Acne (?) On Genital Area

Hi doctor,

I'm 17 years old and I've had several sexual partners. Most were protected sex but a few were unprotected. This is not an STD related question but just keep that in mind. About 4 months ago, red bumps started to form above my penis where pubic hair is. There were about 5, one had white on top of it. I freaked and went to a doctor... thinking I had herpes or something. The doctor told me it was just acne and not to worry about it. He prescribed me some Doxy drug to clear up acne and I took it for a couple of days. I stopped taking it because I got really sick on it and developed a skin rash that has gone away on my back. Anyway, the red bumps are still there... and if they are pimples, why don't they go away like pimples on other parts of my body. The acne has been there for 4 months and it is now in several regions of the groin... I don't know what to do and I am dying to get it cleared up. Please help me. Thank you so much.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

You need a better diagnosis.  These could be pimples, but if so they would be folliculitis and not acne.  A culture might show which bacteria if any are involved, with implications for treatment.  Or you might have molluscum warts, since those look like pimples.  Herpes seems less likely.

Any way you look at it, to find out what these are and take care of them, you will need to see a doctor.  I'd recommend a dermatologist.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Wbomb]

This is embarressing, but I had unprotected sex with someone about 5 days ago. Tonite, I noticed I had these red bumps at the base of my penis, all at the base of hair follicles. I am freaking out because it could be herpes, but all it is, is these red bumbs, that puss and have a little white head come out when you pop them. I have infected hair follicles on the backs of my thighs and I have had them on my penis before. One thing I remember specifically was that after having this unprotected sex, I didnt take a shower and wash the fluid off my penis. I also masterbate using lotion, and dont always shower right afterwards. Could all this have caused the hair follicles to get infected? I will go get tested anyway, but just to ease my mind a bit does this sound like infected hair follicles? No pain, buring, itching, swelling, or any other symptoms. Just the red bumps at the base of hair at the base of my penis.

[Philip1815]

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[tobart]

About the the small bumps at the base of hair folicles, they sound like cysts to me. I'd recommend reading the post at http://www.medhelp.org/perl6/dermatology/messages/31157a.html

[questionasker]

Ok...

so you are saying go to a dermotologist...

and herpes isn't possible??

[questionasker]

Hello again doctor,

I just read your response again and looked at pictures of molluscum warts online. This is almost identical to what I have. Is there any cure?

I am going to see a dermatologist also, but I just want your feedback.

Thanks.

[mattw]

I have the same thing. They are mostly along the back side of my shaft and at the base of my penis, they also are spread out across my scrotum. They are painless bumps that do no release anything and are very hard to pop, when popped white stuff comes out which makes me think they are acne.