What could this be?

[Sunshine]

Hi Terry,
I am so thankful for your site and hopefully you can put my mind at ease and help me get some answers.

This past Wednesday I went to the beach and went swimming in the ocean. That morning before the beach I showered and shaved with a new razor. After being at the beach for a few hours I noticed this rash starting to appear.

Today is Friday and this is what it looks like. At the moment it isn’t itchy and only slightly itchy sometimes when I touch it.

I put Bacitracin on it once Wednesday evening. Last night I put Mupirocin on it.
It was itchy yesterday but not constant, mostly an irritated feeling.

I shave often and usually leave my razor in the shower. I have this rash on and off often. Especially after shaving. I have never had a blister or any oozing or crusting.

The right side is always worse than the left. Sometimes I will only have the rash on the right.
I have no other rash past this area you can see. No genital lesions. Go to the gyno regularly but have never been told this looks suspicious even when I point it out to the Dr.

I’ve never had a herpes test before.
Please can you help? Could this be herpes or what is it?

[Terri Warren]

This looks absolutely nothing like herpes but is certainly does look like folliculitis – an inflammation of the hair follicles and it very very common after shaving, particularly if an older blade is used without proper shaving creams. Nothing at all liker herpes. Zero.

Terri

[Sunshine]

Can folliculitis keep coming back again and again for years if untreated? And can it be predominatly on one side?

You don’t think the two little red bumps in my midline above the pubic area look concerning? I didn’t even shave up there.

[Terri Warren]

Yes it can keep coming back every time you shave for years and years.
I’m not clear about the little bumps above the midline – they could be herpes I suppose now that you point them out but they are pretty small and you would need either a swab test of the bumps or a herpes antibody test to know for certain.

Terri

[Sunshine]

The two things in my midline are still here and unchanged. I can’t tell if it’s tiny bumps or scratch marks. They still don’t itch, don’t hurt and haven’t changed. No oozing or crusting or blistering.
If this was hepes, could it remain unchanged for several days?

I plan on getting a blood test igg for herpes.

How can I treat and get rid of this folliculitis?
Do I need antibiotics? Should I continue to use mupirocin cream?

Thanks for all your help Terri.

[Terri Warren]

The cream you are using should be helpful. If it is not, you may need antibiotics down the road. I also suggest clipping pubic hair vs. shaving to avoid this (waxing also gives folliculitis). Good to get an antibody test to address your concern about these red areas. Herpes is unlikely to go unchanged for this long a time period.

This was your last question on this subscription. If you have more questions, please feel free to renew.

Terri

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