“I’m fairly certain I have a vaginal boil, how should I treat it?”
I’m a 19 year old female, and I had an ingrown hair from shaving that has turned increasingly painful. After a bit of research, I think I have a vaginal boil. It is hard, painful, red, and had a head that popped on its own this morning, after having it around 2 weeks. I wash it with mild soap and keep my hands clean, but it is really interfering with normal life. Is there anything else I should be doing to keep it clean and ready to heal?
Female | 19 years old
Complaint duration: 14 days
Medications: Hormonal birth control
2 Answers
Dr. Victoria Mondloch
OB-GYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist) | Gynecology
Vulvar boils and ingrown hairs are difficult due to their location; it hurts to sit, stand, walk, urinate and even turn over in your sleep. Shaving is an irritant that is a direct cause of ingrown hairs; usually a very sharp razor is best; never use it more than 2-3X to that area and never use that same razor on your legs, it dulls the blade. It’s also why others get a Brazilian wax or laser hair removal but that’s expensive. When you feel that a boil is coming, you may benefit from an Epsom salt soak to your bottom; 1-2Tbsp Epsom salt to a plastic wash tub large enough to fit your bottom into and soak in warm to hot water and it will act like a drawing agent. Once it gets close to popping, then a slurry of baking soda + Hydrogen peroxide to make a paste will act as a drawing agent to help finish bringing the boil to the surface and letting it pop or resolve. If you get recurrent boils, then you may have supporative hidradenitis which is associated with PCO or Polycystic Ovary Disease. PCO means multiple small <1cm ovarian cysts that make Testosterone which can be a higher value and override your female hormone values. It is really important to know if you have PCO or possible PCO because that is genetic and it’s associated with a number of other possible issues: trouble getting pregnant, sudden weight gain (due to the higher Testosterone levels), Depression and increased risk of poor sugar control/insulin resistance and even Type 2 diabetes. So if you have recurrent boils, ask your doctor to check bloodwork for your hormone levels; there is help with meds to drop Testosterone levels but you can only treat it if you can diagnose it.
Please go to the nearest gyn clinic to be evaluated.
Stay safe,
Dr. Chaudhury
Stay safe,
Dr. Chaudhury
