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STDs (Expert Forum)
razor burn or herpes
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
razor burn or herpes
by alav07, Jun 17, 2009 04:31PM
Today i woke up and has 3 small reddish bumps on my bikini line. I shaved the area a few days ago and went tanning yesterday. I noticed one bump yesterday and thought it was a pimple so i put some prescription medicine on it. Today, that one bump is small, but i now have two others in the same area. i tried picking them and one popped and then bled a little, and the others are just swollen now. occasionally get little red bumps in my bikini area from shaving, but not so many at once.
Does this sound like it could be herpes??
Does this sound like it could be herpes??
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 17, 2009 05:26PM
, Jun 17, 2009 05:26PM
Welcome to the STD forum. On the basis of the location of the lesions, this doesn't sound like herpes. But more detail would be helpful. Here are some characteristics of recurrent genital herpes that should help you decide:
* Usually the genitals (labia minor, vaginal opening) or near the anus, but can happen anywhere in the "boxer shorts" area.
* Uncommon in hair-bearing areas, like you seem to have.
* Every episode in the same spot, give or take an inch (one guideline says all recurrences will be within the area of a quarter).
* Almost always on one side of the body or the other, never occuring on the other side.
* Lesions progress from red bump to blister over 1-3 days, then to open sore or scab over the next few days, then heal over a few days -- total duration typically 10-12 days.
* Episodes never recur more often than once a month, usually every 2-3 months. Between outbreaks the skin looks and feels entirely normal.
* Close examination shows no association with hairs, whereas in many other conditions (like folliculitis due to shaving), usually each lesion has a hair in the middle.
Of course, the only way to know for sure is to see a health care provider. But if most of the above descriptions don't apply, you can be pretty sure herpes isn't the cause.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
* Usually the genitals (labia minor, vaginal opening) or near the anus, but can happen anywhere in the "boxer shorts" area.
* Uncommon in hair-bearing areas, like you seem to have.
* Every episode in the same spot, give or take an inch (one guideline says all recurrences will be within the area of a quarter).
* Almost always on one side of the body or the other, never occuring on the other side.
* Lesions progress from red bump to blister over 1-3 days, then to open sore or scab over the next few days, then heal over a few days -- total duration typically 10-12 days.
* Episodes never recur more often than once a month, usually every 2-3 months. Between outbreaks the skin looks and feels entirely normal.
* Close examination shows no association with hairs, whereas in many other conditions (like folliculitis due to shaving), usually each lesion has a hair in the middle.
Of course, the only way to know for sure is to see a health care provider. But if most of the above descriptions don't apply, you can be pretty sure herpes isn't the cause.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
The spots are definitely in a hair bearing area. However, they occur within the same area usually and sometimes but rarely on the other side of my body. I notice them like every -3-4 weeks. Whenever i get these bumps, they're usually gone within the week, never blister or scab - just go away. Sometimes there is a hair in the bump, and sometimes no hair. I'm just worried, because there are 3 close together this time. However, it is the first time I've shaved the area in months.
Do you think that these details point to a possibility that it could be herpes?
I'm not able to get to my dr's until next week, and i'm nervous the spots will be gone by then. But i think this is good news. last night i put some pimple medicine on the spots and when i woke up this morning, they are practically gone. It hasnt even been 48 hrs and the red spots are gone.
That's a good sign right?