paranoid

As a paraniod person, i get concerned with everything. About 1 year ago i was diagnosed with herpes. It has stayed pretty minor affecting only 2 spots(inside the opening) Recently within the last few months, when i shave my pubic area, i am getting alot of bumps. Some background on this, the hair is growing in two hairs in one follicale, and the bumps tend to come in those spots. But some of the bumps form a blister like sore. It usually comes after shaving and if i "open the bliser" it does seem to have a small hair inside of it. I have never had this much problems shaving. Do you feel like this can be related to the herpes, or is it just shaving? The bumps and blister are more along the "bikini line" but after breaking them they can sting. But they go away within 2-3 days after this. Another symptom to all of this is the intense itching where i am shaving, but the itching is not on or even around the bumps. any suggestions?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No, it doesn't sound like herpes, more likely folliculitis related to shaving.  That follows both from your description of the lesions and their location; herpes rarely occurs in the pubic area or along the "bikini line" (good term, very descriptive!).  Also, herpes recurrences generally occur repeatedly at more or less the same spot; so your future recurrences are most likely to be limited to "inside the opening" (to the vagina, I assume you mean).

I'm not sure about the itching in the shaved area.  The usual advice applies--see a health care provider if it persists.

Paranoid or not, you can relax.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[unlucky7]

Just a quick comment!

shaving my pubic hair causes me to itch a day or two later when the hair is growing back!

Without any medical knowledge this is just a quick insight as to why you might be itching?

I tend to itch the day after i have shaved! normally i buy a cream for this you get with most waxing treatments and use it on the area after i have shaved. this usually helps with the itching!

Many of my friends experince the same when shaving?