Is this Herpes or Folliculitis?

[Nia72]

Hello,


I am 36, female, and I have a recurrent problem of a flat top boil, without a mouth or any liquid, near the anus. It's extremely painful if pressed but does not bother me much otherwise other than a little soreness. It starts out pea sized and increases to about 1 and half inch long boil and is bulky on the inside like a gland. Then slowly becomes small again and seems to flare up if it has been pressed or scraped against by the panty. It has been there for almost a month and has gone back to pea size.

Sometimes, I get elongated flat topped boil, about teh size of a kidney bean,on the outer lip of the vagina near the perineum which is very painful, is tender and seems  filled with a little fluid,does not increase much in size and after few very painful days, breaks to let out a little blood, without pus. I shave my pubic area very often. I saw a venerologist and she said it was a folliculitis issue. But a dermatologist says it might be herpes. What does it sound like to you? Please help.

[Nia72]

Thank you kindd. It's relieving to know it may not be herpes.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hi,

The genital herpes usually presents as a cluster of inflamed papules and does not occur as single lesions which is in your case and thus I would strongly consider and go with the diagnosis of Folliculitis and especially since you shave off the pubic area when the chances of folliculitis are slightly more.

I sincerely hope that helps. Please do keep me posted.