Folliculitis or something else?

I am a 37 year old female.  About a year or so ago, I developed what appeared to be an ingrown hair on my bikini line, right on top of the tendon that spans from the groin area to the leg.  It became inflamed and infected, about the size of a pinto bean, and I finally, after about 3-4 months of dealing with it, spent the money to visit a dermatologist.  He drained it and told me how to treat it, but it came back.  (Antibiotics and the like.)  Now, it is no longer infected, but has been bleeding on a regular basis.  This has been going on for a couple of months.  What concerns me the most is that I now have another bleeding nodule on the other side, symmetrical to the first one.  Could this be a problem with lymph nodes, or should I just go shopping for underwear that don't rub that area?  I am very concerned that these spots are not healing and are bleeding on a regular basis.  There is also a bruised feeling that comes and goes on the mound (Mons?)in between.  Please advise!  I don't know what to do or where to go for advice!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

A Hill:

From your description, the bumps are almost certainly superficial and due to trauma and rubbing.  Bleeding, despite its sinsiter reputation, usually reflects trauma, not malignant transformation.  I think better underwear, and perhaps padding (such as with a nonstick Telfa pad-available at your drugstore-are the ticket.

As for advice, why not call the dermatologist back?

Best.

Dr. R

[Karen]

I just wanted to let you know that I had this exact problem for about 5 years. I went to the dermatologist and was told that it is a sweat gland infection. You can go to a real good dermatologist or surgeon and ask to have your sweat glands removed if the problem persists. There are many sweat glands in the groin area, but I had the same thing in the same place as you. In the meantime, try using only antibacterial soap in the area such as Dial or Safeguard on a regular basis. Do not use any real moisturizing soap like Caress or body washes. This was the culprit in my problem. I now use only an antibacterial soap all over. Also, only wear cotton underwear, no polyester (yuck). One more suggestion, start taking a garlic suppliment on a regular basis. Garlic is a natural internal antibiotic and eat more onions and garlic in your food. These have all helped me and I have not needed to get the surgery. I hope these suggestions help you. Good Luck.

[Tara]

i also have a problem with ingrown hairs. i get them on my chin.small black hairs that will not come out of the skin. i try to tweeze them out but only make an infection.the infection will not heal unless the hair is removed. these hairs are so small it's hard to pull them. i tried soaking them in hot water but still no relief. please offer any advice. i need to know if there's a medicine that will draw them out. thanks for the help. tara!

[Erin]

I am 30 years old and have had folliculitis all of my life.
I have read that it is caused by strep or staph bacteria and would like to know how I picked up either of these strains in my infancy and/or at birth. I am getting tired of having to deal with my scalp condition on a daily basis and need to know what to do to alleviate it.  If any of you out there know what I can do to get rid of this once and for all please e-mail me at
Erin_ColemanElectric***@****  I am desperate for a cure.
Please help.
Thank You.

[nan]

I get itchy red bumps on the scalp mostly along the neck hairline, I don't believe it's folliculitis.  Help..

[Wendy]

Please see my hidradenitis club on Yahoo at: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/hidradenitis
And also visit H.I.D.E. International at: http://webhome.globalserve.net/hidecan/disclaim.html

There are a lot of people working on the web to raise the level of understanding of Hidradenitis.  I hope your site will post current, up to date information about Hidradenitis soon.

[Sandra Merrifield]

My boy friend has an ingrown hair on his back.  Every so often, it an enormous amount of really foul smelling sebum will just erupt from this.  I am trying to persuade him to have this ingrown hair removed.  Couldn't this blocked sebum, that apparently gets very rancid, cause infections to other parts of his body?

[Cedric MacDougall]

About a month ago I was swimming in the ocean in Salem Ma. at a party at my friends house. The next morning my legs became very ithcy. I let it go for a while and then it began to spread. So I went to the doctor and he said it was folliculitis and perscibed me Cipro. I took it for the perscribed week and it seemed to slow down a bit. but then my perscription ran out. In one weeks time it was back again worse than it was befor. I called my doctor and he perscibed my another weeks worth. I just found out that I have herpies (herpes) 1 and was having a break out durring the time of the first perscription. Do you think it took away from the Cipro's effectiveness? Should a weeks worth of Cipro be enough to clear it up for ever or will this be a reoccuring problem I'll have to deal with forever?

[Darcy Johnson]

I am a 19 year old female. About a week ago, I began to develop small bumps all over my legs.  I attributed it to mild irritation or razor burn for the first couple of days, but the problem didn't go away. Shaving is very difficult, but I'm afraid to let the hairs grow out, lest they become irritated as I think happened before. The areas that are affected look like I have severe razorburn, but the bumps are pretty hard. It looks like each follicle is encased in a small, clear cyst-type thing.  I know I need to see a dermatologist, but everyone is booked until February. I don't know what to do. I've already been to see a general practictioner who didn't know what it was, and guessed at folliculitus (folliculitis). He put me on three different prescriptions for this reason. I'd really like to know what it is, though, and how i can treat it.  Please give me some feedback. I'm not able to see a dermatologist.

[brian]

I have suffered from multiple cysts on neck,chest,armpits,groin,back,and tailbone for 9yrs. have had them lanced,packed,hair plucked weekly by doc,and 4 excission surgeries on tailbone that were 5 inch cuts and left open to heel from the inside out. Nothing will work.  Ihave tried Hiboclens sitzs baths many hair removal poducts.  this is ruining my life. when the ones on my neck abcess (abscess) I will suffer from migraines. With the ones under my armpit act up I cant move my arms. But I would have to say yat the ones on my tailbone are the worst. I will get an abcess (abscess) on my tailbone twice a month. Some not as bad as others but when they are bad I can't cope with the severity even with the painkillers given to me. Because of the frequency of them it has been very hard tokeep a job. I now have three kids and have just been suffering wth the pain so I can support my famly but don't want to live with this anymore.  !!!!!!Can anyone give me a suggeston!!!!!!  PLEASE HELP ME    
                    THANKS

[Mychrispy]

A related discussion, what to do about my skin condition? was started.