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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
In a Panic over possible herpes
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
In a Panic over possible herpes
by please help 12345, Sep 18, 2003 12:00AM
A little over 2 weeks ago I went to a massage parlor. There was no sexual contact between the girl and I - what I did was masturbate in front of her. But while this was going on she got very close to me (maybe 6 inches or so) and at one point got her face near my genitals, (but NOT touching them). I was concerned at the time because when she did, she said something, and I thought I felt some spittle hit my genital area. Didn't notice any lesions on her lips, etc, but who knows?
Then yesterday evening (14 days later) I noticed a rash on one side of my scrotum. It doesn't look like classic herpes but I've called every hotline out there and they all say herpes rarely looks like the classic symptoms. They also say the duration of the rash is between 2-12 days, which also doesn't help me rule this out -I'm entering day 2. It seems to have improved some since yesterday, but now the area is all leathery, shiny, and red. I've been washing it constantly with water, Betadine, and hydrogen peroxide. The rash looks like a red area on the front of one side of my scrotum, and yesterday I noticed some pinprick-sized holes with a tiny bit of watery looking fluid coming from them. They were tiny and I had to squeeze the skin over the testicle taut to really see them. They seem to meld into the general pattern of scrotal folds when I let the skin go. There also seems to be a patterned area of skin that looks a little drier than the rest of that side of the scrotum. There are also what look like a few hair follicles without hairs? coming from them (you know those whitish bumps) that look like they have no tops, so that they look like they might have small, (and I mean very small), scabs or dry skin on top). It doesn't hurt-though it feels a little raw in the shower sometimes. I never saw any blisters - the first thing I noticed yesterday was the redness and the few tiny pore-sized holes with water coming out. Also, I haven't noticed any general illness that one MIGHT expect from a primary herpes outbreak.
The only other possible explanation I have for the rash coming when it did is that I took a long walk on the beach yesterday and perhaps caused the rash from chafing. I have chafed my scrotum before, but I thought the rash looked a little different those times. I'm just not sure. And why just one side affected?
I don't know what I'm going to do - I haven't eaten since yesterday and I can't sleep. It doesn't seem like the herpes blood tests would be much use, since this could be HSV-1 and if the statistics are accurate, I probably was already exposed to that as a little kid. And a culture doesn't look feasible, since there was really never much, if any, fluid to test. A Tzanck skin scrape might be an option, but supposedly they're not very accurate at all. That's assuming I could even get over my fear of taking such a test. So, did I put myself at risk? Is this herpes? Do I have to just wait for this to possibly happen again to know?? Help!
Then yesterday evening (14 days later) I noticed a rash on one side of my scrotum. It doesn't look like classic herpes but I've called every hotline out there and they all say herpes rarely looks like the classic symptoms. They also say the duration of the rash is between 2-12 days, which also doesn't help me rule this out -I'm entering day 2. It seems to have improved some since yesterday, but now the area is all leathery, shiny, and red. I've been washing it constantly with water, Betadine, and hydrogen peroxide. The rash looks like a red area on the front of one side of my scrotum, and yesterday I noticed some pinprick-sized holes with a tiny bit of watery looking fluid coming from them. They were tiny and I had to squeeze the skin over the testicle taut to really see them. They seem to meld into the general pattern of scrotal folds when I let the skin go. There also seems to be a patterned area of skin that looks a little drier than the rest of that side of the scrotum. There are also what look like a few hair follicles without hairs? coming from them (you know those whitish bumps) that look like they have no tops, so that they look like they might have small, (and I mean very small), scabs or dry skin on top). It doesn't hurt-though it feels a little raw in the shower sometimes. I never saw any blisters - the first thing I noticed yesterday was the redness and the few tiny pore-sized holes with water coming out. Also, I haven't noticed any general illness that one MIGHT expect from a primary herpes outbreak.
The only other possible explanation I have for the rash coming when it did is that I took a long walk on the beach yesterday and perhaps caused the rash from chafing. I have chafed my scrotum before, but I thought the rash looked a little different those times. I'm just not sure. And why just one side affected?
I don't know what I'm going to do - I haven't eaten since yesterday and I can't sleep. It doesn't seem like the herpes blood tests would be much use, since this could be HSV-1 and if the statistics are accurate, I probably was already exposed to that as a little kid. And a culture doesn't look feasible, since there was really never much, if any, fluid to test. A Tzanck skin scrape might be an option, but supposedly they're not very accurate at all. That's assuming I could even get over my fear of taking such a test. So, did I put myself at risk? Is this herpes? Do I have to just wait for this to possibly happen again to know?? Help!
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Sep 18, 2003 12:00AM
, Sep 18, 2003 12:00AM
No, not herpes, just chafing, plus "washing it constantly with water, Betadine, and hydrogen peroxide."
Please stop doing this. Instead, apply 1% hydrocortisone, any mositurizing lotion, wear loose inderwear, and show a doctor while the rash is still there so you can get a definitive diagnosis and put this episode out of sight and out of mind (before you go out of yours . . . )
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Please stop doing this. Instead, apply 1% hydrocortisone, any mositurizing lotion, wear loose inderwear, and show a doctor while the rash is still there so you can get a definitive diagnosis and put this episode out of sight and out of mind (before you go out of yours . . . )
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
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