[LiteraryLark]

I have this large pimple on my bikini line. It's the size of a fingernail, and this is the third time it has happened to me. It went away before my ob/gyn but it came back in the same place, always the same place. I have tried to squeeze it to see if any pus would come out but nothing, it just made it even more swollen.

Is it an ingrown hair? A very large pimple due to friction? I googled genital warts and it doesn't look anything like that, but the fact that this is the third time it's happen makes me very concerned.

[Hobbit House]

Maybe a cyst or a boil? I had a boil that acted like that and had to get it lanced.

Not sure if clinic visits are free for you, but if it's a big concern, just pop in to one and ask a doc what they think it may be.

My boyfriend has done this in the past for a similar concern, fortunately it was nothing. Better to be safe than sorry though, right?

[avlady]

yes, better safe than sorry i say too!!

[laffer75]

Doesn't sound too concerning, but have it checked us a good idea

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by LiteraryLark

Is it an ingrown hair? A very large pimple due to friction? I googled genital warts and it doesn't look anything like that, but the fact that this is the third time it's happen makes me very concerned.

Do you shave or whatever? I would say yes to your first two choices. Maybe try putting a bandaid on it so the friction is controlled? And or not wearing a panty where the elastic rubs on it. Its so easy to get a boil and or ingrown hair.

Itll either get better (self absorb) or get worse (get a head). Heating pad / warm compress may help. If you think youre getting a fever from it or it gets red and splotchy, go to urgent care?

[childofchaos831]

It sounds like an ingrown hair or a boil to me. I have had them in that area. Definitely try to have a doc look at it. They can lance it, and culture the contents just to be sure. That way, if it is infected, they can give you meds.

[LiteraryLark]

I work in housekeeping so I'm sure it's only friction. I was only concerned with genital warts because it is near the bikini line and it's been happening since the last time I had sex.

And yes, I shave the bikini line as well, which rarely I don't but due to recent self-love and recent love interests I've been shaving more.

[laffer75]

It doesn't sound like genital warts the way you described it... have it checked out though. Probably an in grown hair.

I would visit a dermatologist to make sure.

[laffer75]

Go on webmd and check it out...

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by laffer75

Go on webmd and check it out...

I'm pretty sure they'd tell me I have a brain tumor. :P

[amandalouise]

those that I know who shave say this is very common and is called a razor burn. razor burns happen when a person shaves with out using a shaving cream, shaving lubercant or is shaving with a disposable razor more than once. disposable razors are meant forshort term one or two shavings after that the paper thin blade is too dull to shave with out causing skin irritation that leads to red bumps and pimple like bumps called a razor burn.

my suggestion invest in a shaving cream and a good non disposable razor that you can change the blades every couple shavings or buy the disposable razors in the large quantity packages so that you can throw away one and use a new one every few shavings.

I shave my legs and have discovered they make some really good disposable razors with an indicator strip on it that lets you know when its time to throw out the used razor and start with a fresh one.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I read that if you are going to shave the bikini area that it helps to use bacitracin ointment as shaving "cream" to prevent ingrown hairs. I'm no doctor nor an aesthecian (I have no idea how to spell that) but I did read it somewhere.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I read that if you are going to shave the bikini area that it helps to use bacitracin ointment as shaving "cream" to prevent ingrown hairs. I'm no doctor nor an aesthecian (I have no idea how to spell that) but I did read it somewhere.

topicals do not prevent ingrown hair. an ingrown hair is hair that grows side ways under the skin or grows backwards.

think of it like if you plant a seed and instead of the seed growing upright to the surface it grows sideways or downwards instead of up to the sunshine.

hair grows from a hair follical if the follical is blocked by oil, dead skin cells, bacteria, powders, make up, creams and such the hair cant grow straight up.so instead it grows sideways under the skin or downwards rather than straight up through the skin pores.

what prevents ingrown hairs is having good hygiene so that the pores are free of make up, oils, bacteria and other substances that can block the pores and hair follicals.....

[notz]

Literary Lark, I get recurrent pimples in 3 areas, the left hairline on the back of my neck, a spot that's located lower left on my butt and exactly where my underwear line is on the front of my left thigh. I don't know why all on the left. We're talking a good 30 years of this! I've been looked at by many doctors, dermatologists, internists, PCP's, you name it and the common consensus is some people get them, some people don't. For me, I strongly believe it has something to do with changes in hair follicles, hormones and sebaceous glands. Friction is a good guess as an instigator. I stopped having my hairline shaved during haircuts because of this. Too much sitting on my duff seems to be a trigger for the pimple/boil on my butt. That one is super painful!

Reducing or eliminating the friction in the affected area is my goal. Maybe a change to hipster underwear instead of bikini might be helpful for you. Close shaving or any change to the hair direction might be something to give some thought to. Good luck!

[*Laurie*]

Ingrown hair - especially since you shave.