?Acne of labia

Posted by LB on July 22, 1999 at 19:33:02
I am a 40 year old female.  During the past three years I have had intermittent outbreaks of facial acne.  This responds fairly well to Retin A cream.  
In addition to facial acne, I also have lesions on the outer lips of my vagina that are acne-like.  I have seen pictures of herpes and firmly do not believe this is what I have.  Some appear as whiteheads, others as just "bumps" that are slightly red.  Sometimes the nodes in my groin enlarge as well.  What could this be and what treatment would be helpful.  Allow me to mention that the hair covering my vagina is somewhat long.
Thanks for your advice.

Posted by DERM M.D. ASR on July 22, 1999 at 21:37:36
Dear LB:
You can get pimples on almost any part of the body, but when they're not on the face, chest, or backm they're something other than acen.  Usually, they represent folliculitis, or inflammation of the hair follicles.  Their are numerous cause, but many cases stem from no obvious cause at all.  Bacterial involvement varies, even when the pimples are pus-filled.
I agree that this does not sound like herpes, which is blistery rather than pimply, and whose outbreaks only last 7-10 days at a time, then clear before recurring.  (I assume your pimples are ongoing.)
You may want to try cleansing the area with Hibiclens, an over-the-counter antiseptic, and applying bacitracin or neosporin ointment twice a day.  If that fails after 2-3 week,s perhaps a doctor can recommend an oral antibiotic by mouth for a while.
Folliculitis, bacerial or not, is usually not contagious.
Best.
Dr. R
Keywords: folliculitis, acne, pimples