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STDs (Expert Forum)
sebaceous cyst and irrational herpes scare?
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
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This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
sebaceous cyst and irrational herpes scare?
by andy71, Nov 24, 2005 12:00AM
Hello,
About two months ago I noticed a small skin colored bump on my shaft (about 5mm, just a little elevation, non-blister, no red base). A dermatologist took a quick look and said it was nothing. It either went away or became small enough for me to forget about it. Then recently, it came back. I had a urologist look at it and he said it was just a sebaceous cyst (and pointed out a tiny white dot in the middle) and told me not to worry about herpes at all.
1)The reason I am worried is because the bump "reoccured". Is it normal for this type of cyst to get inflamed every now and then and later just shrink back down? About 13 days after I noticed it last, its shrunk back down to really small (its still there, but just barely). It never hurt at all, but may have itched slightly when it was larger.
2) I always hear most herpes doesn't have the "classic" look of blisters, etc. Are there any atypical presentation of herpes that would look like a small painless cyst under the skin? (I can move it with the skin, but not independently of it). Any possible exposure to any std would have been over 10 years ago. Should I just trust a visual exam in this case?
3) I just noticed one small drop of clear, liquid discharge. Clear, and really, I had to squeeze/milk it out to see it. Looked like a drop of water... could it be urine or something to be worried about? I have had a recent check for Chlamydia and they did gon. at the same time... all clear. No pain on urination.
3) I don't think the herpselect test is available anywhere around here... can I just forget about it or is it worth following up?
About two months ago I noticed a small skin colored bump on my shaft (about 5mm, just a little elevation, non-blister, no red base). A dermatologist took a quick look and said it was nothing. It either went away or became small enough for me to forget about it. Then recently, it came back. I had a urologist look at it and he said it was just a sebaceous cyst (and pointed out a tiny white dot in the middle) and told me not to worry about herpes at all.
1)The reason I am worried is because the bump "reoccured". Is it normal for this type of cyst to get inflamed every now and then and later just shrink back down? About 13 days after I noticed it last, its shrunk back down to really small (its still there, but just barely). It never hurt at all, but may have itched slightly when it was larger.
2) I always hear most herpes doesn't have the "classic" look of blisters, etc. Are there any atypical presentation of herpes that would look like a small painless cyst under the skin? (I can move it with the skin, but not independently of it). Any possible exposure to any std would have been over 10 years ago. Should I just trust a visual exam in this case?
3) I just noticed one small drop of clear, liquid discharge. Clear, and really, I had to squeeze/milk it out to see it. Looked like a drop of water... could it be urine or something to be worried about? I have had a recent check for Chlamydia and they did gon. at the same time... all clear. No pain on urination.
3) I don't think the herpselect test is available anywhere around here... can I just forget about it or is it worth following up?
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Nov 24, 2005 12:00AM
, Nov 24, 2005 12:00AM
You can rely on your 2 doctors' assurance that the lesion is a sebaceous cysts. Such lesions often recur. And yes, it is normal for them to periodically become inflamed, just as a blackhead can become inflamed and turn into a pimple. Herpes can present atypically, but would never be confused by a dermatologist or urologist with a sebaceous cyst.
Type-specific HSV blood tests, such as HerpeSelect, are available throughout the US and in most industrialized countries (but not Canada, where a misguided regulatory decision has prevented marketing--a truly cockamamie decision). With or without HSV-2 testing, you can be sure the lesion you describe is not herpes. But if the lesion persists or if inflammation recurs repeatedly, you may want to ask the dermatolgist whether it should be removed, a very minor procedure.
I wasn't sure at first whether the discharge you describe is from the sebaceous cyst, but I think you mean your urethra. A scant amount of completely clear mucus can be normal from time to time, and especially in your case, given your negative gonorrhea and chlamydia test results.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Type-specific HSV blood tests, such as HerpeSelect, are available throughout the US and in most industrialized countries (but not Canada, where a misguided regulatory decision has prevented marketing--a truly cockamamie decision). With or without HSV-2 testing, you can be sure the lesion you describe is not herpes. But if the lesion persists or if inflammation recurs repeatedly, you may want to ask the dermatolgist whether it should be removed, a very minor procedure.
I wasn't sure at first whether the discharge you describe is from the sebaceous cyst, but I think you mean your urethra. A scant amount of completely clear mucus can be normal from time to time, and especially in your case, given your negative gonorrhea and chlamydia test results.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
thanks again.