Skin Boils or hair follicle infection

[johnk84]

Hi Doctor

I have serveral skin problems, but I am concerned mainly with a rash on my abdomen.  I went to a doctor, and he said it is boils, and another doctors said Follicletitus(spelling?)  or infection of the hair follicle.  But anyway,  every few months a get this red rash that something like a pimple on my abdomen, and sometimes surrounding the pimple i can see the smaller rashes sometimes.  

I initially had this problem last summer 2001, but then it happened again in May of this year 2002, then stopped and I have a large pimple on my abdmomen and it stays there for 2 - 3 weeks sometimes.  Sometimes it is single but other times it appears in groups of 2 or 3, and it leaves a scar also.  

I still have scarring from last year from this rash, and from May of this year.  I am going to another dermatoligist, but I am concerned about the scarring and why it keeps coming back. What treatment options are available for scaring?

Thank you,

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

The kind of problem you describe is really best ignored.  Some people just get pimples, especially in the groin.  They're annoying and last a long time, but if you don't mess with them, the redness always goes away.  They aren't catchy either.

Prvention isn't possible, in my experience.  Applying bacitracin or neosporin on fresh spots may help them heal faster.

See if your dermatologist has anything to add.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[Joel_Leisure]

I've recently developed a skin rash in my pubic hair.
About a year ago my doctor told me it was Folliculitis and it re-appeared about a month ago and I didn't think much of it and I mentioned it and he said the same thing. (although he didn't actually see it this time) I've just begun dating someone and we've both been check for STD's and HIV and everything has come back normal (This check was done 2 days after our first time having sex, unprotected) Now I have this blemish in the same spot every time, its been about 3 times that I've noticed it now in the last year, twice in the last 2 months. A month ago it was like a pimple, only sore when it was touched and had a hair coming out of the middle of it. I guess the only thing that worries me now is that its still red in the area. It doesn't hurt or itch, its just more of an irratation. Now, as of the last day or so, I've also noticed a red mark on my inner thigh and one or two on my back and chest which isn't itchy or sore, or isn't actually even raised off of the skin. I slept at my girlfriend's last night ( sex was involved ) but I'm just wondering if this could be an allergic reaction to her cats? or maybe her sheets hadn't been washed in a while. Anyways I would just like to know if I'm worrying about nothing or if I should be concerned. And also how can I prevent these red marks from appearing in the future?

thank you
Joel

[Nut]

Hi I am a student that is sexually active and always practices safe sex.  I get boils that are filled with puss and irritate me.  They start off small and grow over a few days into bigger boils.  They eventually burst and then they are gone.  I have been tested for all the STD's and I had none.  I wondered if anyone else gets these boils and what can I do about it.  I know my doctor said it is some kind of skin infection that has to do with my pubic hair being thick.  If anyone has info please place a response

[ashley0033]

A related discussion, folliculitis or something else? was started.