Has a lump come out in your groin? Is it red? Does it hurt when you squeeze? This is the most common and is usually an injury caused by an infection. A small cut, for example, when waxing your groin, can cause this infection and the consequent inflammation of the lymph nodes in this area, which causes the lump to appear.
What is an inguinal node?
They are lymph nodes located in the groin area. The body's lymph nodes are part of the body's defenses and their function is to “filter” the lymph –the fluid between the body's cells– to detect bacteria or viruses and to be able to give an immune response that neutralizes them.
Cystic hair, a very common lump
It has happened to all of us, although to some more often than to others. If a hair becomes ingrown, a redness and a lump appear around it. What to do?
- Ideally, go to the pharmacy and get an antibacterial cream or one with steroids against inflammation and cover the lump to prevent it from becoming superinfected in contact with clothing.
- While you have this injury, avoid waxing again, but do exfoliate the area frequently to help the hair disappear.
- If after a few days not only does it not disappear but it gets bigger, go to the doctor.
- But don't try to remove it yourself with a needle or eyebrow tweezers, because you can aggravate the problem.
- If it happens a lot, consider getting a permanent hair removal, which ends the problem.
What if the lump in the groin doesn't hurt when squeezing?
In this case it may have other causes instead of infection. It can be:
- Cyst. These lumps are usually round, small, whitish or slightly yellowish in color, and you can easily move them as they are under the skin. They don't hurt unless they get infected. In general they are not important, but if it grows in size, becomes infected or painful, talk to your doctor, who will surely remove it.
- Inguinal hernia. If the abdominal wall of the inguinal area breaks at some point, you may notice a lump because the small intestine (or another organ, although this is the most common) protrudes through it. The inguinal hernia can be of birth, that is, congenital, or occur when older and is more common in men than in women. In addition to noticing a lump, you may also feel pain, in the case of men in the testicles and in the case of women in the vulva. Treatment for hernia is surgical.
- Malignant tumor. It is a hard lump, which does not move through the skin, but remains anchored and does not usually cause pain. It can be due to lymphoma, vulvar, vaginal, penile, testicular, or rectal cancer. Treatment is usually surgical, supported by chemotherapy.
What is a tumor in the groin for a doctor?
Be careful, it is not the same as for you. If when you go to the doctor he tells you about a tumor, don't be alarmed. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer. Doctors always call a lump a tumor and distinguish between those that are benign and those that are malignant, which in this case are due to cancer. But for them - contrary to common mortals - all lumps are tumors.
