Ingrown Hair????

Dear Doctor,

About 4 days ago i noticed a small bump on the skin on the of outside my vaginal area , it looked like a raised fleshy bump from what i could see. That same day i noticed it picked at it with some tweezers and it began to bleed. So i clensed the area and applied some vitamin E ointment and by the next day it was gone. I even looked down there with a mirror to get a better view and it looked as though it had completely healed. I have been with my partner for roughly nine months and we dont use protection. I know that we have been monogomous for that whole time. Also I know that he has had STD screening since we started having unprotected sex. I am all worried that this could be herpes. I have been shaving alot down there and using these cheap razors that have given me some nasty ingrown hairs on my legs but i know that herpes can look like an ingrown hair. I've had regular gyno checks and always come back normal. Is this something i need to worry about? HELP

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

No.

A small bump is not a sign of herpes.  It is probably a cyst or blocked follicle.  If you pick at one of these, it will of course bleed and look pink for a while.

Herpes doesn't always look like a blister, but it presents as groups of things, not a single one.

Why not ask your partner whether he had herpes testing while being worked up.  If there's any ambiguity, have him get tested again--if he is negative for herpes, he could hardly give it to you.  And get yourself checked and, if appropriate, tested as well.  Then you can get on with things without worrying.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff