Aa
What could my problem be??
About 17 or 18 days ago I got a pimple like bump in my pubic area. Between a half inch and a inch from my penis going toward my stomach. It was very red, itchy and a little painful. It was hard like a pimple that wasn't popped. I thought it was either a pimple or a ingrown hair. I didnt see any opening on it or any blister. There did seem to be a hair in the middle of the bump. But maybe a week of so later it popped or something and it scabbed. I was taking antibioctics on a ear infection during this time. My doctor who treated my ear infection took a quick look at it before it scabbed and said it might be a ingrown hair. Well as of today, a week and a half later the scab is still there surrounded by redness. I went back to the doctor and he took a culture of it for bacteria and it came back negative for bacteria. I am really worried now that it is a viral infection. Here is why, prior to this happening I had been in a relationship with my girlfriend for 6 months. We broke up in janaury and I had sex with another girl, who I do not really know, twice. I used condoms both times and she performed oral sex on me without a condom. Prior to sex with her I had trimmed my pubic region maybe 2 weeks prior so there was some hair there but not a lot. I did not shave. Im afraid I got herpes through skin contact in my pubic region. I got the igg testing when I got the problem in my pubic region and it came back negative for 1 and 2 so I now I didn't get it from my girlfriend. It would be to early to come back positive if it came from the woman i had sex with in janaury since it was about 3 weeks post. I have since gotten back with my girlfriend and am now afraid to have sex with her because I don't want to give her anything. Doc, what is your opinion of my situation. Does this sound like herpes?? Should I be worried like I am?? I never had this problem in my pubic region like this so this is why I am scared about having gotten herpes. Thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Folliculitis and impetigo aren't STDs, the only topic for this forum. I'll just say that it can take several days for them to respond to antibiotics. Beyond that, these are questions for your doctor.
Doc, here an update. My doc examined it and believes its inpetigo with folliculitus. You right. He prescribed me some oral antibiotics and some cream. The only problem is that the folliculitus is somewhat painful since I saw him. They are big white bumps in the pubic area were I have inpetigo. Can you please give some advice on how to quicken there healing or get rid of them quicker. I leave the country in two weeks and want this finished before I leave. This is my last question I promise. Thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
A "hard whitehead" can't be herpes. My guess is that some sebaceous glands or hair follicles were blocked by the previous problem or the scab. If you remain concerned, return to the doctor who has been managing this problem.
If your doctor examines you and believes I am mistaken, i.e. thinks you have herpe, please return with another comment to let me know. Other than that, this thread is over; I won't have any more comments or advice.
If your doctor examines you and believes I am mistaken, i.e. thinks you have herpe, please return with another comment to let me know. Other than that, this thread is over; I won't have any more comments or advice.
Just to comment on when I picked off one of the white bumps, it was like a hard white head. It wasn't liquid.
Wow if its not one thing its another. It seems the scab has somewhat cleared up and now there are about 3 small white bumps around the scab area. I picked one white bump off. There not very painful but it looks like herpes to me. I can't believe it. Is this normal for blisters to show up three weeks after the outbreak starts?? Or maybe I had them it the whole time and now there enlarged. I have an appointment with a skin doctor tomorrow but wanted to get your opinion first. Like I said before. I had sex with a girl I didn't know twice and used a condom. I maybe had sex with her for 10 minutes each time. This is depressing. I hope I didn't pass this on to my girlfriend.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Just leave it alone (no picking at the scab) and let it continue to heal. It does not sound like it is taking unusually long. Or return to the doctor treating you if it seems to be getting worse or still not completely cleared up after 2-3 weeks.
Thanks doc. I feel a lot better. As of now there is still a scab surrounded by redness that itches sometimes. It just dissent seem to go away. I have been taking antibiotics and putting antibiotics cream on it too. Is there anything else you would suggest for me to do to get rid of it?? Thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question. I'll try to help.
Your initial suspicions almost certainly were correct: a localized bacterial infection, probably folliculitis and likely triggered by shaving the pubic area. Skin lesion bacterial cultures typically look only for staphylococcus and streptococcus; any of the many species of normal and semi-abnormal skin bacteria are not addressed at all unless the doctor makes a specific request. And the majority of bacteria that contribute to folliculitis in fact are such normal species. (There are hundreds of kinds of skin bacteria, and 10-30 different strains may be present at any time, so attempting to identify any and all bacteria would make the culture test prohibitively complex and expensive.)
Second, the duration of the lesion doesn't predict a viral cause. Indeed, most bacterial infections probably last longer than most viral ones.
As you apparently realize, the only sexually transmitted viral infection likely to cause this kind of problem is herpes. However, initial genital herpes rarely involves the pubic area. Because HSV infections usually don't take hold unless the virus is massaged into the tissues with some vigor, the sites of initial infection usually are those subject to maximum friction during sex -- the penis in men, the vaginal opening or labia minor in women. And most initial herpes has multiple smaller lesions, not a single one of this sort. Finally, new herpes lesion onset is generally within 3-5 days of exposure, rarely as long as 3 weeks.
That said, the only way to guarantee this wasn't herpes is to be tested for it. If redness and inflammation are persisting, you should return to your doctor. He might want to collect another culture for staph and strep; and if you explain your history in detail and he agrees herpes is a possibility, a viral culture might be reasonable. Assuming that isn't practical, e.g the lesion is healing, then the next option is to have another HSV IgG blood test in a few weeks.
In the meantime, however, the chance this is herpes really is very, very low. If I were in your situation, I would continue unprotected sex with my wfie with no fear of infecting her. I think you can safely do so with your new partner as well.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Your initial suspicions almost certainly were correct: a localized bacterial infection, probably folliculitis and likely triggered by shaving the pubic area. Skin lesion bacterial cultures typically look only for staphylococcus and streptococcus; any of the many species of normal and semi-abnormal skin bacteria are not addressed at all unless the doctor makes a specific request. And the majority of bacteria that contribute to folliculitis in fact are such normal species. (There are hundreds of kinds of skin bacteria, and 10-30 different strains may be present at any time, so attempting to identify any and all bacteria would make the culture test prohibitively complex and expensive.)
Second, the duration of the lesion doesn't predict a viral cause. Indeed, most bacterial infections probably last longer than most viral ones.
As you apparently realize, the only sexually transmitted viral infection likely to cause this kind of problem is herpes. However, initial genital herpes rarely involves the pubic area. Because HSV infections usually don't take hold unless the virus is massaged into the tissues with some vigor, the sites of initial infection usually are those subject to maximum friction during sex -- the penis in men, the vaginal opening or labia minor in women. And most initial herpes has multiple smaller lesions, not a single one of this sort. Finally, new herpes lesion onset is generally within 3-5 days of exposure, rarely as long as 3 weeks.
That said, the only way to guarantee this wasn't herpes is to be tested for it. If redness and inflammation are persisting, you should return to your doctor. He might want to collect another culture for staph and strep; and if you explain your history in detail and he agrees herpes is a possibility, a viral culture might be reasonable. Assuming that isn't practical, e.g the lesion is healing, then the next option is to have another HSV IgG blood test in a few weeks.
In the meantime, however, the chance this is herpes really is very, very low. If I were in your situation, I would continue unprotected sex with my wfie with no fear of infecting her. I think you can safely do so with your new partner as well.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
