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Suggest Treatment For Ingrown Hair On Penis Shaft
Question: Hello Doc,
I often get ingrown hairs on my penis shaft. This time, I have one that looked different, and so I wanted to check that it wasn't something else, like herpes.
It started three days ago. I got redness around a usual ingrown hair spot. It wasn't a watery blister, but it was red and raised leading up to the pore that often gets an ingrown hair. That night, I squeezed it and infection/pus came out of the pore where the hair is. It was not clear at all, but white. However, it wasn't waxy like what often come out. Yesterday, and today, when I squeezed it, more of the fluid/white pus came out.
I can see a hair under the skin, and this afternoon I saw a little hair poking out from the pore, but now I can't see the hair. The swelling/bump is slightly larger this evening
It doesn't hurt, and it doesn't itch. Does this sound like it could be herpes? Would herpes drain out that color fluid, out of a hair follicle pore, and do that for three days without really bursting?
I often get ingrown hairs on my penis shaft. This time, I have one that looked different, and so I wanted to check that it wasn't something else, like herpes.
It started three days ago. I got redness around a usual ingrown hair spot. It wasn't a watery blister, but it was red and raised leading up to the pore that often gets an ingrown hair. That night, I squeezed it and infection/pus came out of the pore where the hair is. It was not clear at all, but white. However, it wasn't waxy like what often come out. Yesterday, and today, when I squeezed it, more of the fluid/white pus came out.
I can see a hair under the skin, and this afternoon I saw a little hair poking out from the pore, but now I can't see the hair. The swelling/bump is slightly larger this evening
It doesn't hurt, and it doesn't itch. Does this sound like it could be herpes? Would herpes drain out that color fluid, out of a hair follicle pore, and do that for three days without really bursting?
Brief Answer:
folliculitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I read carefully your query.
It seems to be just folliculitis ,inflammation of a hair follicle.It is not herpes.
Herpes has a very typical clinical presentation with tingling and itching 1-2 days before the lesions appear.The herpes lesions look like water-filled blisters,which form ulcers when they burst.
I would suggest to apply some hot compresses or do sits baths in warm water to ease the discomfort.Don't squeeze it or touch it all the time.This can make the inflammation worse and prolong the healing time.
You can apply a topical antibiotic like neosporin 3-4 times a day for few days.
Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have any question.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati
folliculitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I read carefully your query.
It seems to be just folliculitis ,inflammation of a hair follicle.It is not herpes.
Herpes has a very typical clinical presentation with tingling and itching 1-2 days before the lesions appear.The herpes lesions look like water-filled blisters,which form ulcers when they burst.
I would suggest to apply some hot compresses or do sits baths in warm water to ease the discomfort.Don't squeeze it or touch it all the time.This can make the inflammation worse and prolong the healing time.
You can apply a topical antibiotic like neosporin 3-4 times a day for few days.
Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have any question.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr. Murati,
Thank you for your answer. I'm very glad to hear it isn't herpes.
I did, in fact, have any itchy going about 1.5 weeks to 2 weeks before this appeared. Not really itchy, but I can remember it. It was a hot day, and I was walking and sweating a bit, so I attributed it to that.
I wanted to follow up with a picture, which I have submitted. You can see that I have a few other ingrown hairs or raised hair follicles. They are the usual. This is typical for me, as I mentioned, and usually a hard waxy substance comes out. I shaved a few weeks ago, which often caused the problem.
You will also see a scar, like a hole, beside the redness. This is from about 15 years ago when I had a really bad ingrown hair for a long time. It was quite swollen for a few months before it cleared up. I went to the doctor at that time, and he said it was an ingrown hair.
I applied the antibiotic cream, as you said, and the swelling has seemed to go down, and it doesn't seem as infected.
Does this still seem to match folliculitis?
Thank you for your answer. I'm very glad to hear it isn't herpes.
I did, in fact, have any itchy going about 1.5 weeks to 2 weeks before this appeared. Not really itchy, but I can remember it. It was a hot day, and I was walking and sweating a bit, so I attributed it to that.
I wanted to follow up with a picture, which I have submitted. You can see that I have a few other ingrown hairs or raised hair follicles. They are the usual. This is typical for me, as I mentioned, and usually a hard waxy substance comes out. I shaved a few weeks ago, which often caused the problem.
You will also see a scar, like a hole, beside the redness. This is from about 15 years ago when I had a really bad ingrown hair for a long time. It was quite swollen for a few months before it cleared up. I went to the doctor at that time, and he said it was an ingrown hair.
I applied the antibiotic cream, as you said, and the swelling has seemed to go down, and it doesn't seem as infected.
Does this still seem to match folliculitis?
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
From your description it really seems to be folliculitis. The itching probably was related to irritation from sweating and friction.Herpes causes a tingling feeling and itchiness only 1-2 days before the blisters on skin form.So it is very unlikely to be herpes.
I couldn't see the picture you sent.Can you please send it again .
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
From your description it really seems to be folliculitis. The itching probably was related to irritation from sweating and friction.Herpes causes a tingling feeling and itchiness only 1-2 days before the blisters on skin form.So it is very unlikely to be herpes.
I couldn't see the picture you sent.Can you please send it again .
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
That is good to know, thank you.
I have re-uploaded the pictures, I hope successfully this time.
I have re-uploaded the pictures, I hope successfully this time.
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
I have evaluated the pictures you sent.Definitely it is not herpes.It is just inflammation of hair follicle.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
I have evaluated the pictures you sent.Definitely it is not herpes.It is just inflammation of hair follicle.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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