what is folliculitis?? Can it be mistaken for HSV? - Herpes Message Board

sdl121 · 05-31-2005, 08:11 AM

First, let say thank you again for everyone putting up with me all these months!! I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing me by now

That being said, I just don't think I can take another roller coaster ride of emotions here. How hard can it be to diagnose some with HSV or not!!?? I was diagnosed by a doctor several months back because I had a rash of small red bumps where my pubic hair grows. It had started to spread to my thighs and knees a little bit too. She didn't do a blood test, just said it was herpes.

I finally got into another doctor on Thursday and had her take a look because nothing was really working to help the rash go away. It would last 2-3 weeks, then go away, and then come back about a week later. It's been itchy, but not really any other symptoms of herpes, but I've never had a rash on my genitals before so I didn't know what else to think! So this second doctor took one look and said it was folliculitis, probably a bacterial infection caused by my razor, and it didn't look anything like herpes so don't worry. Anyway, this second doctor put my mind at ease, but I did ask for a blood test just to be sure anyway (so we are still waiting for the results back from that) but then just 2 days after I saw her, the rash came back again. So that just sent my mind racing again, even after she told me not to worry. Why would the bacterial infection keep coming back even though I haven't been shaving again?

Does anyone know anything about folliculitis? ever had it before? I just feel like I'm going through finding out I have herpes all over again!

movingrightalong · 05-31-2005, 10:59 AM

Folliculitis can hang around in your system for awhile if you don't truly erradicate it. I've had a few bouts of it on my legs. Once I actually had to take antibiotics. Years later I was able to eventually get rid of it with topical ointment (I went through a LOT of neosporin). The sores are red and can have open middles (because they affect the hair follicle) and can weep and crust. That's about all I can tell you--- it's possible that it's hanging out in your system and it can be caused by either strep or staph.
And as an interesting side note, the last time I had it I was having a heck of a time getting rid of it--- it would be almost gone and I'd let my guard down and it would come back... and I noticed that I also had a really painful sore inside my nose. Then I remembered reading somwhere that even when a person takes antibiotics, a little but of wahtever bacteria can live just inside the tip of the nose--- I think because it's such a lovely temperature and a moist environement--- and survive to resurface again. It wasn't until I started putting the neosporin inside my nose tip as well that I actually got better.
Just thought it was interesting and I'd share it as a side story!