Furuncle in the Groin and on the Pubis: What It Is and When a Doctor Is Needed

A painful lump in the groin or on the pubis is almost always frightening: the area is delicate, and it is easy to imagine anything at all behind an unclear induration. Most often it is a furuncle — a purulent inflammation of the hair follicle. Below is what is known about it, how it looks, and when it is time to see a doctor.

Furuncle on the pubis and in the groin: what it is

A furuncle, also known as a boil, is an acute purulent-necrotic inflammation of the hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and surrounding connective tissue. It is caused by pyogenic bacteria, mainly Staphylococcus aureus. It is usually a dense, painful formation filled with pus, and most such lumps resolve on their own.

The groin and pubis are a typical location along with the neck, back of the head, face, back, and thighs: hair follicles are present here, and the skin sweats and rubs. When several furuncles merge together, it is called a carbuncle.

Why a boil appears in the groin and on the genital organs

Bacteria enter the skin through microcracks, cuts, and microtraumas of the skin. Areas where the skin rubs against itself, especially if it is moist there, and areas with poor blood supply are singled out separately. The inguinal fold and labia in women, and the skin of the penis and scrotum in men, are exactly such places.

Predisposing factors include contamination of the skin, increased sweating and sebum secretion, metabolic disorders, reduced immune activity, and hypothermia. The risk is higher with diabetes and HIV, with medications that suppress immunity, with obesity and malnutrition, and with eczema. Furuncles are more common in men; carbuncles are less common, mainly in middle-aged men. Transmission is possible through close contact with a person who has furuncles.

What a furuncle looks like on the labium, penis, and pubis

The onset is inconspicuous: an itchy or painful spot appears. Then a dense lump forms against a background of reddened skin, with a purulent focus of necrosis in the center — the so-called core of the furuncle.

Common signs of a skin infection are redness, swelling, pain, pus, and itching. After the necrotic tissue is sloughed off, the defect heals with a scar. Furuncles at different stages, one after another, are called furunculosis.

How a furuncle differs from other formations in the groin

A lump between the legs is not necessarily a furuncle. The symptoms of many skin infections are shared — redness, swelling, pain, pus, itching — so the cause is determined by a doctor through examination and culture.

The doctor examines the skin and asks about symptoms. If necessary, a culture of the skin discharge is ordered — a swab, scraping, or small tissue fragment — or blood tests to identify the causative agent.

Possible complications

Complications depend on the location and how advanced the process is. These include lymphangitis and lymphadenitis — the reaction of regional lymph nodes to a purulent process; phlegmon with spread of inflammation to adjacent tissues; and sepsis as the extreme and most severe complication.

When located on the face, the risk of severe complications is higher — up to purulent meningitis and sepsis.

When to see a doctor

A routine reason is a furuncle that persists for two weeks while the measures taken do not help; furuncles that appear again; or a group of furuncles that has formed. An urgent consultation is needed if the furuncle is on the face, the skin around it is hot, painful, and swollen, there is fever and chills or the person alternates between feeling hot and cold, and also with weakened immunity.

• Ask the surgeon whether the formation needs to be opened and the pus drained.
• Clarify which tests will identify the causative agent — culture or blood tests.
• Ask whether recurrent furuncles are related to diabetes or other conditions.
• Clarify how likely it is that the inflammation has affected the lymph nodes.

A furuncle by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance; 103 or 112 — if against the background of a furuncle the person's condition sharply worsens: severe fever and chills, the skin around becomes hot, painful, and swollen, and a person with weakened immunity or with signs of sepsis rapidly weakens.

This is reference material, not a diagnosis: a lump in the groin or on the pubis is better shown to a doctor once than compared with pictures on the internet for a week.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer