Understanding Small, Painless Skin Bumps Near the Vulva: Causes & Concerns

Question
Hello there,

I understand you deal mostly with pregnancy topics, but I was not sure where to post this question. Hopefully you will be able to help.

For the last few months I have had a very small flesh coloured bump about an and a bit away from my vaginal hole (I would say close to being on the underneath of my butt cheek). It hasn't cause me any discomfort, so I figured it was a clogged pore or an ingrown hair, so I ignored it. It hasn't gotten any bigger, nor changed in any way. The other day I decided to try to open it up and 'unclog' it - which I did, successfully. At first nothing came out, just a bit of blood, but then eventually a hard white cylinder came out, in one piece. After that, the bump shrunk to where it was almost completely not visible. I thought it was gone, until today I checked and it looks like it's coming back. It's still only miniscule, but I feel like it's going to come back. It is in the exact same spot, but I have no other bumps anywhere else. Do you think this could be an STD? Or maybe just a clogged pore? Any advice would help!

Thank you.

Answer
Dear Amanda,

This is a common area for boils or clogged pores as you have described it. In the area of the groin, these are often a result of local inflammation of the sweat glands. Near or in the crease of the buttocks, they often begin as tiny areas of infection in the base of the area of skin from which hair grows (the hair follicle). Usually the area will become red and tender over time. It sounds like you may have simply not gotten all of the contents - which is also very common - as it is for a recurrence in the same place.

The primary treatment for most boils is heat application, usually with hot soaks or hot packs. Heat application increases the circulation to the area and allows the body to better fight off the infection by bringing antibodies and white blood cells to the site of infection.

As long as the boil is small and firm, opening the area and draining the boil is not helpful, even if the area is painful. However, once the boil becomes soft or "forms a head" (that is, a small pustule is noted in the boil), it can be ready to drain. Once drained, pain relief can be dramatic. Most small boils, such as those that form around hairs, drain on their own with soaking. On occasion, and especially with larger boils, the larger boil will need to be drained or "lanced" by a health-care practitioner. Frequently, these larger boils contain several pockets of pus that must be opened and drained.

Antibiotics are often used to eliminate the accompanying bacterial infection. Especially if there is an infection of the surrounding skin, the doctor often prescribes antibiotics. However, antibiotics are not needed in every situation. In fact, antibiotics have difficulty penetrating the outer wall of an abscess well and often will not cure an abscess without additional surgical drainage.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I apologize for the slight delay in answering your question this week...needed to put my grandma hat on for a few days. I wish you well.

Brenda