Won't go away!

[jenjen1970]

About 8 weeks ago, I woke up with a big pus-filled pimple like thing about an inch below the start of my pubic hair.  I popped it and pus came out.  It was a big bump,I put camphophenique on it and it did nothing, because I thought it was a bug bite.  About a week later it filled with pus again and I popped it. The bump was pretty big for about 3 weeks. I put a needle in it to see if anything was in there again after another week, a little blood came out.  I put ice on it.  It finally went down flat, but there is still a mark left and it is red.  It does not hurt, but it the redness will not go away.  I then thought it might be herpes, but there was no blister or open sore, or pain.  What can this be?  Why is it taking so long to heal?   I have been putting different things on it, but nothing seems to help.  I even tried herpes treatments from over the internet.  It just seems like it is being irritated more.  What can I do to heal this?

[jenjen1970]

What can I do to make it heal or prevent infection?  It does not hurt where the redness is, but i s beginning to radiate pain in the surrounding area.  How long will it take to heal?  Can a doctor do anything?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

This sounds like a boil, not like herpes.  Once a boil drains or is lanced, its stays lumpy and red for a long time--weeks or months.  If you mess with it, it takes longer.  I advise you to ignore it and leave it alone.  Show it to a doctor if it still makes you anxious.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff