Ingrown Hair or Warts

Dear MedHelp,

For the longest time I have been shaving my pubic region. Over time I have faced rashes and ingrown hairs. Recently I have been seeing flesh colored bumps. One on the shaft and a small cluster on my scrotum. Both places I shave about once a month. I have been sexually active for a long time and will admit to Having unprotected sex at times. In August of this year I had a blood test for STDs. All came back negative. The only thing I wasnt tested for was HPV. For a while I thought these bumps were ingrown hairs again. The one on the shaft has reapeared in almost the exact same spot that I used to get the same ingrown hair in. This time its not red and when cut it shaving the last time it bleed a lot. I dont feel any tingling or itching. I have been active since my blood test. The bumps are fairly small. I just need to know if this at all sounds like what warts are. I've looked over forums but I havent read any with my situation.What scares me the most is that they appear flesh colored and even darker than my skin tone sometimes. However they only show (especially on the shaft) about a week after I shave. Does any of this sound like wart simptoms? If they are ingrown hairs How can I keep the from returning? And do ingrown hairs show in the same spot?

Thanks.

[Jasmina Jankicevic, MD, MSc, CCRP]

Welcome to the Dermatology Expert Forum!

Occasional flesh colored, small bumps in genital area, that appear several days after shaving (“in the same spot”),  and resolve spontaneously, sound more like reaction on micro-injuries you could have been causing by shaving with a dull razor.  Try shaving carefully with sharp razor but only after thoroughly washing the skin and applying some sort of shaving foam (even use of soap will help).

However, if after all measures named above new lesions reappear, before treating them in any way, try to see a dermatologist.


Wishing You Optimal Health,
Dr. Jasmina Jankicevic