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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Genital wart or folliculitis or something else?
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Genital wart or folliculitis or something else?
by q1w2e3r4t5, Mar 28, 2007 12:00AM
Dr.,
I have been extremely worried about genital warts for the last 5 and 1/2 months, because I stupidly wore a speedo-type bathing suit that I had bought, without washing it first. (The woman who worked at the store assured me that they didn't allow people to try them on, but then I started to worry about it later.) I've now read that HPV can survive well over a week on hard surfaces, not to mention the porous spandex surface of a bathing suit, so I have been very worried. Do you think this is a risk?
Then,16 days ago I noticed a small, solitary bump on my lower buttock.(maybe slighlty larger than a pencil eraser) It felt sensitive to the touch (like a pimple), which is why I noticed it in the first place. It is in an area with a lot of hair follicles that have tiny bumps where the hair comes out from. I BELIEVE that this circular bump had the same LITTLE bump (BUT no protruding hair) in the center as the hair follicles around it, but, in a panic, I tried to squeeze it a few times and I THINK I took off the LITTLE bump with my fingernails.
The bump can still be felt now, and though it is not growing, it seems only slightly smaller than it did 2 weeks ago. It no longer is sensitive to the touch. It now is slighly smaller than a pencil eraser, is smooth, circular, and has what looks like a little, slightly redder, divot in the center, where I think the LITTLE bump that lacked a hair was located. What worries me is that it has not gone away, and I would have thought over 2 weeks was enough time for a bump caused by folliculitis or something similar to go away. Please tell me what you think this could be. Does it sound like a genital wart? I am extremely concerned. Thank you.
I have been extremely worried about genital warts for the last 5 and 1/2 months, because I stupidly wore a speedo-type bathing suit that I had bought, without washing it first. (The woman who worked at the store assured me that they didn't allow people to try them on, but then I started to worry about it later.) I've now read that HPV can survive well over a week on hard surfaces, not to mention the porous spandex surface of a bathing suit, so I have been very worried. Do you think this is a risk?
Then,16 days ago I noticed a small, solitary bump on my lower buttock.(maybe slighlty larger than a pencil eraser) It felt sensitive to the touch (like a pimple), which is why I noticed it in the first place. It is in an area with a lot of hair follicles that have tiny bumps where the hair comes out from. I BELIEVE that this circular bump had the same LITTLE bump (BUT no protruding hair) in the center as the hair follicles around it, but, in a panic, I tried to squeeze it a few times and I THINK I took off the LITTLE bump with my fingernails.
The bump can still be felt now, and though it is not growing, it seems only slightly smaller than it did 2 weeks ago. It no longer is sensitive to the touch. It now is slighly smaller than a pencil eraser, is smooth, circular, and has what looks like a little, slightly redder, divot in the center, where I think the LITTLE bump that lacked a hair was located. What worries me is that it has not gone away, and I would have thought over 2 weeks was enough time for a bump caused by folliculitis or something similar to go away. Please tell me what you think this could be. Does it sound like a genital wart? I am extremely concerned. Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Mar 28, 2007 12:00AM
, Mar 28, 2007 12:00AM
It does not sound like a wart. The risk of getting warts from a store-bought bathing suit is not worth worrying about. Leave the spot alone, show it to a doctor so you can find out for sure what it is, and then deal with your HPV anxiety.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Member Comments (2)
by q1w2e3r4t5, Mar 28, 2007 12:00AM
To: Sorry forgot to include
I should also mention that the bump is only slightly raised from the surface, so much so that it is hard to tell if it is more beneath the skin than on top. Also, when I squeezed it it didn't pop.
