At some point in your life, you’ve probably had a boil. On your eye, your armpit, maybe even a recurrent one on the outer skin of your vagina. So what do you do if you keep having boils, especially when they keep coming back in the same spot? First things first, identify the cause.
What causes boils on the skin.
Boils are caused by a germ (staphylococcal bacteria) that enter the body through tiny nicks or cuts in the skin. A lot of healthy people carry this bacteria on their skin or in their noses without any outbreak but sometimes, a scrape or cut in the skin can allow the bacteria to travel down the hair to the follicle. This is the reason why most people are prone to develop boils after they shave.
Why do I keep getting boils on my vagina?
Boils sometimes resolve on their own, or with antibiotic treatment. But there is a strain of the bacteria that does not respond to regular antibiotics. It is called antibiotic-resistant MRSA. The Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by a type of staph bacteria that’s become resistant to many of the antibiotics used to treat ordinary staph infections. It could be gotten from a hospital when medical devices are not cleaned properly or within a crowded community where there is a lot of shared materials and body contact e.g hostels or face-me-I-face-you homes.
MRSA can be spread from skin to skin contact, by sharing personal items like towels or by touching a surface that has bacteria e.g public phones. This is why it is important to wash your hands frequently
This form, of MRSA, called community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA), often begins as a painful skin boil as it is mostly spread by skin-to-skin contact. But aside skin to skin contact, MRSA can also be spread by sharing personal items like towels or touching a surface that has bacteria e.g public phones. This is why it is important to wash your hands frequently
MRSA can colonize the skin. And when this happens you tend to have painful boils that keep coming back on the same area of the skin or vagina.
How to get rid of boils on the vagina.
There are many things that could cause an outbreak on the labia or outer vaginal skin, so its very important to identify that what you have is a boil. Although there are home remedies to ease the pain none of that would cure the boil and prevent it from coming back again. To permanently cure the boils on your vagina you need to speak to a doctor or pharmacist and describe your problem. They should prescribe you some antibiotics that this strain of bacteria is not resistant to. Remember, no random antibiotic will work on MRSA so rather than trying to self prescribe, speak to a healthcare specialist. With the proper treatment, you’d be surprised how fast the boils will disappear, and in most cases, never return.
For more answers to questions surrounding the vagina, check out the rest of our articles on vaginal health
Just read this beautiful piece. Thank you so much for sharing this Lilian. I would like to add that another reason why people may also get recurring boils in pubic region and other areas with sweat glad is if they suffer from any chronic skin condition like hidradenitis suppurativa.
Yes, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, I hear, is a very painful condition and is not talked about as much. Thanks for adding this.
Please how can this chronic skin disease be cured. I have been to several hospitals, used a lot of drugs. I will be glad, if I can get any response
We can look into it more, but I don’t think it has a cure, it can only be managed.