Pimple or Herpes (pubic hair)

[Pananoiaguy]

I'll try to be brief. Thank you for any advice you can offer.
     May- I saw a girl for a month and we kissed in our underwear regularly and she grinded on me (always underwear on). She then told me she was HSV2 positive. I fingered her twice and she gave me oral twice. I was careful to wash my hands after fingering her. I stopped seeing her for other reasons. I researched HSV2 and had a bit of paranoia months later but never symptoms.
     November- Saw a new girl, HSV status unconfirmed although states no symptoms. We had protected sex several times over the weekend.
     2 weeks after new girl- at the very top of my pubic hair just below my waistline I had a red spot the size of half a pea. It looked like a pimple with clear puss and a slight white head. It looked slightly inflamed like a ingrown hair but I could not locate a trapped hair. It did not hurt or itch.  I popped it and clear&white puss came out and some blood. It immediately scabbed over (just red blood colored) and all inflammation disappeared. It is now a small 1cm scab that appears to be healing.
      I did not have any tingling, itching or pain whatsoever. It never had any sort of discharge after popping either. No flu like symptoms or pain urinating.
      I am wondering what this could be? Any advice or experience would greatly help. Let me know if you have any follow up questions and thank you for taking the time to answer.
-Nervous

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be infected hair follicles, folliculitis or boils. Folliculitis starts when hair follicles are damaged by friction from clothing or blockage of the follicle. In most cases of folliculitis, the damaged follicles are then infected with the bacteria Staphylococcus (staph).

Apply warm compresses, Neosporin ointment and calamine lotion and avoid messing with it.You  can take anti-inflammatory pain killers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Also wear cotton clothes and apply topical antiseptics. If the symptoms persist then it will be best to get it evaluated from a dermatologist. It may need incision and drainage.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Pananoiaguy]

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

[martikadragoon]

I think it was an ingrown hair as well. People with herpes tend to get symptoms like itching/tingling, etc. before, during and after a breakout. I have a family member with this and those are symptoms she has described.

You should be getting yearly STD/STI testing done just to make sure of your status.

Cindie
Martikadragoon,
CL Dermatology

[BeeFree]

It was probably an ingrown hair. Sometimes the tip of the hair is too far beneath the skin to locate, especially when the area is inflamed and resembles a pimple. This has happened to me before-- same appearance, same reaction and healing process after being gently squeezed.
It's great that you are being cautious, but I don't think you need to be concerned. If you notice any more popping up, get a doc to look at them.