Recovery time for foliculitis(folliculitis)?

Hello Doctor,

I was wondering about foliculitis (folliculitis) - Let me explain my situation.  Last Friday my girlfriend and I discovered a series of bumps on the side of my penis.  Red, triangularly spaced - looked like a heat rash but didn't go right away.  Naturally, we freaked out a bit.  I went to the ER and the doctor said it wasn't herpes and was most likely foliculitis (folliculitis).  He gave me a prescription for cortisporin (said the infection wasn't bad enough for oral meds), did some STD cultures (which came back negative) and sent me on my way.  

In the time since I apply the ointment a few times a day and the redness and two of the 3 spots have gone away.  What is left is the remains of the big spot.  It went from being a large pimplish looking thing to a smaller flesh colored (little pink) bump about halfway down the stem of my penis.  Its about the size of a pinhead.  Almost like a skin tag but pretty small.  I'm wondering if this is consistant with foliculitis (folliculitis)?

I've poured over the site and thought of warts, molluscum, or even a cyst (is it possible for the foliculitis (folliculitis) to go away and leave the bump behind?).  From what I read, the molluscum or cysts one would just let go away on their own so thats a non-issue.  I've read in prior postings that it can take a long time for foliculitis (folliculitis) to go away but the ER doctor gave me the impression it would clear up in a few days.  Would antibacterial soap help?

I really don't mind the bump - if it were anywhere else on my body it would be a non-issue.  But my girlfriend and I have put our physical relationship on hold for this and well, I'm wondering if I can just get on with my life.  

Thank you very much for you time!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I don't see any reason for you and your girlfriend to put your physical relationship on hold.  Red marks from folliculitis can last for weeks.  I advise you to ignore the bump and mark and let it go away by itself.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[jte777]

Just a thought, but if most of the spots went away with aplication of the antibiotic cream and the other shrank, it would seem like the doctor's diagnosis was probably correct. Dr. Rockoff may say differently, (and he is the expert, not I) however I do not think that molluscum or cysts would respond that way to an antibiotic cream, but a bacterial infection like folliculitis would. One would think so anyway. I can tell you that when I have had that type of thing happen to me, it can take weeks for the skin to go back to completely normal appearance, though improvement was seen soon after application of the cream. I bet the doctor will have reassuring news for you. Hang in there.

[Tony3333]

I had the same problem with the Red bumps on the shaft of my penis and pubic area. I went to a doctor who said it was Foliculitis (folliculitis) and that there was now a fungus on the area. He told me to use Tinactian Anti Fungal cream, and it had shown inprovment but is still there. I was wondering if there was anything else I could do to speed up the process

[kathleen1948]

A related discussion, Folliculitis? was started.