Abscess due to increased testosterone levels

An increased testosterone level in the body can lead to the formation of abscesses on the skin. Testosterone is an important male sex hormone. Intensive sport and muscle building lead to increased production of the sex hormone and raise the level of testosterone in the body.

Many athletes and bodybuilders take anabolic steroids in addition to training. These are artificially produced derivatives of testosterone. They are used to build muscle, reduce body fat and maintain muscle mass.

As a side effect, even small doses can cause mild acne. In severe cases acne conglobata occurs, a severe form of conventional acne caused by hormones (such as testosterone). The skin changes are accompanied by the formation of numerous blackheads (comedones), pustules and lumps.

The centres of inflammation can merge and form small fistulae (tubular connecting ducts) and painful abscesses. The abscesses form primarily on the face, back and breast. Every second man who takes anabolic steroids develops this form of acne, which can develop after only a few weeks of doping.

Psychological causes of an abscess

The formation of an abscess is promoted by a weakened immune system, as the pathogens can penetrate the body more easily and multiply. Mental stress and constant stress weaken the immune system. As a consequence, the appearance of pimples and abscesses is favored.

Chemotherapy as the cause of an abscess

Chemotherapy can be another cause of abscesses. During chemotherapy, drugs (cytostatics) are administered which inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells.However, these substances do not act specifically on tumor cells, but inhibit the cell growth of fast-growing cells, e.g. also cells of the mucous membranes or the blood and immune cells in the bone marrow. This can lead to an impairment of the immune system during chemotherapy. The weakened immune system can fight invading bacteria less effectively and the formation of abscesses is more frequent.

Abscess as a complication after surgery

An abscess can form as a complication after surgery. Bacteria are introduced into the abdominal cavity and cause an inflammatory reaction there, which in turn is encapsulated in an abscess cavity. The abdominal cavity is normally sterile, which means that there are no bacteria in it.

Even with great care, bacteria can enter the open abdomen during an operation. For example, bacteria can be found on surgical instruments that have not been sufficiently sterilized, although this is very rare. Another possibility of infection is that the pathogens accumulate in the air and thus enter the open abdomen. This can happen when there are many people in the operating room, the room has not been cleaned sufficiently or the surgical clothing is contaminated with germs. Another reason why an abscess forms after an operation is if the intestine is injured during the operation and intestinal contents get into the abdominal cavity.