What Should I Do If I Have a Lump on My Foot That Hurts When I Press It?

If you have a bump on your foot that hurts when pressed, it is important to take it seriously. This phenomenon may be a sign of a boil, which is a purulent infection of the hair follicle. Boils are often caused by bacterial infections, food allergies, poor hygiene, high stress, low resistance, wound infections, certain medications, thyroid diseases, and other reasons. Sometimes, boils can be dangerous and require timely treatment. Let's take a closer look at what to do if you have a bump on your foot that hurts when pressed.

What to Do If You Have a Bump on Your Foot That Hurts When Pressed

If you have a hard bump on your foot that hurts when pressed, it may be a boil. Boils are acute purulent inflammations of the deep hair follicles and surrounding tissues, often induced by Staphylococcus aureus infections. In the early stages, boils appear as inflammatory papules with obvious infiltration at the base, which later expand to form hard nodules surrounded by redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Treatment is primarily with topical medications, such as 20% ichthyol ointment, mupirocin ointment, and fusidic acid cream for early and non-suppurating lesions. Alternatively, macrolides, cephalosporins, and quinolones antibiotics can be prescribed. Additionally, it may also be considered as a sebaceous cyst, which itself has no symptoms but is prone to secondary infection, leading to inflammatory reactions such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Topical antibiotics such as compound polymyxin B cream and erythromycin ointment can be used, and surgical removal can be considered after the inflammation resolves.

What is a Boil

A boil is an acute purulent infection of a single hair follicle or sebaceous gland in the human skin caused by bacterial infection, usually Staphylococcus aureus. Boils are particularly prone to occur on the head, face, neck, armpits, and buttocks. Initially, boils present with redness, swelling, heat, and pain. As they mature, a small yellow-white pustule appears at the center, which ruptures spontaneously to discharge the pus and heal. However, improper handling, such as squeezing, can allow bacteria to enter the brain through the blood (such as the cavernous sinus or meninges), leading to serious complications and potentially life-threatening situations. Additionally, malnutrition and weak resistance can increase the risk of recurrent boils, making treatment more difficult. In traditional Chinese medicine, boils are considered to be caused by the invasion of heat toxins into the skin, belonging to the category of febrile ulceration and hence also known as "heat boils". Boils that are small but severe in reaction are referred to as "carbuncles".

Although boils may seem minor, it is important not to overlook their prevention and treatment.