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Vulvar Pimple, Simple Acne or Bartholin's Cyst? Causes of Recurring Pain

Have you ever felt a pimple-like bump on your vulva suddenly and felt anxious? At first, you might have thought it was nothing, but as it grew and pain began to be felt, many people worry if it's a serious disease. A vulvar pimple can be a simple folliculitis, but it can also be an early symptom of a Bartholin's cyst or Bartholin's gland inflammation, which is relatively common in women, so accurate differentiation and appropriate treatment are important. Especially when sitting or walking, the pain often intensifies, causing great discomfort in daily life.

💡 [Key Answer] 3 most common causes of vulvar pimples: ① Bartholin's Cyst/Inflammation: Blockage and inflammation of the Bartholin's gland ② Folliculitis: Bacterial infection of hair follicles ③ Contact Dermatitis: Skin inflammation caused by external irritants Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic resolves inflammation and prevents recurrence by restoring the body's fundamental immune environment through constitutional improvement.

The main causes of pimples or bumps on the vulva are various. Most commonly, there is 'folliculitis' caused by bacterial infection in hair follicles, and 'contact dermatitis' caused by contact with specific substances. However, what women should pay particular attention to are 'Bartholin's cysts' and 'Bartholin's gland inflammation.'

The Bartholin's glands are secretory glands located on both sides of the vaginal opening, playing an important role in secreting lubricant during intercourse. When the outlet of this Bartholin's gland is blocked, the secretate accumulates and swells like a water cyst, which is called a Bartholin's cyst. When the cyst is small, there are often no symptoms, so it is easy to mistake it for a simple pimple. However, if a bacterial infection occurs here, the inflammation worsens, leading to swelling and pain, developing into Bartholin's gland inflammation (Bartholin's gland abscess). In this case, extreme pain along with fever, swelling, and dyspareunia may occur, making it difficult even to sit or walk.

Bartholin's cysts or gland inflammation are characterized by frequent recurrence once they occur. General treatment includes antibiotic prescription or surgical procedures such as incision and drainage if the inflammation is severe, but this is a method of temporarily removing the accumulated pus, making it difficult to prevent fundamental recurrence. According to research, the recurrence rate of Bartholin's abscess reaches up to 38%, and recurrence after simple drainage is more commonly reported.

The main reason why Bartholin's cysts appear repeatedly like this lies in the decline of immunity and the imbalance of circulation around the reproductive organs. Overwork, stress, lack of sleep, and high-calorie diets weaken systemic immunity, which in turn leads to a decrease in blood flow circulation in the perineum and pelvic cavity, easily creating an inflammatory environment. When our body's immune system weakens, it becomes easy to be infected even by small bacteria and inflammation tends to become chronic. Rather than simple symptom relief, it is important to rectify the overall immune balance of our body and improve the constitutional environment that is prone to inflammation.

In Oriental medicine, Bartholin's cysts are viewed within categories such as 'Um-chang (陰瘡)' and 'Um-jong (陰腫),' and are not seen merely as local inflammation. It is interpreted as occurring due to a complex interplay of imbalances in the body's overall circulation of Qi and Blood, accumulation of waste products like Damp-Heat (濕熱) or Phlegm (痰飮), and a decline in immunity. In other words, the focus is not only on extinguishing the symptoms but also on improving the constitution so that the body can overcome inflammation on its own and not recur.

A clinical study by a research team at Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine, published in the Journal of Korean Obstetrics & Gynecology in 2025, reported that as a result of applying combined Oriental medicine treatment (Boheo-tang-gagam-bang and acupuncture) to 3 patients with ovarian cysts, the ovarian cysts completely disappeared on follow-up ultrasound in all patients, and symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, urinary discomfort, and frequency were significantly improved. The researchers concluded that these results suggest that Oriental medicine treatment can be a safe and effective treatment option for non-neoplastic ovarian cysts. Although this study is about ovarian cysts, it is clinical evidence showing the occurrence of cysts within the female reproductive system and the effectiveness of Oriental medicine treatment, which aligns with the way Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic approaches Bartholin's cysts.

Furthermore, a case study by Dr. Shabna Rani C K's research team, published in the International Research Journal of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences in 2024, reported that as a result of applying Ayurveda treatment to a patient with chronically recurring Bartholin's gland abscess, pain and swelling decreased rapidly and were successfully managed without recurrence for more than a year. This study shows that traditional medicinal approaches can contribute to the resolution of inflammation and prevention of recurrence of Bartholin's cysts. In a case report by Dr. Hemal Shah's research team in the World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research in the same year, red-ness and itching decreased within 7 days and swelling and discharge decreased within 15 days by applying Ayurvedic oral and topical medication for one month to a Bartholin's cyst patient, and the patient recovered completely after one month of treatment, with good results from follow-up observations every 3 months. These studies suggest that traditional medicine can play an effective role in improving the fundamental environment of inflammation and preventing recurrence beyond simple symptom relief.

Based on these research results, Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic in Songdo applies the principle of constitutional improvement treatment so that you can escape from the pain of frequently recurring Bartholin's cysts. We focus not only on alleviating inflammation in the symptomatic area but also on strengthening immunity and smoothing circulation around the reproductive organs by closely diagnosing the constitution and body condition of each patient to create a body where inflammation is difficult to recur. The goal is to break the cycle of recurring discomfort by removing waste products from the body and creating a healthy environment in the uterus and pelvic cavity. This constitutional improvement provides a fundamental solution to chronic inflammatory female diseases, and we strive to restore a healthy life without recurrence to patients seeking a Songdo Bartholin's Cyst Oriental Clinic.

If 3 or more of the following questions apply to you, you may suspect a Bartholin's cyst or Bartholin's gland inflammation.

• A pea-sized bump or lump is felt on one side of the vulva.
• As the bump gradually grows, discomfort or pain is felt when sitting or walking.
• The area of the bump turns red, feels hot, and is painful when touched.
• There are times when systemic symptoms such as fever and chills are accompanied.
• Pain is felt during sexual intercourse.
• In the past, similar pimples or bumps on the vulva have appeared and then improved repeatedly.
• Symptoms become more severe when stress or fatigue is high.

If 3 or more apply: Suspicion of Bartholin's cyst/inflammation → It is good to consider Oriental medicine treatment considering immunity decline and constitutional causes. If 5 or more apply: We recommend establishing an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan through immediate medical examination and consultation. Please consult with a professional medical team at a Songdo Oriental Clinic.

Q. Can a Bartholin's cyst be cured without surgery?

A. It depends on the size of the Bartholin's cyst and the degree of inflammation, but if it is an early cyst or you are experiencing repeated recurrence, you can alleviate inflammation and prevent recurrence with Oriental medicine treatment without surgery. We help you recover on your own by improving the inflammatory environment and strengthening immunity through herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, and acupuncture.

Q. How do I distinguish between a vulvar pimple and a Bartholin's cyst?

A. Simple pimples mainly appear around hair follicles and are relatively small and can appear in multiples. Bartholin's cysts occur in the Bartholin's gland located at the 5 o'clock or 7 o'clock position inside the vaginal opening, and at first, they start small without pain and are characterized by being felt like a lump as they gradually grow. An accurate diagnosis requires consultation with a professional medical team.

Q. How long should a Bartholin's cyst be treated?

A. The treatment period depends on the severity of the patient's symptoms, the size of the cyst, the frequency of recurrence, and the individual's constitution. Acute inflammation can improve relatively quickly, but constitutional improvement for recurrence prevention requires steady management and usually has a treatment period of several months.

Q. Bartholin's cysts recur frequently; will improving lifestyle habits also help?

A. Yes, it is very important. Sufficient rest, stress management, a balanced diet that helps strengthen immunity, and wearing well-ventilated underwear are great helps in protecting vulvar health and preventing the recurrence of Bartholin's cysts. Songdo Female Vulvar Inflammation Oriental Clinic also provides lifestyle habit coaching.

A vulvar pimple or Bartholin's cyst is not a problem that can be solved by enduring it. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach it in the right direction, your body reacts faster than you think. Bring your current symptoms as they are. Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. Herbal medicine is, after all, Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms, similar to mine, through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic website first!

This article is health information summarized together by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the consultation room. Medical Supervision | Women and Pregnancy Treatment Criteria, Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic Songdo Branch, Oriental Medical Doctor Oh Hyunmin (Bartholin's Cyst Column)