Lumps in the Genital Area - Whats Up With That?

Lumps on your genitals do NOT necessarily mean you have a sexually transmitted disease-it could be a condition resembling acne. The lumps eventually (or quickly) become inflamed and the top turns yellow as the skin swells and becomes so thin the pus becomes visible. This condition is actually called folliculitis, or and inflammation of the hair follicle. The follicle becomes blocked with dead skin cells, perspiration and other materials resulting in an acne-like condition. Another type of genital lumps may merely be soft and painful and absent of pus. They're filled only with water that is trapped in the pores.

Hair follicles in the genital area can become clogged for a number of reasons. Underclothing used to be made exclusively of cotton, a natural substance that breathes. Not so recently, artificial materials have been used to manufacture underclothing and has become popular because of the soft, silky sensation on the skin as well as being easily washed and dried. Unfortunately, manmade materials don't "breathe", shutting off the air supply to the skin and hair follicles and creating a perfect environment to retain natural perspiration. The moisture has nowhere else to go but to be absorbed into the skin where it blocks the hair follicles, resulting in infection.

Another big contributor to genital hair follicle infection is sports. Often, sports participants wear tight clothing of manmade materials that don't allow their skin to breathe. The exertions of sports produce perspiration that is trapped on and in the skin. Casual sports such as pick-up basketball games using neighborhood courts don't allow the players immediate access to showers and a quick change of clothing. Even though they're wearing street clothing, it's often up to an hour or more before a shower is taken. Every moment that dirt and perspiration is trapped in the genital area, the chances of genital lump "acne" increases.

Due to the sensitive skin in the genital area, use of the same acne medication used on the face is not recommended. If you find lumps in the genital area, the most important thing to do is to visit a dermatologist in order to ascertain exactly what is causing it. While it is probably not a sexually transmitted disease, many STDs can look like genital lumps in the early stages. Many other skin conditions have the same early indications as genital lump "acne". Other, more serious, conditions can also be mistaken for this simple skin disorder. A dermatologist or your family physician will be able to diagnose and properly treat the symptoms. You'll recover more quickly from this uncomfortable malady with proper medical diagnoses and advice.

It's important to note that this condition is not contagious and is definitely temporary even though it's very uncomfortable and often painful.