Boils can appear on any part of the body, including the genitals, and yes, they will usually come to a head and go away of their own accord. However, why not consult your doctor, just to be on the safe side?
Boils are most often caused by bacteria entering the skin, usually through a hair follicle and causing an infection to start. Like many skin infections, it will grow and fill with liquid until either it drains itself or the patient/doctor lances it and drains away the fluid.
Boils can be painful, especially in the genital area, but the medical advice most often give is to leave the swelling alone as long as possible and let the infection take its natural course. The reason for this advice is that the boil is usually full of infected material and opening it yourself runs the risk of spreading the infection and so making things worse.
It is quite common for people to suffer from boils. The commonest cause is the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, but there are also other bacteria that can cause skin infection and swelling and also by fungi. Sometimes, infection occurs in tiny cuts or abrasions, such as nicks caused by shaving.
Boils can erupt anywhere on the body, but usually they show up on the face, neck, armpit, buttocks, and thighs. In some cases there can be multiple boils in the same place.
It’s usual for a boil or infected spot to have run its course within two weeks. During that time it’s important to observe the basic rules of hygiene, including frequent washing of the hands, and not sharing towels, so that the infection is not spread elsewhere while it persists.
One reason why it is wise to consult your doctor is that it is also possible to suffer form an ingrowing hair follicle and this is something will probably persist and need to be removed in a minor operation.
Boils are most often caused by bacteria entering the skin, usually through a hair follicle and causing an infection to start. Like many skin infections, it will grow and fill with liquid until either it drains itself or the patient/doctor lances it and drains away the fluid.
Boils can be painful, especially in the genital area, but the medical advice most often give is to leave the swelling alone as long as possible and let the infection take its natural course. The reason for this advice is that the boil is usually full of infected material and opening it yourself runs the risk of spreading the infection and so making things worse.
It is quite common for people to suffer from boils. The commonest cause is the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, but there are also other bacteria that can cause skin infection and swelling and also by fungi. Sometimes, infection occurs in tiny cuts or abrasions, such as nicks caused by shaving.
Boils can erupt anywhere on the body, but usually they show up on the face, neck, armpit, buttocks, and thighs. In some cases there can be multiple boils in the same place.
It’s usual for a boil or infected spot to have run its course within two weeks. During that time it’s important to observe the basic rules of hygiene, including frequent washing of the hands, and not sharing towels, so that the infection is not spread elsewhere while it persists.
One reason why it is wise to consult your doctor is that it is also possible to suffer form an ingrowing hair follicle and this is something will probably persist and need to be removed in a minor operation.
