Folliculitis or something else?

This is my first time posting here, and I’m really looking for some guidance. To be honest, I tend to get quite anxious and hesitant whenever health issues crop up—especially when I can't quite wrap my head around what's causing them or how they might actually be fixed.

So, for about two years now, leading right up to today, I’ve been dealing with this small swelling in my pubic area—specifically on the right side. It started following hair removal sessions, and later, after using Veet sensitive skin cream (which is specifically what I look for at the drugstore). These little bumps fill up with yellow fluid, or pus, which has a rather unpleasant odor and leaves messy stains on my underwear.

The whole thing first flared up two years ago, and I eventually had to swallow my pride and seek medical help because I didn't even have the vocabulary to explain what was happening to a doctor.

Basically, I felt like I was being bounced from one clinic to another in a endless loop of referrals. It wasn't until months later that they finally dealt with it by forcefully draining the collection of fluid; once that was done, the swelling gradually subsided, though they never actually prescribed any specific medications or ointments to help it along.

The only advice I received was to avoid shaving or hair removal in that area for a while. Since then, everything seemed fine—until a few days ago. I haven't had any recurrences in the meantime; my menstrual cycles are regular, my job is a bit high-stress but manageable, my diet isn't particularly bad, and I am extremely diligent about intimate hygiene, using specialized cleansers and always applying soothing gels or creams after grooming.

I stumbled upon an article that seems to be the only thing providing a plausible description of what I went through, and what has painfully resurfaced two days ago.

It feels incredibly awkward to write this out, and remembering the exhaustion of being passed around from specialist to specialist last time makes me want to try a different approach—something faster and more direct than being left under someone else's vague supervision.

Could anyone offer some advice, share some information, or if you've dealt with something similar, let me know your experience?

I hope I've described the situation clearly enough. I'm wondering if this could be Folliculitis, or perhaps something else that stems from irritated skin in the pubic region.

So, what’s the actual diagnosis you've been given?

Honestly, my best advice is to go hunt down a really solid doctor—I mean, if you have to pay out of pocket for a private specialist to get real answers, just do it.

From what you're describing, it sounds like something that falls under dermatology... maybe even some skin-specific stuff.

Good luck with everything!

Folliculitis, hands down ☕
It’s basically when your hair follicles get inflamed and turn into a full-blown abscess.
If it doesn't just pop on its own—or if you try to squeeze it (which hurts like hell, by the way)—you’re looking at surgery. We're talking incisions to clear the infection, and if there’s still some weird, hard lump left under dark skin after the initial mess is gone, you might even need an excision.
Honestly? If this keeps happening over and over, laser hair removal is the only real fix.

redmason4 said:what’s your actual diagnosis anyway?

I’d suggest you track down a solid doctor—even if you have to go private to get decent care.

I’m pretty sure this falls under dermatology or sexual health.

Good luck!

Thanks. It does fall within that medical specialty, but honestly, my last experience was just one endless, exhausting loop of being bounced from a gynecologist to a dermatologist, then over to a surgeon, only to be sent right back to dermatology again. I ended up cycling through three different hospitals and several different departments just trying to wrap my head around this issue.

The whole thing is daunting because I have no idea how long this cycle might drag on again. My first encounter with the healthcare system was such a mess that I’m desperate to find somewhere that won't just run me in circles or subject me to endless, redundant testing before actually addressing the core problem.

During those appointments, there was one group of specialists convinced I needed surgery, while at the end of it all, I was being treated quite roughly during a physical exam—it was painful enough that I was practically screaming in the clinic.

That trauma is exactly why I’m hesitant, which is why I wanted to see if anyone knows a better way to handle this or could recommend a specific specialist worth visiting this time around.

My regular gynecologist already told me this isn't really their lane, so I want to bypass the standard dermatologists I've seen before and find someone who actually specializes in this.

Any suggestions?

I’m planning to visit my primary care physician tomorrow to get a referral, and I’d love to know exactly where I should head immediately after that.

😲😲