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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Fungus, Herpes, Eczema, or something else?
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
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Fungus, Herpes, Eczema, or something else?
by btpi, Apr 07, 2005 12:00AM
I have been suffering from a redness/itching sore on the upper right side of the penile shaft for the past 10 years(since I was 23 y/o). This starts out as a red round ring and then flares up and worsens. It also has scales and itches immensely. There is no painful urination or fluid filled vesicles.
When I turned 27 y/o I finally decided to check it out with a Family Practitioner. He thought it to be herpes and prescribed Acyclovir/Zovirax. The redness eventually went away. But the redness and itching came and went several times per year. Sometimes it would not present itself for a few months. This redness and itching would generally disappear after a week or two if I did not have sex/masturbate. The herpes meds didn't really seem to make a difference as long as I stayed away from sex/masturbation.
Eventually, when the redness/itching lesion would return I would not take any medication for the supposed herpes and would just abstain from sexual activities. It would usually resolve within a week or two. I really started to suspect that I didn't have herpes as I was able to heal naturally and it didn't look like herpes. The redness/itching always presents itself after masturbation with some sort of cheap lotion that irritates my skin. I've found that cheap lotions like vaseline intensive care or Johnson and Johnson's Baby Lotion tends to irritate my skin and then I have a flare up on the penile shaft. The problem lies in the use of these lotions obviously but I can't seem to get this horrible lesion to subside. The redness/itching lesion gets bad and sometimes it doesn't always subside in 1-2 weeks even w/o touching it. Currently, I have had this lesion for approximately 2 months. I went and saw a different family practitioner 4 weeks ago. She didn't look at my lesion and prescribed me more herpes medication (Valtrex). This did not work at all. I went and saw her a few days ago and she finally decided to take a look at it since she hadn't actually seen it yet. By this time the lesion had formed into a large circular scab (There is another smaller lesion which healed just lateral to the bigger lesion). She advised that the scabbed lesion had the appearance of a fungal infection as evidenced by the round/circular appearance of the sore. She prescribed an oral anti-fungal (Grifulvin, 500 mg, 1/2 tab twice daily) as well as applying Desitin to the affected area. Since I've been taking this medication the lesion has improved and is scabbing over pretty well. I'm hoping it will be gone within a few days.
My Question? Am I causing an allergic reaction to the skin on my penis through the use of these cheap lotions and then in turn I'm getting a fungal infection secondarily. It seems as if the lesion is in the same place each time though sometimes there are lesions to the side which are smaller. My doctor assured me that what she saw was not herpes, as herpes sores are usually much smaller. Please help. Tired of this.
btpi
When I turned 27 y/o I finally decided to check it out with a Family Practitioner. He thought it to be herpes and prescribed Acyclovir/Zovirax. The redness eventually went away. But the redness and itching came and went several times per year. Sometimes it would not present itself for a few months. This redness and itching would generally disappear after a week or two if I did not have sex/masturbate. The herpes meds didn't really seem to make a difference as long as I stayed away from sex/masturbation.
Eventually, when the redness/itching lesion would return I would not take any medication for the supposed herpes and would just abstain from sexual activities. It would usually resolve within a week or two. I really started to suspect that I didn't have herpes as I was able to heal naturally and it didn't look like herpes. The redness/itching always presents itself after masturbation with some sort of cheap lotion that irritates my skin. I've found that cheap lotions like vaseline intensive care or Johnson and Johnson's Baby Lotion tends to irritate my skin and then I have a flare up on the penile shaft. The problem lies in the use of these lotions obviously but I can't seem to get this horrible lesion to subside. The redness/itching lesion gets bad and sometimes it doesn't always subside in 1-2 weeks even w/o touching it. Currently, I have had this lesion for approximately 2 months. I went and saw a different family practitioner 4 weeks ago. She didn't look at my lesion and prescribed me more herpes medication (Valtrex). This did not work at all. I went and saw her a few days ago and she finally decided to take a look at it since she hadn't actually seen it yet. By this time the lesion had formed into a large circular scab (There is another smaller lesion which healed just lateral to the bigger lesion). She advised that the scabbed lesion had the appearance of a fungal infection as evidenced by the round/circular appearance of the sore. She prescribed an oral anti-fungal (Grifulvin, 500 mg, 1/2 tab twice daily) as well as applying Desitin to the affected area. Since I've been taking this medication the lesion has improved and is scabbing over pretty well. I'm hoping it will be gone within a few days.
My Question? Am I causing an allergic reaction to the skin on my penis through the use of these cheap lotions and then in turn I'm getting a fungal infection secondarily. It seems as if the lesion is in the same place each time though sometimes there are lesions to the side which are smaller. My doctor assured me that what she saw was not herpes, as herpes sores are usually much smaller. Please help. Tired of this.
btpi
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Apr 08, 2005 12:00AM
, Apr 08, 2005 12:00AM
Please see a skin doctor, who will know that griseofulvin has no relevance to penile lesions. That drug treats fungus, not yeast, and if fungus ever affects the penile shaft, I have yet to see a case. I don't think you have yeast or herpes either, for what it's worth. I think you do have irritation, or balanitis. This is annoying but insignificant and easily treatable. I advise you to consult a dermatologist. Leave the affected area alone till it gets seen, and don't treat it with anything but vaseline. The dermatologist can order any tests that are needed. I think it's time you find out what is actually happening, so you can treat yourself properly and more than likely get herpes out of your mind. 10 years is enough.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
