Aa
Possible HPV
Doctors
I'm a 40 year old black male with HSV2 (Valtrex) and no other STD's. About 4 1/2 weeks ago I had sex with a girl I met while in Bahrain. She said that about 5 months ago she had been tested for HIV and other STD's which were negative. I also had sex with her again 10 days after the first time (so about 3 weeks ago). I used a condom each time. About 15 days later while using a mirror I noticed a small dark colored lesion/growth thing in my perineum area closer to the backside of my scrotum. It felt like a small piece of skin laying flat but, when I rubbed my finger over it, I could lift it up. It was maybe about three or four times the size of a pin head. I also noticed that after moving and rubbing on it a few times to examine it, it became irritated. I applied vinegar to it but, there was no change in color. I had it looked at by a Doctor and he said that it could be a small skin tag or a wart but, it was an uncommon place for a wart to grow. He said I could leave it or treat it. I opted to treat it so he prescribed me Podofilox. I asked how can I be certain what it is. His response was that if it goes away then it was a wart but, if nothing changes after a week of Podofilox then it's probably a skin tag and would not be necessary to continue with treatment. I've been using Podofilox for the last three days and the color has changed. It's no longer dark but, now gray. Also I have two small bumps that look like raised hair follicles on my scrotum where I applied Podofilox to them just in case and they have gotten smaller. So, my questions: 1. From your point of view, what do you think it could be; a wart or skin tag? 2. How fast do warts grow? 3. Would Podofilox make a skin tag go away just as a wart? I got some on my regular skin and it turned to a grayish looking color. 4. Does this grayish looking color mean that Podofilox is working as it should? 5. How much of a risk is this for my significant other?
I'm a 40 year old black male with HSV2 (Valtrex) and no other STD's. About 4 1/2 weeks ago I had sex with a girl I met while in Bahrain. She said that about 5 months ago she had been tested for HIV and other STD's which were negative. I also had sex with her again 10 days after the first time (so about 3 weeks ago). I used a condom each time. About 15 days later while using a mirror I noticed a small dark colored lesion/growth thing in my perineum area closer to the backside of my scrotum. It felt like a small piece of skin laying flat but, when I rubbed my finger over it, I could lift it up. It was maybe about three or four times the size of a pin head. I also noticed that after moving and rubbing on it a few times to examine it, it became irritated. I applied vinegar to it but, there was no change in color. I had it looked at by a Doctor and he said that it could be a small skin tag or a wart but, it was an uncommon place for a wart to grow. He said I could leave it or treat it. I opted to treat it so he prescribed me Podofilox. I asked how can I be certain what it is. His response was that if it goes away then it was a wart but, if nothing changes after a week of Podofilox then it's probably a skin tag and would not be necessary to continue with treatment. I've been using Podofilox for the last three days and the color has changed. It's no longer dark but, now gray. Also I have two small bumps that look like raised hair follicles on my scrotum where I applied Podofilox to them just in case and they have gotten smaller. So, my questions: 1. From your point of view, what do you think it could be; a wart or skin tag? 2. How fast do warts grow? 3. Would Podofilox make a skin tag go away just as a wart? I got some on my regular skin and it turned to a grayish looking color. 4. Does this grayish looking color mean that Podofilox is working as it should? 5. How much of a risk is this for my significant other?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I see no reason for you to continue the poofilox at this time and woul not worry about transmission of this lesion to your SO. EWH
Thanks for your quick response.
It sure helps to relieve the stress I've been under. So you think it's more than likely a skin tag? I kind of thought so as well but, needed a second opinion. It doesn't look like the warts I've seen online. It's a single growth that's darker than the rest of my skin and in an area that's uncommon for warts. I don't have any other noticeable growths.
Sometimes it feels like the Podofilox is burning through my skin. The directions say to use it for three days on and four days off. Today is my third day. Would you recommend that I go for another round after the four days off or discontinue use? I have not had sex with my SO since the occasion and want to ensure that nothing happens if do.
It sure helps to relieve the stress I've been under. So you think it's more than likely a skin tag? I kind of thought so as well but, needed a second opinion. It doesn't look like the warts I've seen online. It's a single growth that's darker than the rest of my skin and in an area that's uncommon for warts. I don't have any other noticeable growths.
Sometimes it feels like the Podofilox is burning through my skin. The directions say to use it for three days on and four days off. Today is my third day. Would you recommend that I go for another round after the four days off or discontinue use? I have not had sex with my SO since the occasion and want to ensure that nothing happens if do.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. I'll be pleased to comment. Let me start by telling you that it sounds like you have a better than average doctor who has advised you. His comments are right on target and he has enough self confidence to acknowledge the lesions of the sort you describe could be one of several things. There are all too many doctors who would not have taken this approach.
My sense is that this is unlikely to be a wart. My reasons for saying this are reflected in both what your doctor has said, as well as your questions. Further, is it is a wart, you did not get it from your recent partner. It takes considerably longer than 4-5 weeks for a wart to get to the sort of lesion you describe. thus:
1. The location is a bit unusual for HPV but typical for a skin tag.
2. The lesion has appeared too soon after your recent exposures to be a wart from this partner.
3. The color change is due to the inflammation cause by the Podofilox. It is too be expected.
Other comments:
1. The vinegar test is not reliable. Over half of lesions that change color with vinegar are not warts.
2. I doubt that this is a risk of any sort to your SO
3. You are of an age when skin tags begin to occur. Liquid nitrogen freezing would remove the lesion you are concerned about, whether it is HPV (doubtful) or a skin tag (which is what I suspect it is).
Finally, there are many bumps of the sort you describe which are typically present on the scrotum. I suspect you noticed them because you are examining yourself more closely than you had before the encounters you described. I wouldn’t worry about them.
I hope my comments are helpful. EWH
My sense is that this is unlikely to be a wart. My reasons for saying this are reflected in both what your doctor has said, as well as your questions. Further, is it is a wart, you did not get it from your recent partner. It takes considerably longer than 4-5 weeks for a wart to get to the sort of lesion you describe. thus:
1. The location is a bit unusual for HPV but typical for a skin tag.
2. The lesion has appeared too soon after your recent exposures to be a wart from this partner.
3. The color change is due to the inflammation cause by the Podofilox. It is too be expected.
Other comments:
1. The vinegar test is not reliable. Over half of lesions that change color with vinegar are not warts.
2. I doubt that this is a risk of any sort to your SO
3. You are of an age when skin tags begin to occur. Liquid nitrogen freezing would remove the lesion you are concerned about, whether it is HPV (doubtful) or a skin tag (which is what I suspect it is).
Finally, there are many bumps of the sort you describe which are typically present on the scrotum. I suspect you noticed them because you are examining yourself more closely than you had before the encounters you described. I wouldn’t worry about them.
I hope my comments are helpful. EWH
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