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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Balanitis vs. Herpes
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Balanitis vs. Herpes
by 8oclock, Jan 31, 2005 12:00AM
My history: I am 31 years old and uncircumcised. I have been getting a rash on the head of my penis and on the inside of my foreskin that has an odor. The rash usually appears after sex if I do not clean up with alcohol. It also has been appearing when I don’t use anti-bacterial soap each day. When the rash does appear it goes away in one to two days with alcohol cleaning and never leaves any scabbing.
I shower every morning except when I am traveling to work since I have to sleep in my truck (this is usually between 36 and 48 hours without a shower but only every two weeks since I work offshore). I have always assumed it was caused by the balanitis but I am concerned due to my sexually promiscuous and unprotected sex-life two years ago that I may have herpes. I have been to STD seminars as part of my job training and dismissed the fear of Herpes due to the fact that my symptoms were never as serious as the pictures shown in that class and because the symptoms seem to clear up so quickly with a little extra hygienic care.
Last week when I was on land I was staying in hotels for about a week and did not use any anti-bacterial soap but I did shower each day. I was very busy during that week and did not notice whether or not the rash had returned… until the night I returned home and was getting into the shower. I undressed and when I pulled my foreskin back I felt a little sting like a ***** from a needle. I examined my penis and found the head was very red and the underside was slightly raw. When I urinated I felt a very slight burn toward the exit of my urethra (Possibly due to dehydration, I had not drunk much fluid that day and my urine was a rich gold color.) While this is the worse brake out I have ever had, it was gone in less than two days with soap, alcohol, and Vagisil cream that my wife gave me. There was no scabbing but there does seem to be two raised bumps where the raw spots were, though neither seem to be pustules but just raised spots no bigger then 2mm round and raised less then .25mm without discoloration, almost unnoticeable to anyone that is not as familiar with my penis as I am. While I am trying to make light of this I am very concerened.
My question is this:
Can the syptoms (symptoms) of herpes be cleared up so quickly? What test should I ask my doctor to run to rule out Herpes? And would circumcision correct this recurring problem if it is not herpes?
I shower every morning except when I am traveling to work since I have to sleep in my truck (this is usually between 36 and 48 hours without a shower but only every two weeks since I work offshore). I have always assumed it was caused by the balanitis but I am concerned due to my sexually promiscuous and unprotected sex-life two years ago that I may have herpes. I have been to STD seminars as part of my job training and dismissed the fear of Herpes due to the fact that my symptoms were never as serious as the pictures shown in that class and because the symptoms seem to clear up so quickly with a little extra hygienic care.
Last week when I was on land I was staying in hotels for about a week and did not use any anti-bacterial soap but I did shower each day. I was very busy during that week and did not notice whether or not the rash had returned… until the night I returned home and was getting into the shower. I undressed and when I pulled my foreskin back I felt a little sting like a ***** from a needle. I examined my penis and found the head was very red and the underside was slightly raw. When I urinated I felt a very slight burn toward the exit of my urethra (Possibly due to dehydration, I had not drunk much fluid that day and my urine was a rich gold color.) While this is the worse brake out I have ever had, it was gone in less than two days with soap, alcohol, and Vagisil cream that my wife gave me. There was no scabbing but there does seem to be two raised bumps where the raw spots were, though neither seem to be pustules but just raised spots no bigger then 2mm round and raised less then .25mm without discoloration, almost unnoticeable to anyone that is not as familiar with my penis as I am. While I am trying to make light of this I am very concerened.
My question is this:
Can the syptoms (symptoms) of herpes be cleared up so quickly? What test should I ask my doctor to run to rule out Herpes? And would circumcision correct this recurring problem if it is not herpes?
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Feb 01, 2005 12:00AM
, Feb 01, 2005 12:00AM
I think you have balanitis, either the irritant kind or possibly yeast. Neither is contagious. Circumcision would help either one. Your symptoms don't suggest herpes. A herpes 2 blood test would help rule it out if you want to be as sure as you can.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Member Comments (1)
by unknownindian, Jan 28, 2009 09:38AM
A related discussion, Is it Herpes or anything else?? was started.
