CA
A 46-year-old member asked:
How do you tell the difference between folliculitis and genital herpes?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Tsu-Yi Chuanganswered
Dermatology 51 years experience
Location: Genital herpes usually on penis, scrotum, vulva, pubic area or sometimes, groin. They are small grouped blisters.
Folliculitis, by definition, developed around hair follicles. So it can be on body, face, arms, legs, etc. It rarely appears in genitalia unless there are hairy and thus having follicles. Besides, they are pustular, red bumps.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Robert Kwokanswered
Pediatrics 34 years experience
Doctor can evaluate: Folliculitis usually affects a larger area of skin than the small spot that a herpes sore affects. Folliculitis is tiny pustules where the hair follicles are. Herpes makes tiny blisters, in a cluster, very close together. Herpes blisters (vesicles) break open with some clear or yellowish fluid, not pus like in folliculitis. A doctor can evaluate and tell the difference.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
How can you tell the difference between genital herpes and oral?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Martin Raffanswered
Infectious Disease 57 years experience
Not easy: I am sssuming you are able to distinguish between the two anatomic areas. The only way in which you can definitively distinguish between herpes types 1 & 2 is by isolating the virus from lesions or secretions and testing it to see which it is. Using antibody testing can be very inaccurate because of the overlap due to nonspecific antibodies.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
How I can differentiate genital folliculitis from genital herpes?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Vance Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 38 years experience
Clear fluid: Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicle and there will be small pustules or redness around the hair follicles. Herpes is not just around the hair follicles and usually is a small blister filled with clear fluid and a surrounding red base.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
What are signs of genital herpes vs folliculitis?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Last updated May 2, 2017
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
24/7 visits - just $39!
50% off with $15/month membership
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.