commenting about using Neosporin

I also have ingrown hairs in the bikini area. I have tried everything. I have tried neosporin and it DOESNT work. nothing works except for applying a warm rag on it for a couple of mins and it gets smaller. I started using Nair and that helped, I didn't get ingrown hairs as often. My doctor put me on actutane once and it actually made it bigger, and worse so I stopped taking it. Sometimes I think they are not cysts because I get them in areas where I dont shave. I get them in the arm pits too, those you can pull out the hairs easier then in the bikini area, I cant see the hair their. In the arm pit area I would just squeeze until I see the hair and I pull it out. Sometimes the hair is an inch long (yuk). Every doctor tells me they are ingrown hairs but for some reason I just cant believe that. Why do they happen when you don't shave? Could it be hereditary? I seriously think its caused by something else.


This discussion is related to Groin area pimples or cysts?.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Without examination ,confirming a diagnosis is tough but it can be folliculitis,boils or hidradenitis suppurativa.

Folliculitis is the inflammation of one or more hair follicles. Boils are caused by infection of the hair follicle by staph aureus.Bacterial skin infections can be spread by shared cosmetics or washcloths, close human contact, or by contact with pus from a boil or carbuncle. Hidradenitis suppurativa is a skin disease that affects areas bearing apocrine sweat glands and hair follicles; such as the underarms, groin and buttocks esp in women.

Apply warm compresses on the lumps and keep the area clean. Topical antiseptic treatment and topical antibiotics such as mupirocin or neomycin containing ointment is very useful.If still the lumps persist then specific treatment like antibiotics,vit A supplements,corticosteroid injections,isotretinoin,antiandrogens and sometimes excision and drainage ,laser therapy and radiotherapy are found useful.I feel that you should consult a dermatologist and discuss these options with him.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.