Folliculitis or what?

[rook_pup]

Hello Doctor,

Let me give you a quick history. I had a risky encounter back in 02/04. Being aware of this, I was tested for all STDs in the quoted timeframes. This included a HerpeSelect HSV 1 and 2 test at 16 weeks and 24 weeks post exposure. Both times I was negative for both HSV 1 and 2.

Since, this experience I am much more aware of everything on my body. Over the past year and half I have had pimple like bumps in my pubic area. Usually it happens once every serveral months and most of the time it's just one. If there are multiple pimple like bumps they are never close together.

I saw a couple of dermatologist and they both stated that it was Folliculitis. So, I have not been worried at all.

Well, on Friday I had one pimple like bump come up on my left pubic area. It was hard and red, much like a pimple. So, that night I used an anti-bacterical soap. Saturday morning, it looked liked it was really red on the outer edged with a white and red (blood) like center (kind of pus like). It pop sometime in the day and left a little red creator. This morning it had a little scab over the top of it. It also looks like it's going down. I took a shower and scab came off and looks like a slightly red bump.

Here are my questions:
1) Is this typical Folliculitis?
2) This has been going on (off and on) for almost 18 months. Is there a way to get rid of this?
3) Could it be herpes, after testing negative (16 and 24 weeks) after my last possible exposure?

Thank you for yor time and happy holidays.

[shrimp94]

I am 21 year old female and I've noticed that I have some kind of ongoing skin disorder. I get ichty, sometimes red, tiny bumps that occur across my chest, occaisonally on my back, and recently on my thighs. They are all follicles. They are very few and spread out where they occur, except for on my chest. On my chest it is worse. It looks like all of the follicles on my chest are infammed. But they are not red, only sometimes when a certain area will act up and begin to itch. You can only tell that they are inflammed to the close eye. The ones on my thighs and back will eventually heal and go away, but the appearance of my chest seems to stay the same. Also, some will develop into tiny pustules. The pustules heal but they take a while for the mark to fade away. I also get them on my face from time to time. Since then, my face, especially on my cheeks, has a rough uneven texture. It seems like they appear instantly and begin to itch, or maybe I just haven't noticed. My boyfriend also seems to have the same condition. His affects mostly his neck. My question is, is this folliculitis? And if it is, does the infected follicule scar? By the way, other than this, I suffer from no other ailments of the skin or internally as far as fever or anything that would link it to something else.  

Thanks

[illusioneer]

C.H.G. (chlorhexidine gluconate) is a great skin treatment for infection.  MRSA (Resistant Staff) is becoming more common in non health care enviroments. If I have a boil or inflamed open area I wash with HIBICLEANSE, and it clears-up in 24hr. or less!  Hibi is an over the counter surgical scrub/ antimicrobial that effective aginst most microbes.  But external use only.  It is by far the fastest cure for a boil/lg pimple.  Illusioneer

[ryn21]

Its safe to say that after two negative HSV I and II tests at 24 weeks, you can forget about herpes.  Your symptoms are typical for folliculitis.  If you are susceptible to folliculitis, then chances are you will get it from time to time.  Anti-fungal ointments and antibiotics will help clear the bumps up.  Using a mild anti-bacterial soap would prevent them from recurring.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

1) Is this typical Folliculitis?
Yes.
2) This has been going on (off and on) for almost 18 months. Is there a way to get rid of this?
It's hard.  Washing with an antibacterial soak and applying an antibiotic ointment like bacitracin may help.  This should be applied on the spot and also in your nose, since bacteria can live there and not cause problems.
3) Could it be herpes, after testing negative (16 and 24 weeks) after my last possible exposure?
I doubt it, but you'd need to see a doctor in person to examine you to be more sure than I can be at this distance.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff