please help doc...worried about herpes and other STDs

[wentworth19]

I posted the following question on the STD forum and received the following response:

Doctor,

please answer these questions:

1 - can an STD appear as a red irritated area on the penis? (not the opening)

2 - if so, which STD?

2 - does herpes always cause a blister OR open skin? or can it be just a red irritated (non-itchy) area?

3 - is 2 days for a red area on the penis too short for an STD to last?

4 - the irritation has never happened before. so, if this is not due to an STD, what can cause this?

5 - all interenet research seems to suggest, that friction from masturbation alone can NOT cause a red irritated area. it says that allergans or infection only can. is this true? i am not aware of any allergans or irritants (new soaps etc) that i used.

6 - can you think of any STD that can cause such a condition without other symptoms?

Thanks for your help

Forum-M.D.-HHH
08/26/2006
wentworth19 Aside from herpes, no STD causes rashes or red areas on the penis. And herpes does not cause a general "red irritated" area; symptomatic cases only cause red bumps that turn into blisters and in turn into pimple-like lesions or open sores, later with scabs.

There are hundreds of potential causes other than STDs; virtually everything that can cause a rash anywhere on the body can involve the penis. I cannot even begin to speculate. If the problem doesn't clear up on its own, see a health care provider. Or consider posting a message on the dermatology forum. But don't do that unless you are prepared to provide a lot more information about the rash. Dr. Rockoff will want to know whether or not it itches, whether the rash is raised or totally flat (can you feel it with your fingers?), if there is any flaking or weeping, how large the patch is, and whether you have any rashes elsewhere on your body.

Good luck-- HHH, MD

____________


here's the additional info that Dr. Hansfield suggested i provide.

1 - does not itch, as mentioned before, only realized it half-way through mastrubation when i felt some pain. this was at night and i didn't look at it.  The next day at noon, i masturbated again, and that's when i felt it right away and i took a look and saw the redness.
2 - flat not raised
3 - as it went away, it became dry and flaky, like new skin was growing
4 - no weeping
5 - size:  1/2 inch BY 1/2 inch..on the head of the penis.
6 - no other rashes


also, now that the redness is gone, there are 20 or so very tiny bumps, that i assume to be the skin recovering.

Doctor, if you could please, also please the 6 original questions i had at the top of this post.

you thoughts?

[wentworth19]

Thanks doctor.  Your opinion and time is appreciated.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

My opinion, stated above, is that you have an irritation, not herpes.  Is that clear enough?

1 - can an STD appear as a red irritated area on the penis? (not the opening)
Unlikely.

2 - if so, which STD?\
Not applicable.

2 - does herpes always cause a blister OR open skin? or can it be just a red irritated (non-itchy) area?
Not likely.

3 - is 2 days for a red area on the penis too short for an STD to last?Yes.

4 - the irritation has never happened before. so, if this is not due to an STD, what can cause this? Irritation, friction, rubbing.

5 - all interenet research seems to suggest, that friction from masturbation alone can NOT cause a red irritated area. it says that allergans or infection only can. is this true? i am not aware of any allergans or irritants (new soaps etc) that i used.
See my answer above.

Enough.

Dr. Rockoff

[wentworth19]

that's all you have to say?

I'm seeking you medical opinion.  I tried to provide as much detail as possible so that you could do that.

You have taken the time to provide everyone else who posted their questions with answers...please don't over look mine.

Could you please provide me with something?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Please calm down, Wentworth.  You can't resolve your problem or your worry by asking endless questions of people who can't see you in person.  Please get yourself checked out, so you can forget this and move on.

Dr. Rockoff

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Red irritated skin on the penis is usually just that--irritation or eczema.  Dr. Handsfield doesn't think what you describe sounds like an STD, and I don't think so either.  You say that, "all interenet research seems to suggest, that friction from masturbation alone can NOT cause a red irritated area,"  I don't know why anybody would say such a silly thing, because of course it can.  Maybe you should do your research elsewhere.  Or better still, leave the spot alone and please see a doctor in person.

Thanks.

Dr. Rockoff

[wentworth19]

i don't know if i mentioned this...but this was on the underside of the head of the penis.

[wentworth19]

i know you say usually that herpes causes blister that last 7-10 days....but is that always the case?

i've heard that herpes can manifest in many different forms and it could heal quicker that 7-10 if it is really mild, and could last longer if it is really bad...it could also show up as cuts.

[wentworth19]

also,

there was no tingling leading up to it, no itchiness, no discharge, no blister, no open skin, no cuts.




it's just an unusual bright red spot that felt irritated when touched or rubbed.

the unusual part is that it has never happened before and the redness.  I'm of fair olive complexion and the redness stood out.

[wentworth19]

one more thing doctor - i used hydrocortizone once and that is when it went away, about 8 hrs after one hydro application.