Pimple on Scrotum—How to Treat

What’s worse than getting a pimple on your face? Getting one on a particular region of your body. Yep, we’re talking about getting a pimple on the scrotum.

Unfortunately, the scrotum is an area that is particularly susceptible to pimples. The warm, humid environment in your nether region is the perfect recipe for pores to become blocked and inflamed, resulting in an embarrassing pimple down there.

Here are a few things you need to know to treat a pimple on the scrotum:

• Pimples on the scrotum are often mistaken for sebaceous cysts or STD symptoms
• The best way to treat a pimple on the scrotum is by keeping the area clean
• Be careful when using acne creams to treat pimples on the scrotum

The good news is that pimples on the scrotum aren’t usually serious or difficult to treat. Below, we’ll discuss a few ways to get rid of pimples on the scrotum.

How to Treat a Pimple on the Scrotum

Unlike the pimple on your nose, which always seems to take eons to disappear, pimples on the scrotum will usually fade on their own without treatment. However, you may want to speed up the process with the following these steps:

1. Inspect Your Pimple Closely

The first thing you’ll want to do is to grab a mirror and get a closer look at your red bump. You want to make sure that it’s truly a pimple you’re dealing with and not something else.

If you’re not sexually active…

…and your bump is red, circular and has white pus, then it’s probably just a pimple. It’s even more probable that it’s just a pimple if you have an oily skin type.

However, your bump could also be a sebaceous cyst, which is similar to a pimple except that the bump is trapped deeper underneath the skin. Another possibility is that you’re dealing with an ingrown hair rather than a pimple. Ingrown hairs are often a combination of a poor shaving technique and having a curly hair type.

If you’re sexually active…

…and your pimple-like bump is crusting, oozing or looks like a blister, you may be dealing with a sexually-transmitted disease (STD) such as syphilis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, early symptoms of syphilis include one or two painless sores that pop up around the genitals.

2. Don’t Pop It

Whatever you do, don’t attempt to pop the pimple on your scrotum. Even if it has a white, pus-filled head, you need to resist the urge to pick and leave it alone.

Popping the pimple on your scrotum can increase your risk of infection. At the very least, it will make the spot red and painful.

3. Ditch Harsh Body Washes and Soaps

If pimples on the scrotum are a recurring problem, you may want to take a closer look at your body washes and soaps. Many body-cleansing products can throw off the pH balance of the skin, which trigger oil glands to go into overdrive and produce more oil.

Try replacing your dehydrating soaps with skin care products formulated for sensitive skin. Stay away from anything containing fragrances, dyes and parabens, which are notorious for causing skin reactions.

4. Keep the Area Clean and Dry

While sweat may not be a direct cause of pimples on the scrotum, it can lead to excess buildup that results in acne below the belt. Make sure you keep your scrotum dry and clean by washing it thoroughly in the shower and by wearing breathable fabrics for better airflow to the groin area.

If you have excessive sweating in your groin, you may want to see a doctor to rule out underlying medical conditions. Once your excessive sweating is fixed, you’ll likely see a reduction in the number of pimples you get on the scrotum.

5. Treat the Pimple with Salicylic Acid

Before you apply your men’s acne cream to the pimple on your scrotum, check the ingredients first. Although your acne cream may work well for sudden breakouts on your face, it might be a little too harsh for the delicate skin on your scrotum.

To play it safe with your nether regions, try using a Salicylic Acid-based acne cream, which studies have shown to be just as effective as Benzoyl Peroxide while being less irritating to the skin.

In fact, a recent study published in Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology found that 2 percent Salicylic Acid reduced pustules and papules just as well as a 5 percent Benzoyl Peroxide when used on patients with mild to moderate acne (see claim: “…2% SSA has a similar efficacy with 5%BPO +0.1%ADA in mild to moderate acne treatment.”) Despite these promising results, you should still perform a small patch test first to reduce your risk of potential skin irritation.

6. Use a Warm Compress

If the pimple on your scrotum is particularly painful, try holding a warm compress to the area. A warm compress will increase blood flow to the scrotum, which will reduce some of the pain.

Applying heat to the area can also bring a pimple to a head by opening the pore. Just remember to resist popping it! Let it drain naturally on its own time.

Know When to See a Doctor

Pimples on the scrotum aren’t in the same league as the pimples on the neck or between your eyebrows. Given their delicate location, you may want to get them looked at by a doctor sooner rather than later. A doctor can give you peace of mind that the bump on your scrotum is a pimple and nothing more.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Zheng, Yue, et al. “Efficacy and Safety of 2% Supramolecular Salicylic Acid Compared with 5% Benzoyl Peroxide/0.1% Adapalene in the Acne Treatment: A Randomized, Split-Face, Open-Label, Single-Center Study.” Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, vol. 38, no. 1, Mar. 2019, pp. 48–54. PubMed, doi:10.1080/15569527.2018.1518329.