Genital Bumps: What Causes Them? A Dermatologist Explains 10 Types in Women and Men, Which Are Contagious, and When to See a Doctor
Genital bumps (genital lesions) are bumps, lumps or blisters that appear on the labia, vaginal opening, penis, scrotum or groin. Causes range from normal skin variations that need no treatment at all, such as Fordyce spots and pearly penile papules (PPE), to folliculitis, Bartholin gland cysts, and sexually transmitted infections such as herpes, genital warts and syphilis.
Four things help tell what kind of bump it is: how it looks (pus-filled, clear blister, rough or smooth), whether it hurts or itches, how long it has been there, and any sexual contact in the past 3 months. This article separates bumps into 10 types that dermatologists see often, describes each one, names the medicines doctors commonly use, and explains the signs that mean you should see a doctor today. If your main symptom is itching without obvious bumps, read Genital itching: what causes it as well.
How many kinds of genital bumps are there, and what to check before worrying
Most bumps in the intimate area are not serious. From experience in the clinic, the most common cause is folliculitis from shaving or waxing, followed by normal skin features that someone has only just noticed, such as Fordyce spots, which are found in about 70–80% of adults. Sexually transmitted infections are less common, but they must be identified because they are treatable and treatment prevents spread to partners.
Before guessing what it is, answer these four questions
Appearance: a pus head like a pimple, clustered clear blisters, a rough cauliflower-like surface, a smooth shiny bump with a central dimple, or a firm-edged sore
Symptoms: pain, burning, itching, or no symptoms at all
Duration: appeared within a few days, has been there for months, or has been there as long as you can remember
Risk: a new partner, sex without a condom, or a partner with symptoms in the past 3 months
Bumps that have been there for years, appear in a symmetrical line and cause no symptoms are usually normal. Bumps that appear within 2–3 weeks after sex with a new partner should always be examined.
Quick guide to telling genital bumps apart by appearance
Red bumps with a pus head at the base of a hair, mildly itchy or sore: folliculitis or ingrown hairs
Red, swollen, hot, very painful lump 1–3 cm: an abscess, or in women, if it is on one side of the lower labia, think of an inflamed Bartholin gland cyst
Many small yellow-white bumps 1–3 mm with no symptoms: Fordyce spots
Small flesh-colored bumps in a row around the rim of the head of the penis: PPE
Clustered clear blisters on a red base, burning, then breaking into shallow sores: herpes
Flesh-colored or brown bumps with a rough surface that slowly increase in number: genital warts
Clear, smooth, shiny, raised bumps 2–5 mm with a central dimple: molluscum contagiosum
A single firm-edged sore or bump that does not hurt: primary syphilis
Red bumps that itch intensely at night on the penis or scrotum: scabies
Smooth, round lump under the skin that is not tender: a cyst, or if it is a protruding growth in the groin, a skin tag
This table is only a first step in thinking it through. Many bumps look very similar, especially early genital warts versus PPE, and a ruptured herpes blister versus a syphilis sore, and even doctors need additional tests in some cases.
Pimple-like bumps on the genitals: folliculitis and razor bumps after shaving
Appearance: red bumps 1–5 mm with a white-yellow pus head at the base of a hair, scattered over the pubic area, groin or outer labia. Some show a curled hair under the skin. Mild itch or soreness. It occurs in both women and men and is the most common reason people search for “pimple-like bump on female genitals”.
Cause: folliculitis, mostly caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria entering through small skin breaks from shaving, waxing or friction from tight underwear. Razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis) occur when a hair cut at an angle grows back curling into the skin. Hot, humid weather and sweat make it worse.
Severity/urgency: low. Single bumps usually go away on their own in 7–10 days if you stop shaving and keep the area clean, but squeezing or picking can lead to an abscess.
When to see a doctor: the bumps keep increasing, come back every time you shave, grow into a painful lump larger than 1 cm, or last longer than 2 weeks. Read more at Folliculitis: causes and treatment that clears it without recurrence and Ingrown hairs: what causes them
Red, swollen, painful abscess-like lump in the groin, pubic area or outer labia
Appearance: a red, swollen, hot, very painful lump 1–3 cm. It starts as a small bump and grows over 2–3 days, softens in the center and shows a pus head on days 4–7. It may burst and drain pus by itself.
Cause: a boil (furuncle) is a bacterial infection deep in the hair follicle, often following folliculitis. Risk factors include shaving, moisture, diabetes and higher body weight. If boils keep returning in the same place in the groin or armpit, come and go, and leave tracts of pus and scarring, think of hidradenitis suppurativa, which is treated differently.
Severity/urgency: moderate. A boil smaller than 1 cm often bursts and settles with warm compresses, but a large, very painful boil, or one with fever, needs to be drained by a doctor.
When to see a doctor: a lump larger than 1–2 cm, fever, chills, redness spreading around the lump, diabetes, or more than 2–3 episodes a year. Read more at Boils and abscesses under the skin: causes and Hidradenitis suppurativa
A lump on one side of the lower labia: Bartholin gland cyst (women only)
Appearance: a soft, round lump on the inner labia, at the bottom of the vaginal opening, around the 4 or 8 o’clock position, usually on one side and 1–3 cm. A simple cyst is painless or just feels tight when sitting or during sex, but if infected and turned into an abscess, it becomes swollen, red and very painful within 2–4 days, making walking or sitting difficult. This is the main reason behind the search “lump on female genitals that looks like a boil”.
Cause: the Bartholin glands are two small glands that make lubricating mucus. When a gland duct is blocked, mucus builds up into a cyst (Bartholin cyst), and if bacteria get in it becomes an abscess (Bartholin abscess). It is common in women aged 20–30 and is mostly not caused by a sexually transmitted infection.
Severity/urgency: a small painless cyst can be watched, but a very painful Bartholin abscess should be seen within 24–48 hours because it usually needs to be drained.
When to see a doctor: a very painful lump, fever, a rapidly growing lump, recurrence, or a new lump in a woman over 40, in which case the doctor often takes a biopsy to rule out Bartholin gland cancer, which is very rare but must not be missed.
Many small yellow-white bumps with no symptoms: Fordyce spots
Appearance: small 1–3 mm yellow-white or flesh-colored bumps, smooth and without a head, appearing in groups of dozens on the inner labia, scrotum or penile shaft. They are more visible when the skin is stretched, and they do not hurt, itch or change over time.
Cause: Fordyce spots are normal oil glands that open directly onto the skin without passing through a hair follicle. They occur in about 70–80% of adults and become more noticeable from the teenage years because hormones stimulate the oil glands. The same spots are also found on the lips. They are not a disease, not an infection and not contagious.
Severity/urgency: not serious and need no treatment. Do not squeeze or burn them off yourself, because this causes wounds and scars that look worse than the original bumps.
When to see a doctor: when you are not sure whether it is Fordyce spots or warts, or the bumps start to grow, redden, hurt or change shape. An examination with a skin magnifier (dermoscopy) can tell them apart in a few minutes.
Small bumps in a row around the head of the penis: PPE (men only)
Appearance: flesh-colored or pearly-white dome-shaped or finger-like bumps 1–3 mm, arranged in 1–3 even, symmetrical rows around the rim of the head of the penis (the corona). They do not hurt or itch. In women, a similar condition called vestibular papillomatosis consists of small bumps in a line on the inner labia and vaginal opening.
Cause: PPE, or pearly penile papules, are a normal anatomical feature found in about 14–48% of men. They are more common in uncircumcised men and usually become noticeable after the teenage years. They are not caused by the HPV virus, are unrelated to hygiene or sexual activity, and are not contagious.
Severity/urgency: not serious and need no medical treatment. Some people ask to have them removed for confidence reasons, and the doctor may use a carbon dioxide laser or cryotherapy, weighing the risk of scarring and pigment changes, and always assessing first.
When to see a doctor: if the bumps are not in a row, are scattered, have a rough surface or are increasing quickly, because they may be genital warts, which the doctor can tell apart by examination and magnified inspection. Never apply over-the-counter wart-removing medicine to PPE.
Clustered clear blisters, burning, then breaking into sores: genital herpes
Appearance: it starts with burning, itching or sharp local pain for 1–2 days, then several clear blisters 1–3 mm appear in a cluster on a red base. The blisters break easily into shallow, very painful sores, especially when urinating. The first episode is usually severe and may come with fever, body aches and swollen groin lymph nodes. Later episodes are usually milder and appear in the same place.
Cause: the herpes simplex virus (type 2 and type 1), spread by skin and mucous membrane contact during sex, including oral sex. The incubation period is 2–12 days, about 4 days on average. After infection the virus hides in nerve ganglia and can flare up again when you are run down, stressed or having your period.
Severity/urgency: moderate. The first episode heals in 2–3 weeks, and recurrences heal in 5–10 days. Antiviral medicine works better when started within the first 72 hours after blisters appear, so do not wait long.
When to see a doctor: any time you suspect a first episode, you cannot urinate because of pain, you have a high fever or severe headache, you are pregnant, especially in the last trimester, or you have more than 6 episodes a year. Read more at Genital herpes: what it looks like, how many days it takes to heal, and how it spreads
Rough, cauliflower-like bumps that slowly increase in number: genital warts
Appearance: flesh-colored, pink or brown bumps with a rough or frond-like surface like cauliflower, from 1 mm up to clusters several centimeters across. They can appear on the labia, vaginal opening, around the anus, on the penis and on the scrotum. Most do not hurt, but some itch or bleed with friction. Unlike PPE, they appear in an irregular pattern and keep increasing in number.
Cause: the human papillomavirus (HPV), types 6 and 11, which are low-cancer-risk types, spread by skin contact during sex. The incubation period is long, from 3 weeks to 8 months, so it is often impossible to tell who it came from. Condoms reduce the risk but do not fully prevent it, because the virus is on skin the condom does not cover.
Severity/urgency: not an emergency, but treatment is advised because warts increase in number and can spread to partners. About 20–30% clear on their own within 1 year, but about 30% come back within the first 3 months after treatment.
When to see a doctor: when you see new rough bumps on the genitals, a wart that bleeds, hardens or ulcerates, or you are pregnant. Read how to tell them apart from skin tags and PPE in detail at Genital warts: causes, and how a dermatologist tells them apart
Clear, smooth, shiny bumps with a central dimple: molluscum contagiosum
Appearance: round, raised flesh-colored or pearly-white bumps with a smooth shiny surface like a grain of cooked rice, 2–5 mm, with a small central dimple (umbilication). Pressing may release a thick white core. In adults they usually appear on the pubic area, inner thighs and groin, from a few bumps to dozens. They do not hurt, though some people have mild itching.
Cause: the molluscum contagiosum virus, a poxvirus. In children it spreads by ordinary contact, but in adults with genital bumps it is usually spread sexually. The incubation period is 2–7 weeks. Shaving can spread the virus in a line.
Severity/urgency: low. Most clear on their own in 6–12 months, some take up to 2 years, but treatment reduces spread to other areas and to partners.
When to see a doctor: bumps that increase quickly, appear on the face, or are unusually numerous, which in adults can be a sign of low immunity. Doctors usually advise HIV and syphilis testing as well. Read more at Molluscum contagiosum: how is it treated?
A single firm-edged sore or bump that does not hurt: primary syphilis
Appearance: it starts as a small red bump that breaks down into a round sore with a raised, firm edge (chancre) 1–2 cm across, with a clean base, usually just one sore. The key point is that it is painless, so many people ignore it. In women the sore may be inside the vagina or on the cervix and not visible at all. Groin lymph nodes are enlarged but not tender.
Cause: the bacterium Treponema pallidum, spread by sexual contact. The incubation period is 10–90 days, about 21 days on average.
Severity/urgency: high. Although the sore heals by itself in 3–6 weeks, the infection has not gone away. Untreated, it moves into the second stage with a rash on the body, palms and soles, and over the long term it can damage the heart, brain and nerves. In pregnancy the infection can pass to the baby.
When to see a doctor: any time you have a painless genital sore, or any sore that does not heal within 2 weeks. The doctor will take a blood test for VDRL or RPR together with TPHA. For the symptoms of the next stage, see What does a secondary syphilis rash look like?
Red bumps that itch intensely at night on the penis or scrotum: scabies
Appearance: red bumps or raised nodules 3–10 mm on the penile shaft, head of the penis and scrotum, with intense itching especially at night. There are often itchy bumps between the fingers, on the wrists, around the navel and in the armpits as well. People in the same household or sexual partners often have similar itching. In women, scabies tends to appear on the nipples, around the waist and on the buttocks more than on the labia.
Cause: the scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei), which burrows in the skin and spreads through prolonged close skin contact, including sex and sharing a bed. With a first infestation, itching starts 2–6 weeks after infection. Raised nodules on the male genitals are a distinctive feature that helps diagnose scabies.
Severity/urgency: not dangerous but miserable, and it does not clear on its own. Everyone in the household must be treated at the same time. After treatment, nodules on the genitals may keep itching for several weeks, which does not mean the treatment failed.
When to see a doctor: night-time itching for more than 1 week together with genital bumps, or household members itching at the same time. Read more about how to recognize it at Scabies: causes, and what night-time itching of scabies is like
Round lumps under the skin, skin tags and other bumps that can occur
Besides the 10 types above, there is another group of bumps that are common and mostly harmless.
Cyst under the skin (epidermoid cyst): a smooth, round lump 3 mm–2 cm under the skin, not tender when pressed. It is common on the scrotum (often several) and the outer labia. If it is not inflamed it needs no treatment. If it becomes inflamed repeatedly or bothers you, the doctor can remove the whole sac. Read more at Lumps under the skin: what causes them
Skin tag: a soft, stalked flap of skin in the groin or upper-thigh fold. It is common in people with higher body weight and those with diabetes. It is not contagious. Read more at Skin tags: what causes them
Small red-purple dots (angiokeratoma): bumps 1–4 mm, dark red to purple-black, on the scrotum or labia. They become more common with age and are harmless, but may bleed when scratched.
Fungal rash in the groin: not a single bump but a red rash with a clear scaly edge and intense itching, spreading out from the groin. Read more at Jock itch: what causes it
How bumps on the female genitals differ from bumps on the male genitals
Most causes occur in both sexes, but some are found in only one sex, and the locations differ.
Women only: Bartholin gland cysts and abscesses (one side of the lower labia) and vestibular papillomatosis (small bumps in a line on the inner labia)
Men only: PPE around the rim of the head of the penis, and the raised bumps of scabies on the penis, which are much more distinctive than in women
Bumps on the outer labia: the most common causes are folliculitis after shaving or waxing, ingrown hairs, cysts and molluscum contagiosum, because the outer labia have hair and oil glands like other skin
Bumps on the inner labia and vaginal opening: Fordyce spots, vestibular papillomatosis, herpes and genital warts
Bumps on the penis and scrotum: PPE, Fordyce spots, cysts, angiokeratoma, herpes, warts and syphilis sores
In women, sores or warts may be deep inside the vagina or on the cervix where you cannot see them yourself. If you also have abnormal vaginal discharge, bleeding after sex or pain during sex, you should have a pelvic examination as well.
Which genital bumps need a doctor today
Most bumps can wait for an appointment, but the following should be seen by a doctor within 24 hours.
A swollen, red, painful lump that grows quickly within 1–2 days or is larger than 2 cm, especially on the lower labia (Bartholin abscess) or in the groin
Fever, chills, or redness spreading out from the lump, which suggests the infection is spreading into the tissue (cellulitis)
Unable to urinate, or pain so bad you avoid urinating, which can happen in a first herpes episode
Blisters or sores during pregnancy, especially close to delivery
People with low immunity such as poorly controlled diabetes, HIV infection, or taking immunosuppressive medicine
And the following should see a doctor within 1–2 weeks and should not wait longer.
A painless sore, or any sore that does not heal within 2 weeks
Rough bumps that are increasing in number, or bumps you are not sure are warts
A bump or lump that bleeds, hardens or changes color and does not go away within 4 weeks, especially in people over 50, to rule out skin cancer and vulvar cancer, which are uncommon but must not be missed
Any bump after unprotected sex with a new partner in the past 3 months
What not to do when you have genital bumps
Do not squeeze, pick or pierce the bump yourself, whether it is a pus bump or a blister, because this pushes the infection deeper and spreads it, and with herpes it slows healing.
Do not use wart-burning medicine or peeling products sold for warts on the hands and feet, such as products with a high concentration of salicylic acid. The skin on the genitals is very thin, and these can burn it into a wound.
Do not apply steroid creams or multi-ingredient creams yourself before you know the cause. Steroids make fungal infections and herpes spread, and make diagnosis harder for the doctor.
Stop shaving or waxing the area temporarily until the bumps settle. If necessary, trim with clippers instead of a razor.
Avoid sexual activity of every kind, including oral sex, until the cause is known. If you are still unsure, at least use a condom.
Do not buy antibiotics to take yourself, because the medicines used for boils, herpes and syphilis are different groups. Taking the wrong one may suppress syphilis symptoms temporarily without actually treating it.
How a doctor examines genital bumps
Most examinations are short and painless. The dermatologist starts by asking about your history, how long the bump has been there and your risks, then examines the bump with the naked eye and a skin magnifier (dermoscopy), which clearly helps tell PPE, Fordyce spots, genital warts and molluscum contagiosum apart.
Additional tests that may be done include
Swabbing or scraping a blister for testing for herpes virus by PCR or Tzanck smear
Blood tests for syphilis (VDRL or RPR with TPHA) and HIV when there is a sore or a risk, repeated after 6–12 weeks if the risk was very recent, because the blood result may not yet be positive
Skin scraping examined under a microscope for scabies mites or fungus
A small skin biopsy when the bump is unclear, does not respond to treatment, or looks suspicious
Treating each type of genital bump, and the medicines doctors commonly use
Treatment depends entirely on the cause. The following is the approach doctors commonly use, to help you understand which medicine each condition uses and for how long. The actual choice and dose of medicine is the doctor’s decision after examination.
Folliculitis: wash with 2–4% chlorhexidine soap once a day and apply an antibiotic such as 1% clindamycin twice a day or 2% mupirocin 2–3 times a day for 7–10 days. If widespread, the doctor may give an oral medicine such as cephalexin 500 mg four times a day for 5–7 days, and you must stop shaving during treatment.
Boil: apply a warm compress for 10–15 minutes, 3–4 times a day. If the lump is soft with pus and larger than 1 cm, the doctor will drain it under local anesthetic and give oral antibiotics when there is fever or spreading redness.
Bartholin cyst: for a small painless cyst, a warm-water sitz bath for 10–15 minutes 2–3 times a day for 3–4 days. If it is an abscess, the doctor will drain it and leave a small drainage tube (Word catheter) in place for 4–6 weeks, or perform marsupialization (surgically opening the cyst) in recurrent cases, which reduces the chance of recurrence.
Fordyce spots and PPE: no treatment is needed because they are normal features. Removal is an option for peace of mind only.
Herpes: for a first episode, acyclovir 400 mg three times a day or valacyclovir 1 g twice a day for 7–10 days. For recurrences, valacyclovir 500 mg twice a day for 3 days, started as early as possible from the first burning sensation. If recurrences reach 6 or more a year, the doctor may give valacyclovir 500 mg once a day continuously to suppress them. Antiviral creams alone work very little for genital herpes.
Genital warts: cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen every 1–2 weeks, 80–90% trichloroacetic acid applied by the doctor once a week, or a home-applied medicine such as 5% imiquimod applied at bedtime 3 times a week and washed off after 6–10 hours for up to 16 weeks, or 0.5% podophyllotoxin applied twice a day for 3 days then stopped for 4 days, repeated up to 4 cycles. The last two creams must not be used in pregnancy. Large warts may need to be cut out or treated with a carbon dioxide laser, with the doctor always assessing the risk of scarring first.
Molluscum contagiosum: cryotherapy, scraping out with a small instrument (curettage), or a medicine that blisters the bump so it falls off, as directed by the doctor. It usually needs 2–3 sessions 2–4 weeks apart, because new bumps that were incubating will gradually appear afterward.
Primary syphilis: a single intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units. If allergic to penicillin and not pregnant, doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for 14 days, followed by blood tests at 6 and 12 months to check that the VDRL level has fallen at least 4-fold.
Scabies: apply 5% permethrin cream over the whole body from the neck down to the toes, including the genitals and under the nails, leave for 8–14 hours and wash off, then repeat after 7 days. Household members and sexual partners must apply it at the same time. Wash bed linen in hot water. For raised nodules on the penis that still itch after treatment, the doctor may give a short course of steroid cream. In some cases the doctor uses oral ivermectin 200 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, repeated after 7–14 days.
Signs that treatment is working: pus bumps settle in 5–7 days, herpes sores dry in 7–10 days, warts decrease after 3–4 treatments, and scabies itching clearly lessens in 2–4 weeks. If it does not go this way, go back to the doctor for reassessment, because the first diagnosis may not have been the real cause.
Do partners need testing, and how do you prevent recurrence
If the bumps are caused by a sexually transmitted infection, partners from the past 3 months should be tested (for primary syphilis, count back 90 days) even without symptoms, because herpes, warts and syphilis can be passed on without visible bumps. Fordyce spots, PPE, cysts and Bartholin cysts are not contagious, and partners do not need testing.
Evidence-based ways to reduce risk include
Use a condom every time. It clearly reduces the risk of herpes, warts and syphilis, though it does not protect 100%.
Get the HPV vaccine that covers types 6 and 11. It prevents about 90% of genital warts and also prevents cervical cancer. It works better when given before sexual activity begins, but adults still benefit.
Have regular screening for sexually transmitted infections when you have a new partner.
Care for the skin to reduce folliculitis: trim hair instead of shaving close to the skin, shave in the direction of hair growth if you do shave, wear loose cotton underwear and change clothes after sweating.
Genital bumps during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the blood vessels and glands in the genital area expand, so genital warts can grow faster, Bartholin cysts and varicose veins of the labia are more common, and herpes that first appears close to delivery can pass to the baby. A pregnant woman with a new genital bump should always tell her prenatal care provider and should not use the wart creams imiquimod or podophyllotoxin herself. A syphilis blood test is already a standard part of prenatal care.
In short
Most genital bumps are not dangerous. The most common are folliculitis after shaving and normal features such as Fordyce spots and PPE, which are not contagious and need no treatment.
Clustered clear burning blisters suggest herpes, rough bumps that increase in number suggest genital warts, smooth shiny bumps with a central dimple suggest molluscum contagiosum, and a firm-edged painless sore suggests syphilis.
A swollen painful lump on one side of the lower labia in a woman is often a Bartholin cyst or abscess. Bumps that itch at night on the penis suggest scabies.
Do not squeeze or pick, do not use wart-burning products sold for the hands and feet, and do not apply steroids yourself before you know the cause.
See a doctor today if a swollen painful lump grows quickly, you have a fever, you cannot urinate, or you are pregnant, and book an exam within 1–2 weeks if you have a painless sore, a sore that does not heal in 2 weeks, or a new partner.
If it is a sexually transmitted infection, partners from the past 3 months should be tested too, and the HPV vaccine prevents about 90% of genital warts.
Frequently asked questions about genital bumps
What causes pimple-like bumps on female genitals?
The most common cause is folliculitis or ingrown hairs after shaving or waxing, which appear as red bumps with a pus head at the base of a hair on the outer labia and pubic area. They usually settle in 7–10 days if you stop shaving, wash with mild soap and do not squeeze. Next are cysts under the skin and molluscum contagiosum, which are smooth shiny bumps with a central dimple. If the bumps keep increasing, last longer than 2 weeks, include clear blisters, or grow into a painful lump larger than 1 cm, see a doctor to tell the conditions apart. For bacterial folliculitis, the doctor may give 1% clindamycin or 2% mupirocin for 7–10 days.
What should I do about a lump on the female genitals that looks like a boil?
If the lump is on one side of the lower labia near the vaginal opening, it is usually a Bartholin cyst or abscess. If it is small and only mildly painful, take a warm-water sitz bath for 10–15 minutes 2–3 times a day for 3–4 days. Do not squeeze or pierce it yourself. If it grows quickly, hurts so much that sitting or walking is difficult, comes with fever, or is larger than 2 cm, see a doctor within 24–48 hours, because it usually needs draining and a small drainage tube left in place for 4–6 weeks. If the lump is in the groin or pubic area, it is usually a boil from a hair follicle, which can also start with a warm compress 3–4 times a day.
Is a painless bump on the female genitals dangerous?
Mostly not. Painless, non-itchy bumps that are common include Fordyce spots, which are normal oil glands, vestibular papillomatosis, cysts under the skin and skin tags, which are not contagious and need no treatment. But two conditions can be painless and need testing: genital warts, which are rough bumps that slowly increase in number, and primary syphilis, which is a single firm-edged painless sore or bump that heals by itself in 3–6 weeks while the infection remains. If a new bump appears within 3 months of a new partner, or you have a painless sore, see a doctor and have a blood test for syphilis.
What could a painful bump on the female genitals be?
Painful bumps are usually inflammation or infection. They include folliculitis and boils, which are red bumps with pus, an inflamed Bartholin cyst that has become an abscess, which is a swollen painful lump on one side of the lower labia, and herpes, which is clustered clear burning blisters that break into shallow sores and hurt a lot when urinating. Herpes needs antiviral medicine such as acyclovir or valacyclovir, which works better when started within 72 hours, so see a doctor early. If the pain is so severe you cannot urinate, you have a fever, or the lump is growing quickly, see a doctor today.
What are PPE bumps, are they contagious, and do they need treatment?
PPE, or pearly penile papules, are flesh-colored or pearly-white bumps 1–3 mm arranged in 1–3 even rows around the rim of the head of the penis. They are a normal feature found in about 14–48% of men. They are not caused by HPV, are not contagious, are unrelated to hygiene or sexual activity, and do not turn into cancer, so they need no treatment. Never apply wart-burning medicine, because it will cause burns. If you want them removed for confidence, the doctor may use a carbon dioxide laser or cryotherapy, which carry a risk of scarring and pigment changes. If the bumps are scattered, rough or increasing, have a doctor examine them to tell them apart from genital warts.
How are bumps on the male genitals treated, and can I treat them myself?
You can treat it yourself only when it is clearly mild folliculitis after shaving: stop shaving, wash with mild soap, do not squeeze, and wait 7–10 days. PPE and Fordyce spots need nothing. Other bumps should be examined by a doctor first, because treatments differ greatly. Herpes uses oral antiviral medicine, genital warts use cryotherapy or 5% imiquimod cream, syphilis uses a single benzathine penicillin injection, and scabies uses 5% permethrin cream over the whole body twice, 7 days apart. Buying creams or antibiotics to use yourself without knowing the cause may cause burns, temporarily suppress symptoms, and let you spread the infection without realizing it.
Read more skin condition articles at All skin condition articles
Written by Dr. Patara Voravutinon, Dermatologist · Last reviewed October 25, 2026
The information in this article is general knowledge and is not a diagnosis or a personal prescription. Many genital bumps look alike and must be examined by a doctor. The choice of medicine, dose and length of treatment is the doctor’s decision. Results vary from person to person, and every medicine or procedure can have side effects.
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