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Suggest Treatment For Itchy Bumps On Penis When Suffering From Folliculitis
Question: The doctor said it was folliculitis. Basically I shaved my penis a couple weeks ago. Then a few days later it was itchy and I noticed a few isolated red bumps that I assumed were ingrown hairs, but it was still pretty itchy. They were low on my shaft (closer to my body) and at the edge of my shaft, where it meets my body. Eventually some of these red bumps became sores, almost all of them exclusively around hair. But then I woke up with a sore throat, two days later I had a fever and it finally subsided but I saw that about a day and a half after the fever, I had little blisters around one of the sores. I also had swollen lymphs in my groin and neck. The doctor still felt that these were attributable to the folliculitis and prescribed me antibiotics. I've since been taking the antibiotics for the last 3 days but today I saw what I think might be another little group of blisters and the left side of my shaft, close to my body. I can't really tell if they're around hair follicles but it doesn't seem that way. And about midway between my penis and my belly button I have one isolate red bump, also at a hair follicle. I'm just unsure if the doctor was right and it is folliculitis or if it could be something else.
Brief Answer:
History and lab investigations required
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for writing to us on HCM.
I can understand your concern regarding skin lesions over genitals.
I have reviewed your history and pictures and I would like to put forward three differential diagnosis:
1. Herpes progenitalis
2. Scabies
3. Contact dermatitis due to shaving
Its difficult to reach conclusive diagnosis in absence of actual clinical examination.
Therefore to aid in our diagnosis, I would like you to provide some further points in history :
1. History of last sexual episode-how many days before? Whether the person was known or unknown? Condom used or not? Type of sexual act-vaginal/oral/anal etc
2. History of similar lesions in past?
3. History of itching over other parts of the body? and if so whether the itching is prominent over night?
4. History of itching or any other symptoms in your sexual partner?
5. History of burning sensation while passing urine?
6. Details of creams used for shaving and as after-shave.
Apart from these points in history, I would suggest you to undergo following investigations for better understanding:
1. Serum VDRL test
2. Human Immunodeficiency virus antibody test
3. Urine routine and microbiology
4. Human Simplex Virus I and II Antibody test with Ig G and Ig M titre.
Hope you will revert soon with the details asked for.
Thank you
Dr Hardik Pitroda
M.D Dermatology
History and lab investigations required
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for writing to us on HCM.
I can understand your concern regarding skin lesions over genitals.
I have reviewed your history and pictures and I would like to put forward three differential diagnosis:
1. Herpes progenitalis
2. Scabies
3. Contact dermatitis due to shaving
Its difficult to reach conclusive diagnosis in absence of actual clinical examination.
Therefore to aid in our diagnosis, I would like you to provide some further points in history :
1. History of last sexual episode-how many days before? Whether the person was known or unknown? Condom used or not? Type of sexual act-vaginal/oral/anal etc
2. History of similar lesions in past?
3. History of itching over other parts of the body? and if so whether the itching is prominent over night?
4. History of itching or any other symptoms in your sexual partner?
5. History of burning sensation while passing urine?
6. Details of creams used for shaving and as after-shave.
Apart from these points in history, I would suggest you to undergo following investigations for better understanding:
1. Serum VDRL test
2. Human Immunodeficiency virus antibody test
3. Urine routine and microbiology
4. Human Simplex Virus I and II Antibody test with Ig G and Ig M titre.
Hope you will revert soon with the details asked for.
Thank you
Dr Hardik Pitroda
M.D Dermatology
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
1) My last sexual encounter was probably just a few days before. It was with my girlfriend and we are in a monogamous relationship. We see each other every weekend and have sex without a condom, vaginal and oral. We've been together about 8 months and neither of us has ever had symptoms of anything until this most recent episode.
2) No history of lesions in the past. There was one follicle that I had an ingrown hair twice in but that's it.
3) No itching over other body parts.
4) My girlfriend has not experienced any itching but she said she did see a couple of spots around hair follicles in her genital area but they've cleared up now.
5) No burning sensation while urinating. No pain in general.
6) I use Barbasol for shaving cream and I don't use any after shave. I will say the razor I used was not new and therefore a bit dull.
It's currently a weekend but I will have tests done on Monday.
Actually, now that you mention it, more or less during the time that these symptoms first appeared, I had terrible itchiness in the creases of my elbows (not the part where you feel the bone but the front where the elbow bends). It was extremely itchy on both arms. I still feel it every once in a while but not to the same extent as before.
2) No history of lesions in the past. There was one follicle that I had an ingrown hair twice in but that's it.
3) No itching over other body parts.
4) My girlfriend has not experienced any itching but she said she did see a couple of spots around hair follicles in her genital area but they've cleared up now.
5) No burning sensation while urinating. No pain in general.
6) I use Barbasol for shaving cream and I don't use any after shave. I will say the razor I used was not new and therefore a bit dull.
It's currently a weekend but I will have tests done on Monday.
Actually, now that you mention it, more or less during the time that these symptoms first appeared, I had terrible itchiness in the creases of my elbows (not the part where you feel the bone but the front where the elbow bends). It was extremely itchy on both arms. I still feel it every once in a while but not to the same extent as before.
Brief Answer:
Oral acyclovir, topical permethrin
Detailed Answer:
Okay thank you for the history.
Since the test resuts will take a while, I would like to treat you presumptively for herpes and scabies.
I would suggest you a course of oral acyclovir 400 mg three times a day for 1 week.
Tablet ivermectin 12 mg every Sunday for 3 weeks.
Also, apply a cream containing 5% permethrin, below neck onwards to cover whole body followed by bath in warm water after 8 hours. Do not repeat the same unless advised. Ideally, your girlfriend should be examined and treated in similar way to prevent recurrence.
Next day onwards apply hydrocortisone and fusidic acid cream over lesions twice a day for a week.
Launder clothes and beddings in warm water.
Maintain proper hygiene.
Hope this will take care of your issue
Thank you
Dr Hardik Pitroda
Oral acyclovir, topical permethrin
Detailed Answer:
Okay thank you for the history.
Since the test resuts will take a while, I would like to treat you presumptively for herpes and scabies.
I would suggest you a course of oral acyclovir 400 mg three times a day for 1 week.
Tablet ivermectin 12 mg every Sunday for 3 weeks.
Also, apply a cream containing 5% permethrin, below neck onwards to cover whole body followed by bath in warm water after 8 hours. Do not repeat the same unless advised. Ideally, your girlfriend should be examined and treated in similar way to prevent recurrence.
Next day onwards apply hydrocortisone and fusidic acid cream over lesions twice a day for a week.
Launder clothes and beddings in warm water.
Maintain proper hygiene.
Hope this will take care of your issue
Thank you
Dr Hardik Pitroda
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
Answered by
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