Ingrown Hair ?

Greetings Dr. Rockoff,

About 3 months ago I came into an unprotected sexual skin to skin contact (no intercourse or oral sex and the person was recently tested with good health results).  A few days later I got a pimple like bump, red and painful, about 1 inch below where the genital hair starts (on top) while I was on my period.  It didn't completely go away. Even though the pain was gone I could still feel the bump a bit.  

I got concerned when on my next cycle I got 2 bumps close to each other, one at the very same place as last one, and this time they were bigger, more painful, and filled with pus.  I went to a gyno who confirmed 4 times that I have herpes.  Then while she was taking the culture she said, "Wait, I see an ingrown hair" and she said it's just that.  The test results came back negative so I was relieved.  Both bumps looked like pimples and I could see the hair coming out of both.  One went away completley and one stayed again! But I could see a hole on both after the pus came out, as I see them on regular pimples.  I also didn't have any scabbing.

Two days ago, I noticed an itching around the bump that wasn't healed (same as the ones before).  The next day it became pus-filled (just like before), but this time with less pain and less pus, much smaller than before and I can see the hair right next to it.  I have a few questions:

1.  Does this sound like an ingrown hair or STD?
2.  Why do I get them when I'm close to or on my period?
3.  I get itching in my genital area, on the left side, same side as these pimples are before and during my period. Should I be alarmed?  



Overall, what do you think this is?  The test came back negative and they don't look like anything I've seen on the net.  I've looked at pictures of warts and herpes, and mine look nothing like them.  They look like pimples and that's it, but the fact that they have been been coming back in the last 3 months at the same place, and that I have itching on the same side in my genital area concerns me.


I thank you for your response in advance.


Best,

Ginger

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Your description sounds a lot more like folliculitis (clogged pores) than herpes.  I can't explain the itching, but that doesn't change my mind.  I assume that your statement, "a gyno who confirmed 4 times that I have herpes" means that was just the initial impression before her contrary conclusion.

Folliculitis in the groin is common, and it often recurs--from sweat, friction, or for no reason at all.  The bumps take care of themselves if left alone.

Unless the clinical picture changes, I wouldn't recommend doing anything different.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[GingerCandy25]

Dr. Rockoff,

I also had one more question regarding my acne.  I've had acne since I was 12 years old.  I'm 26 now.  I used to have it on my cheeks and forehead and now it's mainly on my chin and around it.  They get big and painful and all have pus.  I don't know how my skin has remained decent looking.  It must be the Retin-A. Sometimes my skin is clear and sometimes, especially around my period, it breaks out a lot.

I have taken antibiotics since I was 17, and my skin breaks out when I stop using them.  I also took accutane and it cleared up my skin, but it came back after 1 year of finishing the course.

I heard about Diane 35 and Ortho-Novum 777. I also have some hair under my chin so I think it's hormonal.  I've never had intercourse and I would like to avoid going on pills as much as I can.  My questions:

1.  What else can I try before I consider birth control pills?  Do you suggest going on them?  If yes, which one do you recommand?

2.  Will having intercourse help my acne?  Will it change my hormones?  This might seem odd, but whenever I'm dating and fool around my skin seems to clear up!

3.  Will drinking water or wheat grass or taking zinc actually clear up acne?  My doctor doesn't believe any of these things work, and he suggests I go back on Accutane, but I've become more concerned about my health and I don't want to poison my body.


I apologize about the long questions in advance. Thank you for taking the time to read them.

Best,

Ginger

[GingerCandy25]

Dr. Rockoff,

Yes.  The doctor said it was herpes when she looked at them in the beginning.  After taking the culture, and saying "it's an ingrown hair", her excuse was that "I have never seen pimples this big".  But she still didn't say for sure what it was.  She said to wait for results.  I guess she didn't want to look bad.

Is it possible that I have this problem now because of the unprotected contact?  I didn't see any bumps on my partner, but I know he deals with the same problem often.  It's hard to imagine it can be contagious, but it's my first time dealing with an ingrown hair in my genital area.  I never dealt with it before this contact.


Thanks,

Ginger

[Sabastian]

You have had them and not noticed. I get the ingrown hairs too, but doctors have all said it's nothing contagious.

[GingerCandy25]

Sebastian,

Do they keep coming back at the same place?  If yes, how long do they take to heal?


Thanks

[Sabastian]

They come back in different spots, sometimes in the same place they usually last about 4-7 days. They don't hurt but the whole area does itch. I was diagnosed with a fungal infection and am taking pills to clear it up. So far it hasn't responded to the medication.

[GingerCandy25]

Dr. Rockoff,

I was wondering if we get to ask questions regarding only one matter by paying $19?

Do I need to pay another $19 to get my questions answered about Acne?


Thanks,

Ginger

[shayla]

pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease help me!!! i have heard from several dermatologists as well that this problem is simply ingrown hairs, but they are persistent and reoccurring. there MUST be SOME solution. i cannot live like this. its very upsetting. is there anything that i can get prescribed or do at home to cure these bumbs in my bikini area? i have never had sex, so i know its not herpes.

[what_]

A related discussion, about dime sized red bump with white in center which pused recently,in the groin area what is it was started.