Genital Warts, Papules, Cysts, or Follicilitis

[skincursed]

First off, I have had a history of reoccurring follicilitis (EVERYWHERE I have hair follicles) and subcutaneous horns or papules on my groin for years. I noticed that these occurrences were always concomitant, though not exclusive, with shaving my pubic hair. Every time I shaved, I developed irritated bumps. Then, one day after shaving my pubic hair, I developed bumps throughout my groin area.  However, there was one also located on the base of my penis that looked exacty like the others: small, round, and somewhat shiny. Yes, I also used the electric razor to shave the hair on the base of my penis.  A very sensitive operation and not a good idea in general. I am very hairy but not very bright. It appeared just like the other horns or papules that I had repeatedly developed in the past on my groin or testicles.  After attempting to "remove" it by squeezing it (as I had in the past on other areas) it merely became irritated and enlarged.  The P.A. I saw who treated it, gave a vague diagnosis.  Never clearly stating whether it was gential warts or not.  He used cryosurgery.  A few weeks later, it developed into a raised fleshy scar.  A few months later, I developed another bump that looked exactly the same: small, round, and shiny.  It also appeared exacty the next day after shaving my pubic hair.  However, I did not attempt my delicate surgical procedure of squeezing the hell out of it to "remove" it. In both instances, they looked the same and I did not experience any irritation, itching, bleeding, etc. I then saw a doctor who dismissed it as follicilitis and made an appointment with a derm. When I saw the derm however, he simply stated, without any other info, that they were both genital warts and removed them with cryosurgery. However, I am a little skeptical of his diagnosis. I have only developed two bumps on my penis in the last year.  I have also only shaved the area twice in the last year. And in both instances, the bumps developed on the following day in an area I had shaved. I have never developed any other bumps on my penis at any other time. Also, in both instances, I had similar accompanying bumps (horns or papules) throughout the area.  I started to develop a third bump at the base at the same time of my second one.  However, I used the benzoyl peroxide that the doctor prescribed me for my follicilitis and it disappeared. I don't know if I am simply seeing things as I would like to believe, but I know there are many other conditions like molloscum contagiosum (pardon the spelling), subcutaneous horns, and papules that can be confused with gential warts. Can his diagnosis be wrong?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Yes.

Your meticulous description gits folliculitis perfectly but not warts.  If you shave, then try to "remove" what's left, you are essentially guaranteeing the appearance of folliculitis.  It sounds as though the dermatologist just didn't look too hard at what he simply assumed were warts and treated them accordingly.  He didn't realize how unfortunate it was to reinforce the concerns of someone as obsessive about warts as you appear to be.

First, please stop shaving.
Second, please stop squeezing.
Third, show these bumps, in a pristine and non-traumatized form, to another dermatologist, after making him aware of your concerns.
Fourth, forget about warts, and get on with your life.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[georgec]

I have been sleeping with my girlfriend for the past 11 months, with and without a condom. I had an HIV test 14 months ago, was found to be negative. I slept with 4 other girls after that, all with protection, and donated blood, which they assured me that my blood would be checked for HIV. Since the blood test has been completed, I have received an invitation back to donate more blood and have received my blood card etc. Since then, I have only slept with my current girlfriend but what I am worried about started about as month ago. I was watching TV and felt an uneasy feeling on my skin in-between my groin and my hip. I check to see what it was and there was a small bump that looked liked a pimple but was more sensitive. I tried to squeeze it but nothing happened. I decided to give it my all hoping that something would come out. A bit of white stuff came out but it was really painful and I went to see my girlfriend who has just graduated as a doctor. She wasn't certain what it was but she said that she had a few sores as well. I went to the doctor who thought it was a bite of some sort and prescribed pills to stop the infection (it became infected). After 10 days of taking the pills, the sore was gone but not completely. During the process of it getting better, I squeezed it again, and the most disgusting brown, creamy stuff came out and not a little either. Since then, more of these 'spots' have appeared including at the bottom of my penis. Those ones are different though and more like  a small pimple. After squeezing them it bled quite a bit-I have stopped squeezing these bumps! Both my girlfriend and myself went to the derm to get them checked out. The doctor didn't name anything and said that she doubted I was HIV infected as I had asked to be tested for that. My girlfriend's doctor on the other hand confirmed that she (must be me as well) did indeed have Molloscum Contagiosum(She found a sore and froze it?). We have to go back for our HIV results tomorrow, but am very concerned. My G/friends doctor was not overly confident, although mine was and even asked if I still wanted a test! Looking in her medical books, it seems that HIV is common with Molloscum Contagiosum(?). I have had a blood test and came back ok and my g/f says she only slept unprotected with her first and it was both of their first times. She has slept with 3 other people and says that she used a condom every time. Does this sound something to be worried about? I cannot sleep and need some advice about how HIV is connected with Molloscum Contagiosum please.

[georgec]

I have been sleeping with my girlfriend for the past 11 months, with and without a condom. I had an HIV test 14 months ago, was found to be negative. I slept with 4 other girls after that, all with protection, and donated blood, which they assured me that my blood would be checked for HIV. Since the blood test has been completed, I have received an invitation back to donate more blood and have received my blood card etc. Since then, I have only slept with my current girlfriend but what I am worried about started about as month ago. I was watching TV and felt an uneasy feeling on my skin in-between my groin and my hip. I check to see what it was and there was a small bump that looked liked a pimple but was more sensitive. I tried to squeeze it but nothing happened. I decided to give it my all hoping that something would come out. A bit of white stuff came out but it was really painful and I went to see my girlfriend who has just graduated as a doctor. She wasn't certain what it was but she said that she had a few sores as well. I went to the doctor who thought it was a bite of some sort and prescribed pills to stop the infection (it became infected). After 10 days of taking the pills, the sore was gone but not completely. During the process of it getting better, I squeezed it again, and the most disgusting brown, creamy stuff came out and not a little either. Since then, more of these 'spots' have appeared including at the bottom of my penis. Those ones are different though and more like  a small pimple. After squeezing them it bled quite a bit-I have stopped squeezing these bumps! Both my girlfriend and myself went to the derm to get them checked out. The doctor didn't name anything and said that she doubted I was HIV infected as I had asked to be tested for that. My girlfriend's doctor on the other hand confirmed that she (must be me as well) did indeed have Molloscum Contagiosum(She found a sore and froze it?). We have to go back for our HIV results tomorrow, but am very concerned. My G/friends doctor was not overly confident, although mine was and even asked if I still wanted a test! Looking in her medical books, it seems that HIV is common with Molloscum Contagiosum(?). I have had a blood test and came back ok and my g/f says she only slept unprotected with her first and it was both of their first times. She has slept with 3 other people and says that she used a condom every time. Does this sound something to be worried about? I cannot sleep and need some advice about how HIV is connected with Molloscum Contagiosum please.