Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Dermatology (Expert Forum)
bumps and then rash
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
bumps and then rash
by frankyyanky1, Apr 05, 2005 12:00AM
Four weeks I noticed 3 slightly raised red bumps on my abdomen. One was raised slightly more than the other two, it kind of looked like a bug bite. They are right were my pubic hair thickens below my navel. The big one was pink and shiny. I have not been able to keep my fingers away unfortunately and they just won't go away. They are not a cluster, nor do they ever hurt or itch. They don't appear to be a blister either. I couldn't tell at first, but they each appear to have a hair either in the middle, or directly to the side of the reddened area. But the bump is not necessarily centered on them. Now I am developing a small reddish patch below them where again the hair follicles appear slightly inflamed. Should I be concerned about this? They appear to be getting better slowly, but why haven't they improved much or changed in 4 weeks? Could this be folliculitis? I get zits on my chest in the hair and sometimes on my legs. I'm told this isn't acne in this location, but actually known as folliculitis. The ones in my pubic hair area however have never formed heads at all. They just started out red and slightly swollen, most have gone down, but still red.
These bumps seem to be in the area where my jeans hit when I sit, and I sit a lot for work. I also tend to be sweaty down there. Also, they never form a head like it might do elsewhere on my body. Is this skin (on my lower abdomen) so different?
So though they are no longer raised, just red, but now below the bumps I have developed a patch of red, bumpy looking skin. Almost scaly? Though I'm not sure about the correct descriptive terminology. Its a small patch, around the size of a dime. It started about 2 and a half weeks after I noticed the bumps. This has never itched at all or hurt. The follicles here appear to be inflamed, but what do I know? It, like the bumps, seem better in the morning then redder at different times throughout the day, like when I get hot and sweaty.
So I finally got in yesterday to see my doctor. He hardly looked at the remains of the bumps. He did ask me if I had had close contact with anybody new recently. I haven't, I have not had sex since October. Then he said the newer patch appeared to be some sort of contact dermatitis and gave me a Clotrimazole and Betamethasone Dipropionate.
I am obsessed about the possiblity of herpes, though logically I know it probably isn't. Those bumps were separated and never blistered or even formed a head. I am working on the assumption that they were a folliculitis or other irritation. But that other newer patch is odd. Could it be the same thing and he just gave me the stuff cuz he didn't know what to do? Or possibly a reaction to the neosporing I've been using on the bumps? Wow, 4 weeks is a long time for the redness?
Sorry this is confusing. Thanks in advance.
These bumps seem to be in the area where my jeans hit when I sit, and I sit a lot for work. I also tend to be sweaty down there. Also, they never form a head like it might do elsewhere on my body. Is this skin (on my lower abdomen) so different?
So though they are no longer raised, just red, but now below the bumps I have developed a patch of red, bumpy looking skin. Almost scaly? Though I'm not sure about the correct descriptive terminology. Its a small patch, around the size of a dime. It started about 2 and a half weeks after I noticed the bumps. This has never itched at all or hurt. The follicles here appear to be inflamed, but what do I know? It, like the bumps, seem better in the morning then redder at different times throughout the day, like when I get hot and sweaty.
So I finally got in yesterday to see my doctor. He hardly looked at the remains of the bumps. He did ask me if I had had close contact with anybody new recently. I haven't, I have not had sex since October. Then he said the newer patch appeared to be some sort of contact dermatitis and gave me a Clotrimazole and Betamethasone Dipropionate.
I am obsessed about the possiblity of herpes, though logically I know it probably isn't. Those bumps were separated and never blistered or even formed a head. I am working on the assumption that they were a folliculitis or other irritation. But that other newer patch is odd. Could it be the same thing and he just gave me the stuff cuz he didn't know what to do? Or possibly a reaction to the neosporing I've been using on the bumps? Wow, 4 weeks is a long time for the redness?
Sorry this is confusing. Thanks in advance.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Apr 06, 2005 12:00AM
, Apr 06, 2005 12:00AM
It isn't herpes. It also isn't a contact dermatitis. It may be folliculitis, or it may be molluscum, a viral skin condition which is usually not sexually transmitted or contagious, even though you may read that it can be. In any case, you need to see a doctor who knows about skin for definitive diagnosis, reassurance, and treatment if needed.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Dr. Rockoff
Dr. Rockoff