Aa
razor burn or herpes
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??
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
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
hi Dr,
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?
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?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Herpes is still a lot less likely than folliculitis. See a provider when the problem is active. Or stop shaving, and the problem might stop happening.
Thank you Dr,
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?
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 forgot to add - the bumps dont hurt in any way, nor have I felt any tingling, burning feeling in the area.
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.
