HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Does A Red And Round Bump In The Groin Area Indicate?

default
Posted on Thu, 3 Apr 2014
Question: I have an almost perfect round bump above my penis on my groin area about 2 inches up. It is reddish around it and seems to be a little white in the middle and a red dot inside that. It is kind of hard to the touch. I don't have any other bumps other than that and haven't had unprotected except maybe once almost 10 years ago, I had a condom on but I'm not sure if it was still on later, i dont remember if it came of when we were separating or what happend because when we were finished and cleaning up i remember looking for it and we were drinking as well. I didnt notice this until i shaved with my electric hair clippers about a week ago. No other bumbs have formed and it doesnt really hurt, at least i dont think it does, maybe im stressing. I am in pretty good health as well. Could it be an ingrown hair? Or molluscum?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Upload a picture with good clarity Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic. Thanks for posting your concern at Healthcaremagic. I am Dr. Kakkar. I had a look at the picture that you have attached, but unfortunately I could nt make out much of it because the lesion is out of focus. I would be greatly helped if you could upload a picture with good clarity (preferably 2-3) in order to be able to help you better. It could be either Molluscum contagiosum or it could also be bacterial infection of the hair follicle(folliculitis) OR even pseudofolliculitis. Though from the description you gave it seems more like Folliculitis/bacterial infection of the hair follicle. While folliculitis and pseudofolliculitis can be easily managed with oral and topical antibacterials, molluscum requires a different approach. Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection that causes small pearly or flesh-colored bumps (Small dome-shaped bumps with a central depression). They are asymptomatic The infection is caused by a virus. They may occur on the penis, scrotum, inner thighs or pubis. The virus commonly spreads through skin-to-skin contact. Touching an object that has the virus on it, such as a towel, also can spread the infection. Doctors usually recommend treatment for bumps in the genital area to prevent them from spreading. Treatment options are: -Needle Extraction -Removal by CO2 Laser, Radiofrquency ORElectrocautery. -Chemical cautery with Trichloroacetic acid, potassium hydroxide OR canthridin -Cryosurgery/Freezing with liquid Nitrogen. -Topical immunomodulators like Imiquimod (usually for multiple lesions). I would advice that you see a dermatologist who would tell you more about it and about the various treatment options and the best one for you. I usually remove them with CO2 Laser or Radiofrequency cautery if the lesions are few in number. If there are numerous lesions, i prescribe my patients topical imiquimod. regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (25 minutes later)
That is the best picture i could get with my phone, i looked online at a few other things and found out a few other things i had questions about. I had a cold for about a week also, could this have cause it to come about as well? I am over the cold now and feel fine. I thought it may have been a wart also but everything i have read seems to say it is not that and i know it isnt any other type of std (syphillis or gono or herpes) but it bothers me. Could warts have waited 10 years to develop of that was the case?? I also have in grown hairs on my upper thighs in some areas but they were easy to tell. This spot seems to worry me. I am sending another picture but not sure if it will help. When i lightly squeeze on it also it seems to get red like it was filling up with blood a little especially around where the white dot appears in the middle. Is that normal? Hope these are better pics and thanks again doc
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (26 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Possibility of Razor bump Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for the pictures, they were somewhat helpful but did nt actually made much of a difference. I could notice good clarity at the right lower corner of the picture rather than the center where the lesion is located. May be you can try one more time, if possible, to post a clear picture(try switch off the flash and click from a little further rather than too close to the lesion) Anyways I would keep a first possibility of folliculitis/ Razor bump. Squeezing or manipulating may have made it red, inflammed and it might have bled internally thus causing it to swell. I would advice that you get a prescription for an oral antibiotic from your local care practitioner(penicillin group of drugs e.g Amoxycillin for a week would do). A topical antibacterial e,g 2% mupirocin twice daily can be used at the site twice daily. A razor bump would heal within a week of oral antibiotics whereas a molluscum wont change at all. So after a week of oral and topical antibiotics that could be a diagnosis of exclusion. regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (35 minutes later)
I cant really get a another good picture. But it seems there may be a few "white heads" and then one white head by itself next to a hair though on this bump. I tried mashing them but all it dod was make it more red, kind of a little sore now. Do you still not think it is a wart? Or the molloscum? Is there anything else it could be? I kind of worry about everything and this really worries me. I have tried to do right, im in the army, and i dont want to lose my job or get booted for something like this or lose my relationship. Would a wart show like this 10 years after maybe unprotected sex? Or could it be just something else? I really would like to take care of it on my own if i could, but could it be anything else? I wish i could have a better picture for you, but that was the best i could make out.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (23 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Oral+topical antibiotic Detailed Answer: Hi It does'nt look like a wart at all. Moreover, a wart developing 10 years later is unusual. I would say that it is just a bacterial infection which should get better with an oral+topical antibiotic. The only close differential is molluscum. Thats it, nothing else. take care regards
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
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Kakkar

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 9612 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Does A Red And Round Bump In The Groin Area Indicate?

Brief Answer: Upload a picture with good clarity Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic. Thanks for posting your concern at Healthcaremagic. I am Dr. Kakkar. I had a look at the picture that you have attached, but unfortunately I could nt make out much of it because the lesion is out of focus. I would be greatly helped if you could upload a picture with good clarity (preferably 2-3) in order to be able to help you better. It could be either Molluscum contagiosum or it could also be bacterial infection of the hair follicle(folliculitis) OR even pseudofolliculitis. Though from the description you gave it seems more like Folliculitis/bacterial infection of the hair follicle. While folliculitis and pseudofolliculitis can be easily managed with oral and topical antibacterials, molluscum requires a different approach. Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection that causes small pearly or flesh-colored bumps (Small dome-shaped bumps with a central depression). They are asymptomatic The infection is caused by a virus. They may occur on the penis, scrotum, inner thighs or pubis. The virus commonly spreads through skin-to-skin contact. Touching an object that has the virus on it, such as a towel, also can spread the infection. Doctors usually recommend treatment for bumps in the genital area to prevent them from spreading. Treatment options are: -Needle Extraction -Removal by CO2 Laser, Radiofrquency ORElectrocautery. -Chemical cautery with Trichloroacetic acid, potassium hydroxide OR canthridin -Cryosurgery/Freezing with liquid Nitrogen. -Topical immunomodulators like Imiquimod (usually for multiple lesions). I would advice that you see a dermatologist who would tell you more about it and about the various treatment options and the best one for you. I usually remove them with CO2 Laser or Radiofrequency cautery if the lesions are few in number. If there are numerous lesions, i prescribe my patients topical imiquimod. regards