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Suggest Treatment For Vaginal Papillae
Question: Hi Doctor,
One week ago I noticed two finger like projections on my inner labia. They are tube like and appear to be white at the tips. Initially I thought it was extra skin because I didn't have any pain or discomfort when I touched them. But why would these two projections grow out of nowhere? I have tried researching this a lot on the Internet and have concluded that it is a skin tag or vaginal papillae. Are skin tags and papillae the same thing?
I read that skin tags can swell or get itchy during periods. I am currently on my period right now and the two skin tags (if they are skin tags) have been acting up and are itchy and uncomfortable. What does it mean if they are white at the tips? I am also certain that it is not HPV because I am vaccinated and my partner and I have not been with any other partners. Also, many of the pictures I found of papillae are of many of these finger like projections lining the vaginal area. Right now I have two, is it possible that more can grow? Is there a way to prevent this? I am very stressed out about this sudden growth on my vagina and hope you can help me figure out what this problem is.
As a side note, another issue I have been having is itchiness on either side of my clitoris area. It usually acts up in the evening time and the more I scratch it the itchier it gets. Sometimes the skin will become wet and glisten. If I look closely I can see the irritated part of the skin where the wetness is coming out of, it is red and looks like it has pores. When I squeeze the skin, the area gets more moist. I had this checked out at a planned parenthood clinic a month ago, but since it was in the daytime and I had no itchiness, the doctor said she didn't see what I was talking about. The skin getting watery only happens when I scratch, and since I wasn't itchy or scratching, it seemed like the doctor didn't know what irritation I was talking about since she couldn't see it. She ended up giving me a yeast infection treatment pill to try. I made a conscious effort to stop scratching after that, but a few weeks later the itchiness came back. I am not sure what this is or if it is related to the two finger like projections mentioned earlier.
Thank you!
One week ago I noticed two finger like projections on my inner labia. They are tube like and appear to be white at the tips. Initially I thought it was extra skin because I didn't have any pain or discomfort when I touched them. But why would these two projections grow out of nowhere? I have tried researching this a lot on the Internet and have concluded that it is a skin tag or vaginal papillae. Are skin tags and papillae the same thing?
I read that skin tags can swell or get itchy during periods. I am currently on my period right now and the two skin tags (if they are skin tags) have been acting up and are itchy and uncomfortable. What does it mean if they are white at the tips? I am also certain that it is not HPV because I am vaccinated and my partner and I have not been with any other partners. Also, many of the pictures I found of papillae are of many of these finger like projections lining the vaginal area. Right now I have two, is it possible that more can grow? Is there a way to prevent this? I am very stressed out about this sudden growth on my vagina and hope you can help me figure out what this problem is.
As a side note, another issue I have been having is itchiness on either side of my clitoris area. It usually acts up in the evening time and the more I scratch it the itchier it gets. Sometimes the skin will become wet and glisten. If I look closely I can see the irritated part of the skin where the wetness is coming out of, it is red and looks like it has pores. When I squeeze the skin, the area gets more moist. I had this checked out at a planned parenthood clinic a month ago, but since it was in the daytime and I had no itchiness, the doctor said she didn't see what I was talking about. The skin getting watery only happens when I scratch, and since I wasn't itchy or scratching, it seemed like the doctor didn't know what irritation I was talking about since she couldn't see it. She ended up giving me a yeast infection treatment pill to try. I made a conscious effort to stop scratching after that, but a few weeks later the itchiness came back. I am not sure what this is or if it is related to the two finger like projections mentioned earlier.
Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Get a biopsy of the projections.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concerns.
1) yes they can be just skin tags ( which are called papillae in medical terms).
2) they can be a viral infection. It can be molluscum contagiosum or viral warts. Also the vaccine for HPV is not 100% protective so HPV is also a rare possibility.
3) It is difficult to give a confirmed diagnosis just by picture.
I will advise you to get a biopsy and culture and microscopy of the projections. That way it will confirm what exactly it is and also remove them at the same time.
4) as far as the symptoms of itching is concerned it might be related or it might be a bacterial /fungal infection.
Do you have any white discharge?
For the time being i will advise you to use clotrimazole cream in the entire area and put candid pessary inside vagina for 5 days.
Til that time get the biopsy report so that we can start a definitive treatment.
The approach & treatment should be definitive and not just by guessing what all it can be, so the biopsy and viral culture is highly recommended
Regards,
Dr Som MD
Get a biopsy of the projections.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concerns.
1) yes they can be just skin tags ( which are called papillae in medical terms).
2) they can be a viral infection. It can be molluscum contagiosum or viral warts. Also the vaccine for HPV is not 100% protective so HPV is also a rare possibility.
3) It is difficult to give a confirmed diagnosis just by picture.
I will advise you to get a biopsy and culture and microscopy of the projections. That way it will confirm what exactly it is and also remove them at the same time.
4) as far as the symptoms of itching is concerned it might be related or it might be a bacterial /fungal infection.
Do you have any white discharge?
For the time being i will advise you to use clotrimazole cream in the entire area and put candid pessary inside vagina for 5 days.
Til that time get the biopsy report so that we can start a definitive treatment.
The approach & treatment should be definitive and not just by guessing what all it can be, so the biopsy and viral culture is highly recommended
Regards,
Dr Som MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Hi Doctor,
Thank you for your response. I will schedule to have a biopsy done as soon as possible. And yes, I usually have white or tinted yellowish discharge.
Also, would I be able to get a biopsy a gynecologist? Or do I have to go to a different doctor.
Thank you!
Thank you for your response. I will schedule to have a biopsy done as soon as possible. And yes, I usually have white or tinted yellowish discharge.
Also, would I be able to get a biopsy a gynecologist? Or do I have to go to a different doctor.
Thank you!
Brief Answer:
A gynecologist will do biopsy.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
You can get the biopsy done by a gynecologist. You do not need a different doctor unless he/she herself refers you.
If you have white discharge then please use clotrimazole cream.
I would have advise a candid vaginal pessary too but you can also use a candidal cream.
The cream should be sufficient.
Dr Som MD
A gynecologist will do biopsy.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
You can get the biopsy done by a gynecologist. You do not need a different doctor unless he/she herself refers you.
If you have white discharge then please use clotrimazole cream.
I would have advise a candid vaginal pessary too but you can also use a candidal cream.
The cream should be sufficient.
Dr Som MD
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
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