Why do I have a painful lump on my bottom?
A lump or boil near or between your buttocks can be painful and cause problems sitting. You may be embarrassed to see your doctor about it. Maybe you hope it will go away on its own. But how can you tell if it could be more than a simple boil and when you need to see a doctor?
What is a boil? Boils occur when bacteria gets inside the skin, such as through hair follicles. They commonly occur in areas of the body with skin folds where sweat pools, and the buttock area is one of these. What do boils on the buttocks look and feel like? You may notice a red, tender, and painful bump or lump on the skin, on or near the crease of the buttocks. Over time this may swell and fill with pus. What can I do to ease the pain? You can apply moist, warm compresses to the boil area, 3 or 4 times a day. You can take painkillers that you would usually use at home. If it is a simple boil, it may clear up without treatment. Do not try to pop or puncture the boil yourself as this can make the problem worse and cause the infection to spread to other parts of the body. When do I need to see a doctor? You need to see a doctor if you have had a boil for more than 2 weeks, or if the boil is large, increasing in size, very painful or keeps recurring. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away and could lead to complications. See a doctor if you also have a fever, as this could be a sign of spreading infection. In these cases you may need antibiotics, or your doctor may need to drain the boil to remove the pus. How do I know if it is more than a normal boil? Sometimes an infection can occur in an abnormal pocket of skin near the tailbone at the top of the cleft of the buttocks, or inside the buttock crease. This is called a pilonidal cyst or pilonidal sinus. If not treated, a pilonidal cyst can lead to an extremely painful abscess when pus builds up under the skin. This type of infection can get worse quickly and does not usually clear up on its own. Therefore it is important to seek medical help if you have a painful lump in this area, especially if it is getting worse or if you have other symptoms such as nausea or fever What is the treatment for a pilonidal cyst? Treatment depends on the size of the cyst and your symptoms. Where an abcess has developed antibiotics are usually required. Your doctor may need to drain the pus through a small incision (cut) after numbing the area. If the cyst is large or repeatedly infected, surgery may be performed to clean or remove the cyst. Wound care is extremely important after surgery, to keep the area clean. Can pilonidal cysts be prevented? It’s not clear what causes pilonidal cysts. It is thought that a skin problem, pressure or friction may cause loose hair between the buttocks to be pushed inwards. This leads to the creation of a cyst or pocket around the hair which can become infected. Pilonidal cysts are more common in men and in people who sit for long periods of time, such as long distance truck drivers. You can reduce your risk of pilonidal cysts by keeping the buttock area clean, maintaining an active lifestyle and avoiding prolonged sitting whenever possible. Remember: Don’t put off seeing a doctor if you have had a painful lump in your buttock area for more than 2 weeks, espe
What is a boil? Boils occur when bacteria gets inside the skin, such as through hair follicles. They commonly occur in areas of the body with skin folds where sweat pools, and the buttock area is one of these. What do boils on the buttocks look and feel like? You may notice a red, tender, and painful bump or lump on the skin, on or near the crease of the buttocks. Over time this may swell and fill with pus. What can I do to ease the pain? You can apply moist, warm compresses to the boil area, 3 or 4 times a day. You can take painkillers that you would usually use at home. If it is a simple boil, it may clear up without treatment. Do not try to pop or puncture the boil yourself as this can make the problem worse and cause the infection to spread to other parts of the body. When do I need to see a doctor? You need to see a doctor if you have had a boil for more than 2 weeks, or if the boil is large, increasing in size, very painful or keeps recurring. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away and could lead to complications. See a doctor if you also have a fever, as this could be a sign of spreading infection. In these cases you may need antibiotics, or your doctor may need to drain the boil to remove the pus. How do I know if it is more than a normal boil? Sometimes an infection can occur in an abnormal pocket of skin near the tailbone at the top of the cleft of the buttocks, or inside the buttock crease. This is called a pilonidal cyst or pilonidal sinus. If not treated, a pilonidal cyst can lead to an extremely painful abscess when pus builds up under the skin. This type of infection can get worse quickly and does not usually clear up on its own. Therefore it is important to seek medical help if you have a painful lump in this area, especially if it is getting worse or if you have other symptoms such as nausea or fever What is the treatment for a pilonidal cyst? Treatment depends on the size of the cyst and your symptoms. Where an abcess has developed antibiotics are usually required. Your doctor may need to drain the pus through a small incision (cut) after numbing the area. If the cyst is large or repeatedly infected, surgery may be performed to clean or remove the cyst. Wound care is extremely important after surgery, to keep the area clean. Can pilonidal cysts be prevented? It’s not clear what causes pilonidal cysts. It is thought that a skin problem, pressure or friction may cause loose hair between the buttocks to be pushed inwards. This leads to the creation of a cyst or pocket around the hair which can become infected. Pilonidal cysts are more common in men and in people who sit for long periods of time, such as long distance truck drivers. You can reduce your risk of pilonidal cysts by keeping the buttock area clean, maintaining an active lifestyle and avoiding prolonged sitting whenever possible. Remember: Don’t put off seeing a doctor if you have had a painful lump in your buttock area for more than 2 weeks, espe