boil?

[kargus]

I have never had this problem before.  I have a bump on my groin under the skin.  I started noticing this a few weeks ago, however it is very painful when rubbed or touched wrong.  I can almost pinch this.  It is about the size of  a nickel when I pinch this.  From my reseacrch I think it is a boil.  I have had protected sex with one person since this problem became about. I lost my job recently and no longer have health insurance.  What are my alternatives?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Ingrown hair or boil also referred to as a skin abscess, is a localized infection deep in the skin. A boil generally starts as a reddened, tender area. Over time, the area becomes firm and hard. Eventually, the center of the abscess softens and becomes filled with pus. Finally, the pus "forms a head," which can be surgically opened or spontaneously drain out through the surface of the skin.

Apply warm compresses on the boil and keep the area clean. Drainage of the boil is done only when it becomes soft and forms a head. Take some over the counter pain reliever and consult a doctor for examination and antibiotics prescription. also get a culture sensitivity of the lumps and blood done. If there are recurrent boils, then please get your blood sugar levels estimated.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[kargus]

I will try that.  I do not sleep around so I figured it wasn't an std.  It did cross my mind though!  I shave my public hair.  So I thought It could be that or a boil.  But I will try arm compressions and not try to pop it because it hurts to do that!  Thank you for the advice!

[CassCore]

Try putting a warm compress on the area to bring any infection to the top of the skin. It may be infected hair follicles...Benadryl cream works really well for me when I have irritation like this. It helps decrease inflammation which in turn decreases pain. Do not try to lance it or pop it because this can cause infection to become worse. If it starts to grow in size or redness and looks infected (like if pus turns green or yellow, red streaks down leg etc), GO TO A DOCTOR!! I know you don't have health insurance but a staph infection such as MRSA could happen and that is very dangerous. Here is a link to what MRSA can look like for reference just in case! It doesn't sound like an STD by the way :) and I'm not trying to freak you out about MRSA, but it is becoming such a common infection. You probably just have an irritated hair follicle and it will go away soon!

http://cigar-blog-post.com/sclscler.php?p=mrsa-staph-infection-symptoms