Aa
several questions
I have been several times to the doctor now. I spotted one very small, hard, bump near my hairline. I went to the doctor immediately and was told it was an ingrown hair.
A month later, the bump hadn't gone away and there was another one in another location. I went back to the doctor and this time was told it could be skin tags or warts. They were burned off.
About 2 weeks later, I found two even tinier spots. I, again, went to the doctor and was told they could be warts or skin tags but the doctor used acid on them.
First question - is there any chance that these are, indeed, skin tags. Would stress or something else increase the incidence of skin tags? Is there a chance they are something else entirely?
Second - The doctor told me it was likely warts but that it wasn't a big deal and that 60% of all adults are already exposed to it. What are your thought on this?
Third - relates to HIV testing. I was tested about a month after exposure and the results were negative. How much can I rely on this test?
I'm not really sure how to handle this or what to think. Any advice would be very appreciated. Thank you.
A month later, the bump hadn't gone away and there was another one in another location. I went back to the doctor and this time was told it could be skin tags or warts. They were burned off.
About 2 weeks later, I found two even tinier spots. I, again, went to the doctor and was told they could be warts or skin tags but the doctor used acid on them.
First question - is there any chance that these are, indeed, skin tags. Would stress or something else increase the incidence of skin tags? Is there a chance they are something else entirely?
Second - The doctor told me it was likely warts but that it wasn't a big deal and that 60% of all adults are already exposed to it. What are your thought on this?
Third - relates to HIV testing. I was tested about a month after exposure and the results were negative. How much can I rely on this test?
I'm not really sure how to handle this or what to think. Any advice would be very appreciated. Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sorry, I have nothing more to say. Continue to work with your dermatologist about it.
Hello Dr. Handsfield,
I went to see the dermatologist, as you suggested but he told me the same thing - that it might be a wart or a skin tag. I was wondering if genital warts would show up on a pap smear for sure?
Also, the bumps are not fleshy but tiny and a little hard.
I went to see the dermatologist, as you suggested but he told me the same thing - that it might be a wart or a skin tag. I was wondering if genital warts would show up on a pap smear for sure?
Also, the bumps are not fleshy but tiny and a little hard.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This doesn't sound like either warts or molluscum. MC usually causes bright pink lesions, quite firm, often with a dimple in the center. Warts usually aren't soft or fleshy (which you seem to be describing, although you don't use those words) and, as I said above, the location is atypical for warts. MC is definitely not a sign of HIV; aggressive/progrissive MC in adults, especially in non-genital areas, can be evidence of immune deficiency. But not in situations like yours. Stress alone cannot cause skin lesions.
All I can do is reiterate the advice to continue to work with your provider and/or get a second opinion, preferably from a dermatologist. Sorry I mis-read your gender.
All I can do is reiterate the advice to continue to work with your provider and/or get a second opinion, preferably from a dermatologist. Sorry I mis-read your gender.
Dear Dr. Handsfield,
I thank you very much for your kind response.
I don't know that it makes a difference but I am actually female.
With regard to the bumps, they seem to appear right at the point where the pubic hair line ends - sort of at that point close to the thigh. Also, I forgot to mention that they are flesh-colored.
The forum seems to suggest that molluscum contagiosum is a sign of HIV? Is that the case? Or could this be brought on by something like stress?
I appreciate your comment greatly. Thank you for your kind words.
I thank you very much for your kind response.
I don't know that it makes a difference but I am actually female.
With regard to the bumps, they seem to appear right at the point where the pubic hair line ends - sort of at that point close to the thigh. Also, I forgot to mention that they are flesh-colored.
The forum seems to suggest that molluscum contagiosum is a sign of HIV? Is that the case? Or could this be brought on by something like stress?
I appreciate your comment greatly. Thank you for your kind words.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Directly to your three questions.
1) There is no way I can say what the bumps are if the diagnosis remains unclear after direct examination by a doctor. I don't know where you mean by "hairline", but genital warts aren't very common in the pubic hair area. One possibility might be molluscum contagiosum, a minor viral infection which often occurs in the pubic area and which some doctors confuse with genital warts. If you're not certain about your doctor's expertise in this area, you might want to see a dermatologist.
2) At least 80% of sexually active adults acquire a genital infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) somewhere along the line; it is a normal and expected part of being sexually active. However, most HPV infections don't cause warts. There are no good data on how many people catch HPV types 6 and 11, the usual cause of genital warts, but it's probably around 20-25%. It is true that warts generally are not "a big deal".
3) About 90% of people with new HIV infections have positive test results at 1 month. If you had a high risk exposure -- i.e., sex with another man, an injection drug users, or a woman known to have HIV -- you should have another test 6-8 weeks after the exposure (or even as long as 3 months, although it rarely takes that long for the test to be reliable). Scan the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex forum for innumerable questions and discussions about these points.
Best wishes-- HHH, Md
1) There is no way I can say what the bumps are if the diagnosis remains unclear after direct examination by a doctor. I don't know where you mean by "hairline", but genital warts aren't very common in the pubic hair area. One possibility might be molluscum contagiosum, a minor viral infection which often occurs in the pubic area and which some doctors confuse with genital warts. If you're not certain about your doctor's expertise in this area, you might want to see a dermatologist.
2) At least 80% of sexually active adults acquire a genital infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) somewhere along the line; it is a normal and expected part of being sexually active. However, most HPV infections don't cause warts. There are no good data on how many people catch HPV types 6 and 11, the usual cause of genital warts, but it's probably around 20-25%. It is true that warts generally are not "a big deal".
3) About 90% of people with new HIV infections have positive test results at 1 month. If you had a high risk exposure -- i.e., sex with another man, an injection drug users, or a woman known to have HIV -- you should have another test 6-8 weeks after the exposure (or even as long as 3 months, although it rarely takes that long for the test to be reliable). Scan the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex forum for innumerable questions and discussions about these points.
Best wishes-- HHH, Md
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
