Could this be herpes on the butt cheek? (photo)

[Nami]

Hi everyone, 

I'll try to keep this short! In December, I had a sexual encounter with the man who is now my boyfriend, protected. Prior to this encounter, I had shaved my genital area (I usually wax) and I used Johnson's baby oil gel in the place of shaving cream (a product I've never used before). Around 3 days after our encounter, I became VERY itchy down there, especially in the anal area (between my butt cheeks, an area I had also shaved but normally wax). At first I chalked it up to the itchiness of hair regrowth -- but it seemed to itch more than it should and I was worried. Over the next few weeks, the itching did not subside, and I was checking the area every day, multiple times per day, with a 10x magnification mirror and a light. At this point, I had already convinced myself that I had herpes -- I had done a full STD panel, negative for everything -- but I knew they did not test me for herpes, so in my mind this had to be it. I knew it could be a yeast infection, but I've had a few yeast infections in the past and they were always accompanied by clumpy discharge, a symptom I did not have this time.

The symptoms I did have were itching of the vulva/anus, slightly red and slightly swollen vulva, a dull ache in the vulva and what felt like slightly raw skin on my vulva (it appeared pretty much normal, though. It was hardly even red). 

It's been about 5 months since this initial episode now, and the initial episode never really subsided. Now, I can go several days in a row with almost no itching or and no other discomfort, but a few days later the itching starts up again. I also have this little area at the very top of my right thigh and below the butt cheek where my skin is sometimes sensitive out of nowhere. It lasts for a few hours up to a few days. The other day, I wore tight jeans for the duration of a very long work day, and by the end of the day I felt that little area start to cause me discomfort. It didn't itch, didn't quite burn... just felt the slightest bit raw. Like I just needed to change out of my jeans, badly. Once I got home, I checked the area, and as usual, there was nothing there. 

Now, last thing -- while all this has been going on, I have been getting sporadic pimples on my butt cheeks. I've been getting these for at least a year now (so, even before the December episode). I never thought anything of them until the moment I started experiencing this long-lasting irritation in the genital area. The pimples are always singles; I'll get one below each butt cheek, one on the fat part of each butt cheek, and sometimes I get them high up on the butt cheek as well. Sometimes they are on both sides of the body's midline at once, sometimes only on one side. Sometimes I'll have only one at a time, sometimes I'll get a few at a time. 

I have my doubts that these are herpes because: they appear on both sides of the body's midline (which as I understand is uncommon after an initial OB); they always appear alone (while herpes can appear both in clusters and alone, I understand it is a bit more common for the blisters to occur in groups of two or more); they often seem to be filled with WHITE pus (herpes pus is usually clear or straw-colored); they are generally undistinguishable from the pimples one gets on the face (in other words, they don't look like "blisters"; my dermatologist says they are caused by folliculitis 

I am not convinced that they are not herpes because: they seem to be "triggered"; caused by excessive moisture, heat or tight pants (as herpes can be), but I suppose pimples would be triggered by these things too; sometimes the area itches a bit before the "pimples" appear; I am taking doxycycline (I'm on month 2 of a 5 month treatment) for the "folliculitis" but these little pimples keep popping up; I'm confused about the possible link between these bumps and my other symptoms

Anyway, if you've made it this far -- THANK YOU! I will attach a photo here of the most concerning little "pimple" I've had so far. Please tell me what you think; if it looks like herpes in your experience (Google is no help at all). This "pimple" is a single spot the size of a pinhead, so small. I'm stretching the area with my fingers in the photo which is why it appears oblong, but it's actually a perfectly round spot. It's right in the middle of my right butt cheek. The pus is definitely more on the opaque side than the clear side (it appears more clear in the photo but it is not so in real life). The bump doesn't bother me. 

Would love to hear your thoughts. ❤️ Thank you so much. 

Edited May 19, 2018 by Nami

[Nami]

I wanted to add one last thing: the "pimples" never ever burst / open up. They always just go away on their own after a week - a few weeks. 
 

Thanks again to anyone who takes the time to read this and respond! 

[Yooooooo]

Hey, I’m in the same boat. I stupidly had unprotected sex last week and searched every part of my penis the immediate day afterward and seen a ultra small abrasion (I say abrasion because it’s not full like a pimple) on my penis head and I’m convincing myself it could be herpes. Although, what I’m seeing online it doesn’t look similar and there’s absolutely no pain whatsoever with it and it’s looked the same since I first noticed it. I’m still worried because everyone is different

Edited May 19, 2018 by Yooooooo

[Nami]

Yeah, this is a super tricky virus. I guess the only way to know for sure is to get tested.  Which is horrifying... but must be done. 

[Yooooooo]

We’re obviously not in any place to know for sure but from what I’ve heard and seen on the forum, I believe it arrives in clusters and is severe pain with itching and tingling. To be honest, yours looks just like a pimple!  

[Paisley_1]

Did you ever figure out what this is? I have the a similar thing, it actually sounds the exact same. Been having irritation for about 6 months now and just started getting these bumps last month. Hopefully you see this. My mind is driving my crazy worried it’s herpes. I’ve been tested for everything else.