Hair growing where wart supposedly was

[exilesgate]

I went to a Dermatologist to see if an irritation I was feeling in the tip of my penis was warts or not.(I went to another Doctor later who said it was most likely eczema or psoriasis.) The dermatologist said no sign of warts around the tip, but it was inflamed, and he could offer me a shot in the buttocks, but it would cost $350. I declined, saying I would check with my regular Doctor so it would be covered by health insurance. Then the dermatologist inspected around the shaft of the penis, more where there is pubic hair, and asked if I ever noticed something that looked like a hair follicle. I said no. He said," Maybe I should burn it anyway in case it is a wart and get the virus." I said ok.($200 by the way.)As he was burning it, he said" It feels more like a wart." I said are you sure, and he said he has treated alot of them and that it was no big deal. Now that the burn has healed, right in the spot, there is a hair growing. My question is, does that mean that maybe IT WAS A HAIR FOLLICLE? How likely is it that he could have been wrong, or just trying to make some money, or both?
He didn't seem 100 percent sure, but he burned me anyway?Any thoughts?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

One thought is that dermatologists in your area are expensive.  Another is that it would be hard for you to be confident of the wart diagnosis in light of the doctor's own ambiguous statements.  I really think the bumps he saw along the shaft were probably hair follicles, especially since a hair grew back in the middle of a treated one.  Although burning is in one sense not that biog a deal, the concern it leaves in people's minds, like yours, is a big deal indeed.  I guess the best way to get some more certainty would be to show another doctor the bumps that remain which resemble the one he burned off.  If the new doctor thinks they're follicles, the other one probably was too.  Once you hear that, you should forget about it.

Incidentally, I have no idea what the shot in the buttocks was supposed to accomplish.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff