A hard, painful abscess has developed on the outer side of the left thigh, with pain upon palpation, lasting for six months.
Disease description:
I have a hard, pus-filled lump on the outside of my left thigh that has been present for six months and is painful when pressed. What could this be, and what should I do?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wenmin
A hard, pus-filled lump on the outer side of the left thigh persisting for six months with tenderness upon pressure may be caused by a skin infection such as a furuncle or carbuncle. Initially, it could have started as an infection of the hair follicle or sebaceous gland that, without timely treatment, progressively worsened and developed into an abscess. It could also be an infected sebaceous cyst—when the duct of a sebaceous gland becomes blocked, a cyst may form, which is prone to secondary bacterial infection.
If the condition is a simple skin infection such as a furuncle, before the abscess has fully formed, topical antibiotic ointments such as mupirocin ointment may be applied locally along with oral antibiotic therapy. If the abscess has already formed, incision and drainage may be necessary to remove the pus and promote healing. In cases of an infected sebaceous cyst, after controlling the infection, surgical removal of the cyst might be required to prevent recurrence.
During treatment, it is important to maintain local cleanliness, avoid contact with water, and change dressings regularly. Regarding diet, one should eat lightly and avoid spicy or irritating foods, as well as abstain from smoking and drinking alcohol.
