Ingrown hair in the genital area with pus
Since the body recognizes the ingrown hair as a foreign body, which should not actually be present at this location, an inflammatory reaction is triggered. The immune system tries to fight the foreign body and numerous defense cells migrate. These secrete enzymes, which also attack the surrounding tissue and pus accumulates.
In addition, during the ingrowth of the hair through the skin, bacteria that occur naturally on the skin can also enter the body. These also trigger a defensive reaction of the immune system and lead to the formation of pus. The bacteria that lead to a purulent inflammation are also called pyogenic bacteria.
Scratched skin is another entry point for bacteria. If the ingrown hair shows up with a lot of itching, the scratching can also lead to a bacterial infection. If pus is present, it is necessary to check whether it is actually an ingrown hair or a boil. A boil is an inflammation of the hair follicle lying deep in the skin, which has nothing to do with the direction of growth of the hair, but can also occur more frequently in shaved hair areas with small skin wounds.
Diagnosis
The determination that it is an ingrown hair is usually an eye diagnosis that a family doctor or dermatologist can make.This means that no laboratory or technical examination is necessary to make the diagnosis. An ingrown hair has a very characteristic appearance. One can recognize a small reddened lump, which is painful under pressure.
Under certain circumstances, ingrown hair can also be seen gleaming under the skin. In addition, the region of the discomfort is crucial. Thus ingrown hairs often occur in the genital area or in the armpits, since the skin is very sensitive here and the hairs are often thick and regularly shaved.
Abscess due to ingrown hair in the genital area
An abscess is an encapsulated cavity filled with pus. The cavity is formed by melting the surrounding tissue and, by definition, was not there before. An accumulation of pus in a pre-existing cavity is called an empyema.
In severe cases, an ingrown hair can lead to purulent fistula ducts, which in turn lead to an abscess. This should be examined by a doctor and opened or removed under strictly hygienic conditions. This occurs particularly frequently in the area of the coccyx.
The so-called pilonidalsinus, or coccyx fistula, occurs particularly frequently in young, very hairy men and is usually primarily caused by ingrown hair. An inflammatory reaction takes place, pus is formed and deposited in a pus cavity. The coccyx fistula must be surgically removed by a doctor, as it does not heal on its own. In order to prevent the reappearance of fistulas in the coccyx area, the hair can be removed by laser.
