Help

[Julie00]

I have a quarter sized cluster of white looking pimples on my inner upper thigh close to my vagina. They have fluid in them. They do not itch to bad. The skin under the white heads is red and inflamed. I have looked up the herpes symptoms and it does not really look like a herpes out break. What can this be I will send a picture if necessary I'm scared that it might really be herpes and I would like to know. Thank you

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Since you have given the description really well, so it sounds like boil or furuncle. Apply warm compresses on the boil and keep the area clean. Drainage of the boil is done only when it becomes soft and forms a head. Take some over the counter pain reliever and consult a doctor for examination and antibiotics prescription. If there are recurrent boils, then please get your blood sugar levels estimated.

Hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.

[Julie00]

I have looked at some some pictures and it does not really look like that. Its more like a quarter sized raised nasty looking thing. All together there is about 17 white head looking things filled with puss. I have not popped them I just left them alone it has  been 4 days and it just looking worse. It does not itch and I really would not even know that it was there if it weren't for feeling it rub up against my pants. Under the white heads is a red inflamed sore. Please can this  be anything else. The pictures for folliculitis look more spread out and not clustered together. Thank you Julie

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it sounds like folliculitis. Please keep the area clean and apply some topical antiseptics. Also wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove. Avoid any kind of cosmetics. Topical antibiotics such as mupirocin or neomycin containing ointment are also useful. In case the symptoms persist then oral antibiotics may be needed. Please consult a dermatologist in that case.

I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.