Sores/Cuts near vagina

Last week I noticed my vagina area was extremely painful. I looked and I discovered 2 sores. I'm pretty sure I remember nicking myself shaving and assumed they had become infected. I went to the doctor and was given antibiotics and they have cleared up. I am now worried that I may have confused this with herpes. Could I have been wrong?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it sounds like boils or carbuncle. Boils are caused by infection of the hair follicle by staph aureus.
Apply warm compresses on the boil and keep the area clean.Drainage of the boil is done only when it becomes soft and forms a head.Take some over the counter pain reliever and consult a doctor for examination and antibiotics prescription.If there are recurrent boils,then pls get your blood sugar levels estimated.
I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.

[kate58]

Hello I am a 20 yr old female and for the past few weeks to a month or so i have been getting cuts around my vagina and paper like cuts on my labia and in the lip area. my doctor told me it could be from shaving and told me to let my hair grow, i let it grow for about three weeks and it cleared up a little but then it started getting itchy and irritated again and i noticed cuts at the base of each hair follicle . it has been quite itchy and sometimes swollen and very tender down there yet it comes and goes my doctor said it was just irritation but i dont believe her. i originally thought i had a yeast infection because i had discharge and it was itchy and burning but i was told at my pap smear that it wasnt one. then i was informed my smear results were abnormal so i am not sure what to do. please help.