Lumps on butt around anus

[Fulcrum99]

Hello,

I'm not sure if this falls under "infections" or what. A little over a week ago I developed what appeared to be just a pimple on my left butt cheek a couple inches from my anus. It grew progressively larger over a couple days, and also painful to sit on. Under the skin it felt very hard and about the size of a quarter, with some pus coming out. It started to diminish a couple of days ago, and is now smaller (still hard under the skin), much less painful, and dry skin around it is flaking away in a circle. Right about the time it started to diminish, another appeared on the opposite side, and is currently in the large and painful stage, oozing some pus and making it painful to sit. Additionally, what look like two other pimples are appearing nearby... I'm dreading those swelling up as well, then I can't imagine sitting at all (I'm a military pilot, so I do a fair amount of sitting).

Although they start out looking like pimples, I can't imagine that's what they are. They just get so large and painful, and it really feels like a hard knot under the skin about the size of a nickel or quarter, and with inflammation of the skin all around it.

I really have no idea, as far as any suggestion that this could be some sort of STD (I wouldn't know if that's likely), I'm not sexually active, so I can't imagine that's the case. I'd really like to have some small idea before I go complaining to the flight surgeon about something that might just be a funky case of acne or somesuch (don't know if that's likely either!).

Thanks for any help you can give.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Sounds like follicultis, a local staph infection common in the groin.  Not contagious (the bacteria live in the area.)  These take care of themselves, generally.  If you apply an antibiotic like bacitracin or neosporin to them as they develop, and wash with an antibacterial soap (Hibiclens), they should pose little problem.  If they continue to bother you and hurt, drain, and so forth, you may want to ask for a course of oral antibiotics, but these are rarely neeeded.  (The products I mentioned are all over-the-counter.)  After a while, these bumps usually just stop coming.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Fulcrum99]

Additional info that may or may not be important (Ignore if necessary!)

I also have a relatively new mole on my butt at the base of my tailbone. It's symmetric and all, but it gets irritated a lot by working out, sitting (while flying), etc due to its location, and so it bleeds occasionally. I'm supposed to have it removed in a couple months since it's location and all makes it occasionally uncomfortable (and it is bleeding occasionally after all).

Possible avenue for some sort of infection leading to the other lumps? Again, quite possibly totally unrelated, I just mention it because it's the same general area and out of the ordinary.

[Andreanna]

Fulcrum....I read about your problem which sounds similar to mine but I've been dealing with mine for about 2 1/2 years...I have what they call pilonidal sinus....it's where you develop cysts in your anal region...I've had so many I can't keep track...I've had many surgerys to remove the cysts...so you might want to check out some websites to see if this is what you might have...mine started off small and I didn't think much of it..now it's been  2 years..literally it's been a pain in the ***

[Fulcrum99]

Follow-up...

Indeed it was a skin infection, but it apparently had developed into a "rectal abscess." Lovely, huh. There were actually two, the doctor drained them and then packed them with gauze, came back for a couple days to have the gauze replaced. Not a comfortable procedure, but it's done now, just taking some antiobiotics to prevent (re)infection while the wounds finish healing.

[sharon29570]

Andreanna, I would like to talk more with you about your dealings with pilonidal sinus. I do agree that it is a pain in the you know what. Please email me at ***@**** if you would like to talk more with me about this. Thanks, Sharon

[matthew66]

hello, I suffer from knots in my groin and tail.i have been treated by surgerys and antibiotics. the problem is still occuring . the proble has been goin on for 7 years. i've been to no telling how many doctors. I wondered if your could recomend a specialist. my e mail adress is ***@****

i'll try anything thanks

[matthew66]

hello, I suffer from knots in my groin and tail.i have been treated by surgerys and antibiotics. the problem is still occuring . the proble has been goin on for 7 years. i've been to no telling how many doctors. I wondered if your could recomend a specialist. my e mail adress is ***@****

i'll try anything thanks