5 years ago, I noticed small red bumps in my pubic hair. They looked like tiny red pimples, not blisters. The bumps were not clustered, and appeared one at a time over several weeks. (one would go away, another might pop up in a different spot). I picked at some of them (dumb, i know), and they left small, flat scabs. I had no other symptoms. A nurse practicioner said it did not look like warts, but "could be any number of things". She took a culture for herpes (2 were healing, but one was only a couple days old and I didnt pick it). The culture was negative. It was a college health center, so she may have erred on the side of testing, but I have lingering anxiety even though seems atypical of herpes from things I read.
More recently, I had a similar experience, except that I had some swelling of the lymph node in 1 labia. each small red bump lasted only a few days. They were in the hairy areas as well, but I think different spots than the earlier experience. I saw a different NP at my gyno's office who said it was either ingrown hair or acne & and not to worry. She said that I probably got bacteria under the skin from shaving, and it can take a while for it to work its way out-- that is why the bumps came up 1 at a time over a couple weeks. She is aware of the prior incident and said I had nothing to worry about. I later talked to my gyno who said this is common among people who shave or wax the area (I shaved for years-- since before the first incident). The advice I got was warm baths and give it time. I switched from shaving to waxing.
My question: I realize that bacteria can affect the skin, but I am wondering how it works. If bacteria gets under the skin, can it really take a while to 'work its way out' to the surface? (can it present this way & why?) Would it only come out in hair follicles, or anywhere in the area?
what are the "number of things" that could present as small red bumps? I might be over thinking this, but I just want to understand what it was.
thanks so much doctor for your service