What are Vaginal Pimples?

Vaginal pimples are similar to face pimples or pimples anywhere else on the body. However, they are quite painful and stinging.

Look like small, skin colored or may be red, rounded lesions down there. May be single or many. Pimples may or may not be filled with pus.

Why do They Occur?

Chief cause why you get a pimple is clogging of a gland duct in the region.

The vaginal region is richly provided by different secretory glands. They include many like the Bartholin glands, that line the lower portion of vaginal canal and many oil secretory glands in the surrounding skin area. These glands keep the area well lubricated and moist.

When the duct of any of these gland gets clogged, the secretions start getting collected in the gland. Gradually, it swells up, and you see a pimple on the skin surface.

Symptoms

  • A rounded red colored bump
  • Single or more than one
  • Often painless
  • Slight itching may be there

A pimple is painless till it gets infected.

Genital Bump

    Vaginal Pimple
  • As moist and sweaty area is most favorable for bacteria to grow their colonies, pimples of this area frequently get infected. Then you get an infected bump.
  • This is red in color and painful.
  • It may show yellowish white pus in it. The surrounding area may also be red and slightly warm to touch.
  • If the infected material leaks out, infecting surrounding skin, more of such lesions may appear in the nearby by region.

Folliculitis

Besides this, you may have Folliculitis, which is a similar looking lesion.

This is infection of a hair follicle lying in the area. The condition is very painful. It resembles an infected pimple closely. The only difference being that, you essentially see a hair coming out from this lesion.

Infected hair follicles or pimples are clogged with bacteria, white blood cells and pus. The mixture of white blood cells, bacteria and pus is called plaque.

Vaginal Bumps During Periods

Vaginal bumps flare up during monthly periods and become very painful. This is because the area is more moist and has better grounds for the bacteria to grow there.

Most women neglect them, as they most often disappear after few days.

But it is recommended to get them diagnosed first. This is to rule out the possibility of other similar looking conditions, like herpes and other STDs.

Also, an ordinary vaginal pimple may sometimes complicate to form abscess. So it is advisable to visit the doctor at the earliest.

Herpes/ Syphilis/ Genital Warts Vs Pimples

There may be other conditions that produce similar looking lesions in the vaginal area. These include certain STD lesions and need to be ruled out, whenever you get a pimple like lesion there.

Genital Bump

Vaginal herpes

Herpes may be present in the form of tiny bumps that resemble pimples. However, on careful examination, they can be differentiated. They are in clusters, fluid filled and have a burning sensation, unlike pimples.

Read here about differentiating between benign pimples and common STD.

Syphilis may show as single or many big genital sores. They are usually oozing out infected fluid and tend to ulcerate. While pimples almost never ulcerate this way. If, however, you are sexually active, you need to see a doctor to rule out the presence of such conditions.

Genital warts are fleshy growths slightly raised above the skin surface. They appear around genitalia and are caused by a virus called Human Papilloma Virus. These are usually symptom less. May sometimes itch.

Another condition that may give you redness and scattered rashes is Dermatitis. This simply means that your skin down there is irritated by some allergen. This could be a new beauty product used, fabric of your pants, tampons, etc.

Treatment

After the diagnosis has been made, treatment and preventive measures may begin.

First and foremost, it is important to understand that moisture in the vaginal region promotes the growth of bacteria that reside in the surrounding area. Hence lack of daily cleaning indirectly contribute towards the evolution of vaginal pimples.

  • So keep the area clean and dry. Do not apply harsh soaps or detergents to this region. This is because, excessive washing alters the pH of the region, rendering it vulnerable to the growth of certain opportunistic fungus and bacteria.
  • Wear loose cotton panties only. Other fabrics do not soak the sweat produced in that area and hence aid in pimple formation.
  • Vaginal pimples are often initially treated by soaking with hot water. Many women pop up the pimples. This is wrong and may cause deep skin infection. This happens as we inject a few bacteria into the pimple while popping.
  • In case you are sure the pimples are infected, start using a topical antibiotic over them at the earliest. This would arrest their grow, fight the bugs and limit further spread of the infection.

Vaginal Boils

Vaginal boils are also somewhat similar to vaginal pimples but differ in that vaginal boils are more severe and painful than vaginal pimples. Mostly, they are bigger in size. Get them diagnosed properly by experienced dermatologist.

Do not use Benzoyl peroxide for treating vaginal pimples as this compound is irritating to the mucosal area. It is strongly advised not to use Benzoyl peroxide unless your dermatologist or doctor prescribes it.

Soaking with hot compress is helpful in treating vaginal pimples. Hot compresses helps reduce inflammation, irritation and pain.

Do not use any remedy unless it is diagnosed properly by a qualified dermatologist.

Medical Advice (Q&As) on “Vaginal Pimples or Bumps- How Do They Look and Treated?

  1. Kat

    Also it’s me again! I just checked the side effects that you can get from these kefexin antibiotics and 1/1000 gets genital itching and that’s what i got! so now i’m pretty sure it’s from the kefexin antibiotics. What should i do now?

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Would agree with your doctor. You’ll be fine once the course of antibiotics and the anti fungal pills are over.

      Reason behind the itch now may be dryness or altered pH due to all these medications. Read here about steps you may take to restore your vaginal pH.

  2. Kat

    But the course ended 2 days ago? And nothing has gotten better. I also can’t open the link you sent me for some reason.

  3. Anonymous

    Hey I’m 13 and a little scared after reading this I have a bump on my vaginal area on the skin in between my leg and vagina if u understand it’s a little bit red and it opened on its own and it’s leaking yellowish clear or whatever and has a little red with I assume is blood and I don’t know what to do and I’m actually quite scared

        1. Buddy M.D. Post author

          This one is likely to be an infected pimple. Just keep in clean. Avoid friction over it while moving. It’s likely to heal on its own within 3 to 5 days.

          If it pains, you may start applying any antibiotic ointment over it. Mupirocin/ bactroban may be used twice daily for 3 days.

          1. Anonymous

            I mean it popped and now it’s starting to heal but there’s still that spot there ya’know it’s healing but thank you very much

          2. Buddy M.D. Post author

            You’re welcome.

            Just start applying the antibiotic ointment over it.

  4. Kory

    Hi , I’m 19 and I noticed I have a bump on the top of my vagina where the pubic hair is on the side not inside or anything i noticed that it’s red and I just got on my period today could it be a period bump idk. I need some answers I don’t mess with it I sit In warm water or try to put cream on it but I don’t think it works..any help?

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Likely to be a teenage pimple. You may use any antibiotic cream over it, twice daily. Keep clean down there to prevent recurrence.

  5. Sierra

    Im 14, almost 15 and I have a bump in my vulva near my clitoris and it seems to be a pimple. It was very painful and full and when I touched it on both sides it popped with very little force applied, I cleaned it up and tried to make the pus stop coming. Was it bad that I popped it? Should I see a doctor? Will it get infected now that it’s open?

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      It has drained now. Nothing to worry. You may leave it as such. It’s likely to dry up with time. Just avoid friction over it.

      If, however, it pains or grows big, let us know.

  6. Prisca

    Hi my name is prisca for some months now ve been feeling itch around my vagina, I looked at my vagina using the mirror and I saw that around my vagina ie where my pubic hair is, it’s as if another skin grew on top it looks so disgusting and its causing me pain and itching..what infection is that and what should I do..thanks and am not a virgin

  7. Saarvi

    I am 20 n I saw a small pimple 3 days ago on the exterior edge of my labia..it is of flesh colour..pimple as such is painless but pains when I touch it..my periods ended a week ago n on my last day while it was itching down there I rubbed there while wearing the sanitary pad..now it is the size of a pea..no itching uptil now but it is still uncomfortable..what should I do?

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      May be you pulled a hair there, while rubbing.

      You may start using an antibiotic cream over it. Use mupirocin/ bactroban ointment, thrice daily for 3 to 5 days. Avoid friction over it while walking.

  8. Lain

    I have two small dots just below my vagina’s entrance. On more of the skin then the vaginal entrance, but near there.
    They have been there for a little while now, maybe a week or so they started when i was diagnosed with BV. and since i have BV, I’m taking medication for it right now.
    Before this, I was in a humid place. Michigan a long time back, 2 months back actually, where I had some pain, no pain urinating or anything! just pain when stretching the area out or sitting down on a toilet or even using number 2. but nothing when i did normal activities or even sitting for long periods of times, and it was bleeding very very lightly when i would wipe, or i felt like it stretched too much. I didn’t feel or see any bumps at that time. Just the slight bleeding, and pain when the area was stretched out. and no more bumps accumulated after the bleeding either!
    I have asked my past partners if they had any STD’s and they all say no. I’m getting tested, but wanted some opinions here or pointers to what i might be dealing with…
    Where I have been now is really humid, some days worse than others…
    These two bumps dyed down, and weren’t really causing a problem at all since i started my medication though… until just today. Randomly out of no where, it got a little itchy. Gross yes, but I itched it. It was an unexpected and big urge because of how much it itched. i felt two bumps in the same exact place arise.
    Then, blood came out.
    A lot of blood i’d say, no pus, no liquid just blood. I don’t have clusters, or anything that has pus in them, just two dots. I don’t see any kinds of liquid. It’s literally just bleeding or i mean, was bleeding. It stopped now!
    it hurts to touch them skin on skin, but touching them with underwear doesn’t hurt, sitting and using the restroom doesn’t hurt, no fever, no chills, no intense intense pain. just the crazy bleeding for a second, i did just shave there. i shave usually, so i don’t know. maybe a razor bump or ingrown hair? maybe my BV caused an infection? i’m unsure.

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Could be related to BV. Since you’re over with medicines for BV, try applying an antibiotic ointment over those bumps, may be mupirocin/ bacitracin. Let us know if they improve.

  9. Em

    I’m 17 and for a while I’ve been getting really itchy, pimple like spots that get really big and sore around my clitoris and around the pubic hair if they drain they stay as open sores then close up and sometimes reform, it can take a week for them to leave, they come and go usually one at a time. I also get discharge that is tinged green.
    I’ve never had sex and shower everyday, but I still get them.

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      This is very likely to be an infection, for which you need appropriate antibiotics. See a gyne at the earliest for diagnosis.

      Keep the area clean, as you’re already doing. Take care to maintain optimum pH down there. This would check the growth of infections there.

  10. Angelique

    Hi when I shower and wash my vagina I feel dozens of small bumps inside the opening of my vagina. It does not itch or anything like that but I am concerned. It feels like I’m pushing against a soft ball covered with small pimples. I am scared.

  11. C

    Hi I’m 23, I’ve been with fiancé for a few years, one day after intercourse I noticed some slight itching, wasn’t paying attention and scratched and felt a burning sensation when I looked I noticed a red sore on Labia Minora, which only stung if I touched it. A couple days later intercourse again and the next morning noticed I had several itchy red and burning bumps on mons pubis, they aren’t clustered together, I shaved the night before and just thought I had razor burn, until a few hours later and felt like whole vagina was burning/itching.

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      This is likely to be some infection. Any vaginal discharge? Check your underwear for this and let us know.

        1. Buddy M.D. Post author

          If there’s no discharge, this could be local inflammation/ allergy to some component used during sex, as condoms or lubricants/ due to friction or roughness during sex.

          Just keep the area clean by washing it with ample water. Dab dry and apply a thick emollient like bland coconut oil over the affected area. Do this thrice daily.

          If it doesn’t improve within 2 to 3 days, you’ll need to see a doctor to rule out infections.

  12. Anonymous

    Also notice some slight pain to left side of groin, maybe a swollen lymph node? Only hurt when push on it.

  13. Anon

    hi im 14 and have recently noticed a bump right at the top of where my vagina sort of starts, ive been using a warm compress but so far it hasnt really done anything. im pretty sure its a boil as i cant see a hair or anything but its somewhat big like 5mm x 5mm. i know it will go away eventually but is there anything else i can do to speed that up?

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Continue with the warm compress. You may also start using an antibiotic ointment over it, twice daily.

  14. BEVERLU

    Good day i have a small red dot on my labia it almost look like a blood bubble i did go to a dr and they did test for everything but it come back clean i use to shave good it be a ingrown hair

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Unlikely. It could be a blood blister. May have occurred due to friction over the area.

      Likely to regress on its own with time.

  15. Rae

    Hi, I’m 18 and I recently shaved down there. I got a lot of bumps there. Are those just razer bumps or ingrown hairs?

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      If you’ve got them within 2 to 3 days of shaving, they area likely to be razor bumps. Just keep the area well moisturized. They’ll regress on their own with time.

  16. Brione’

    I have about 4 or 5 bumps on the right side and outside of my vagina.. I do shave but not often. Also, I am sexually active if that helps. I use protection. Are they hair bumps? Should I not pop them? Should I go to a doctor?

  17. Anonymous Person

    I’m 14, imma virgin and I’m 100% not into sex. Never even had sexual feelings before. Tonight when I was going to the bathroom I noticed a small bump on my vagina. Doesn’t hurt, but it’s been kinda throbbing for a little now. Like I said I’m a virgin and I always want to be one, so I don’t know how it got there. I can’t see it and I can’t see it in a mirror or anything and I can’t get up and look. I’m going to tell my mom but I don’t know what it could be. I’ve never had pimples on my vagina before and I don’t think either of my parents has and STD they passed on to me through birth. It’s important to note that it could be throbbing because I touched it multiple times trying to find out what it was. I’m really paranoid.

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Likely to be a pimple, that has got infected. Throbbing pain indicates that it is infected.

      It’s common for virgins to get infected pimples. Infection is instilled in most cases due to scratching with your nails over the pimple.

      You may try warm compress over it thrice daily to help it soften down and drain out pus, if any. Also, start applying an antibiotic ointment over it. Mupirocin may be used thrice daily.

  18. Mortimer

    My wife has a small white bump or pimple about one half inch above her clitoris (about 10 o’clock), and below the hairline . It’s not inflamed and there is even little redness around it.
    What could this be, and do you think it is contagious?

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Likely to be a clogged gland. You may leave it as such. It may regress on its own with time. Avoid friction over it. This may infect it.

      No, it’s unlikely to be contagious.

  19. Ava

    Hi I’m an 18 year old female and for a long time I’ve had pimples on my vagina at first I thought they would go away on their own but some of them are starting to go darker and it’s beginning to be painful. Some have puss coming out as well, I’m panicked about what to do and was wondering if you could tell me what was happening and any remedies for it.

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Are you sexually active? Do you get your menses on time? Do you have pimples else where over your body/ face?

  20. Anonymous

    Hi I have had sex twice, i have a small red bump like a pimple near my vagina, i also have acne and pimple over my face, ive had two more bumps before that didnt hurt and was similar to skin color but was red at first then darker. my sex partner claimed to have a fever after we had sex and is experiencing pain in his testicles. ive only had two sexual partners, is this normal or an std??! im really worried.

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Though your lesions look like normal acne there, it would be better to get yourself by a gyne to be sure. STDs may express with symptoms after a lag phase. That’s common.

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  22. Herii

    Hi,
    I have a pimple like spring shape outer side of my viginal area where vegina ends , pimple is outside its color is red it pain sometimes slowly but when I take bath it irritate me for half an hour otherwise it don’t pain seldom it pain it is size increases first it was spring like and red my reasure touch while removing hair it bleeds and change shape in circle form like shape a green bean but color red it is hard. Please suggests me some cure , I use hydrozole( antifungal anti inflammatory) cream to cure it but in vain
    Please suggest me some cream available in Pakistan
    Thanks

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Start using Mupirocin ointment over it, thrice daily. Assure that one application of the ointment is done at night, so that the medicine gets a better chance to work.

      You may also try gentle warm compress over the pimple to reduce it.

  23. Anonymous

    Hello! I’m 15, and I have small white bumps (No red around them, and aren’t raised like a pimple. Not painful either.) on the inside of my labia majora. I have no idea what it is, and I haven’t been to a gynecologist yet so I’ve never asked. They are small, and I don’t want to try and pop them, as the skin down there is sensitive. What do you think they are, and how might I treat them?

  24. Anonymous

    Hi. I have a small red-ish bump on my vagina and this just happened only a week after my period. Sometimes it hurts sometimes it dosent i dont really know if its bad that it needs treatment or will it go away on its own. it just appeared 3 or 2 days ago

    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Likely to be a pimple. Just avoid friction over it. It’s likely to regress on its own with time.

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