A bump on the labia is almost always caused by something common and treatable, like a clogged hair follicle, a small cyst, or an ingrown hair. Less often, it can be related to a sexually transmitted infection or a blocked gland. The appearance, location, and feel of the bump usually point to what’s behind it.
Ingrown Hairs and Folliculitis
The most common cause of a labial bump is folliculitis, an inflammation of a hair follicle. The labia have hair follicles that can get irritated by shaving, friction from tight clothing, or sweat. When a follicle becomes blocked or a hair curls back into the skin, it creates a small, red, sometimes tender bump that can look like a pimple. These bumps occasionally fill with pus and may be mistaken for something more serious.
Folliculitis bumps typically resolve on their own within a week or two. Warm compresses can help speed things along. If the bump grows larger, becomes very painful, or develops into a firm, deep nodule, it may have progressed into a boil (furuncle), which sometimes needs to be drained.
Sebaceous and Epidermoid Cysts
Small, painless bumps under the skin are often sebaceous or epidermoid cysts. Sebaceous cysts form when an oil gland becomes enlarged or blocked. They’re typically small (fractions of an inch), firm, and can be white, yellow, or flesh-colored. Epidermoid cysts are similar: small, round bumps that sit just under the skin and may feel like a marble or pea.
These cysts are benign and usually don’t need treatment unless they become inflamed or infected. An infected cyst will turn red, swell, and become painful. If that happens, a healthcare provider can drain it. Squeezing or popping a cyst yourself increases the risk of infection and can push the contents deeper into the tissue.
Bartholin’s Cyst
If the bump is near the opening of the vagina, specifically around the 4 o’clock or 8 o’clock position on the inner labia, it could be a Bartholin’s cyst. The Bartholin’s glands sit on either side of the vaginal opening and produce fluid for lubrication. When one of the ducts gets blocked, fluid backs up and forms a cyst. About 2% of women of reproductive age will experience this.
A Bartholin’s cyst can range from pea-sized to much larger, sometimes reaching the size of a golf ball. Small, painless cysts don’t always need treatment. But if the cyst becomes infected, it turns into an abscess: swollen, red, very tender, and sometimes accompanied by fever. Abscesses need to be drained by a provider, usually with a small procedure that can be done in an office setting.
Soaking in a sitz bath can help a small Bartholin’s cyst drain on its own. Fill a bathtub or basin with 3 to 4 inches of warm water (around 104°F) and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. You can do this three to four times a day. Plain warm water works best. Skip Epsom salts or oils unless your provider specifically recommends them, since additives can cause irritation. Pat the area dry gently afterward rather than rubbing.
Fordyce Spots and Other Normal Variations
Not every bump is a problem. Fordyce spots are enlarged oil glands that show up in hairless skin, including the labia. They look like tiny white, yellowish, or skin-colored dots, usually 1 to 3 millimeters across (about the size of a sesame seed or smaller). They’re easier to see when you stretch the surrounding skin. Fordyce spots can appear as single dots or in clusters of dozens. They’re completely harmless and are considered a normal anatomical variation, not a condition that needs treatment.
Vestibular papillomatosis is another normal finding. These are small, finger-like projections that line the inner labia or vaginal opening. They’re soft, uniform in size, and evenly spaced. They’re sometimes mistaken for genital warts, but unlike warts, they appear in symmetrical rows and each bump has its own separate base.
Genital Warts (HPV)
Genital warts caused by HPV are flesh-colored, raised or flat bumps that can have a rough, cauliflower-like texture on top. They’re usually painless. Warts may appear as a single bump or in groups and can show up weeks to months after exposure to the virus. Unlike vestibular papillomatosis, warts tend to vary in size, cluster irregularly, and sometimes share a common base.
Treatment options range from prescription creams you apply at home to in-office procedures like freezing or surgical removal. The warts themselves are treatable, though the underlying virus can persist in the body. Many people clear HPV naturally over time.
Genital Herpes (HSV)
Herpes bumps look quite different from cysts or warts. They start as a cluster of small blisters that burst and leave behind red, open sores. The key distinguishing feature is pain: herpes lesions burn, sting, and are often accompanied by tingling or itching before the blisters appear. A first outbreak may also come with flu-like symptoms.
If your bump appeared as a single, firm, painless lump, herpes is unlikely. If you’re seeing multiple small, painful, blister-like sores grouped together, that pattern is more consistent with HSV and worth getting tested for.
Molluscum Contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that creates small, firm, raised bumps with a characteristic dimple or dip in the center. They’re flesh-colored or slightly pearly and usually painless. In adults, they often appear in the genital area because the virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact. The bumps can persist for months but eventually resolve on their own. A provider can remove them sooner with freezing or other office procedures if they’re bothersome or spreading.
Signs That Need Medical Attention
Most labial bumps are benign, but certain features warrant a closer look. Persistent itching, burning, or bleeding on the vulva that doesn’t go away can be a sign of a more serious condition, including vulvar cancer. Other warning signs include skin color changes (areas that look unusually red or white compared to your normal skin), a sore or lump that persists for more than two weeks, or pelvic pain during urination or sex.
Vulvar cancer is uncommon, especially in younger women, but it can initially look like a harmless bump, rash, or patch of irritated skin. Any lump or ulcer on the vulva that doesn’t heal within a couple of weeks should be evaluated. A provider can determine whether a biopsy is needed, which is the only way to rule out or confirm cancerous changes.