Boils on Buttocks: Recurring Symptoms and Treatment - Verywell Health

A boil on your buttocks can make everyday activities like sitting, walking, or even lying down painful. Bacteria, including staphylococcus aureus, often referred to as staph, are likely to blame.

Here's everything you should know about how to treat a boil quickly and keep it from coming back. 

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Boils on Buttocks: Why They Form

Boils are painful, pus-filled lesions on your skin. They develop when a hair follicle becomes infected and that infection travels deeper into your skin. Medically, boils are known as furuncles. A group of them together is called a carbuncle.

Usually, the infection is caused by bacteria, especiallyStaphylococcus aureus and Group A Streptococcus (strep). These bacteria naturally occur on the surface of the skin, but can cause infection if they get into your hair follicles. 

Occasionally, boils are caused by fungus. 

Boils are more likely to occur in areas of the body that you shave and in areas that are covered by tight clothing, like underwear. Because of that, boils on buttocks are unfortunately very common.

What About Recurring Boils on or in Buttocks?

Unfortunately, once you have a boil, you're more likely to have another. About 10% of people with a boil will develop another one within a year. Boils can recur because the bacteria that caused the infection, usually staph or strep, is still on your skin and can cause a new infection if it reaches your hair follicles. 

A less common explanation for recurring boils is a condition called hidradenitis suppurativa, or acne inversa. It causes recurrent boils, including around the anus and boils on the buttocks. This condition usually emerges in a person's teens or early 20s.

Symptoms of Boils on the Buttocks

The symptoms of a boil on your butt cheek are:

  • A lump in the skin: It may become red, and get bigger with time.
  • Pain: The lump is painful, even when it's not being touched. 
  • Discharge: Pus or blood might ooze from the boil. 

Sometimes people with boils will also experience fever, fatigue, or generally not feeling well.

How to Treat Boils on Buttocks at Home

Do not pop a boil. The boil may pop on its own, which is fine, but trying to pop it can lead to a more severe infection.

Instead, try these home remedies for boils:

  • Use a warm compress: Hold a warm (but not hot) washcloth on the boil for ten minutes, four times a day. 
  • Wash with antibacterial soap: Cleansing the area around the boil is especially important if pus comes out. 
  • Cover the boil: Use gauze or a bandage to stop any discharge. 
  • Bath or shower: Bathing daily can help keep the infection from spreading. 
  • Use over-the-counter pain relievers: Tylenol (acetominophen), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other painkillers can help manage your discomfort. 
  • Use topical antibiotic cream: These creams can help fight the bacterial infection. 

At-home practices that can help prevent the spread of bacteria leading to boils include:

  • Wash your bedsheets and towels often.
  • Do not share towels or washcloths with others.
  • People within a household should wash their hands frequently.

Treatment for Recurring Boils

If you have recurring boils, consider seeing a healthcare provider. However, at-home treatments like bleach baths can sometimes treat and prevent boils from recurring. To do this, add one-half cup of bleach to a full bathtub. Soak in it for 10 minutes twice a week to kill harmful bacteria on the skin. This practice has been used for many years as a way to help with skin infections and is safe for children.

Symptoms That Warrant a Provider Visit 

You might feel embarrassed to call a healthcare provider about a boil on your buttocks. But sometimes boils require medical treatment. Reach out to a healthcare provider if:

  • The boil lasts for two weeks or longer.
  • You get recurrent boils.
  • You have many boils on your buttocks.
  • You have a fever.
  • The skin around the boil feels hot or is red.

People with underlying health conditions, including diabetes, and people with a compromised immune system should reach out to their healthcare provider if they develop a boil.

Summary

Having a boil on your buttocks is painful. Boils usually resolve on their own, but sometimes they need professional treatment. Using hot compresses, covering the boil, and controlling discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers can help.

If your boil doesn't go away within two weeks, or if you develop severe discomfort or a fever, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. Remember, there's no need to be embarrassed, since a boil on the butt cheek is probably something they've seen many times before. 

By Kelly Burch
Kelly Burch is has written about health topics for more than a decade. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and more.

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