How effective are antiseptic applications such as Fucidin, Betadine and Dettol at treating abscesses?

Thank you for the question and the photo. May I ask, how did the abscess come on? When treated, did they take any swabs or treat with anti-biotic? If you have concerns about healing then it’s certainly worth speaking to your medical/surgical team as Dr Paul has suggested. Equally, if pain is an issue, Dr Sean’s suggestion of Dermatix would be worth a try. In terms of exercise, my suggestion would be to start with non-impact/non weight-bearing exercise, such as cycling. Swimming might not be a good idea with a healing wound.

The best way to determine the cause of pain and swelling near the anus is to examine the anus region. Swollen and painful piles appear at the edge of the anus while perianal abscesses and fistulae are found at least 1 cm away from the edge of the anus. If your family doctor is unsure whether you have piles or abscess, he/she will usually refer you to a colorectal surgeon to confirm the diagnosis.