Abscesses

Abscesses

An abscess is a tender mass generally surrounded by a colored area from pink to deep red. Abscesses are often easy to feel by touching. The middle of an abscess is full of pus and debris.

Painful and warm to the touch, abscesses can show up any place on your body. The most common sites are in your armpits, areas around your anus and vagina, the base of your spine, and in your groin. Inflammation around a hair follicle can also lead to the formation of an abscess.

Abscess Causes

Abscesses are caused by obstruction of oil (sebaceous) glands or sweat glands, inflammation of hair follicles, or minor breaks and punctures of the skin. Germs get under the skin or into these glands, which causes an inflammatory response as your body’s defenses try to kill these germs.

The middle of the abscess liquefies and contains dead cells, bacteria, and other debris. Then this area begins to grow, creating tension under the skin and further inflammation of the surrounding tissues. Pressure and inflammation cause the pain.

Unlike other infections, antibiotics alone will not usually cure an abscess. In general an abscess must open and drain in order for it to improve. Sometimes draining occurs on its own, but generally it must be opened in a procedure called incision and drainage (I&D).