://SkinCover.ru/furunkul/kak-lechit-furunkul-v-intimnoj-zone.html
- https://ginekologiya.klinika-abc.ru/furunkul-na-polovoy-gube-u-zhenshchin.html
