Herpes Concern?

Last week I noticed a subtle rash on my stomach that consisted of five or six red dots (small pimples without a head).  Then I noticed larger sores/inflamation on my pelvic region between my leg and my scrotum (in the fold area) - about four on the left side and three on the right.  They are spaced very far apart, are red, do not have any "cluster-quality" to them at all, and itch only mildly if at all.  They have not progressed to my scrotum or my penis.  Three of them now have developed a blister-like quality rather than looking like a pimple (hence my conclusion folliculitis is not the cause).  The blister is just one raised area not a bunch of tiny blisters on one sore.  I squeezed one and the skin came off emitting a clear liquid followed by a little bit of blood but didn't really hurt.  I have no other symptoms (ex:  fever, headache, lymph inflamation (inflammation), burning) and if not for seeing them might not have noticed they were there.

But I'm still very concerned.  Given the clear color of the fluid does this mean herpes is the likely cause?  I had some hydrocortisone cream and tried applying it to one of the sores and it seemed to reduce the inflammation somewhat after a day but the sore has not gone away completely.  

Does this sound like herpes to you?  Any advice would be welcome because this has got me very worried.  Thanks so much.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I don't think so, but I really can't tell from your description.  These may be a bacterial infection, which sounds somewhat more likely.  But there's no getting around the fact that you're going to need to show this to someone for examination, culture, and so forth.  If you're worried about herpes, you're going to want to have it seen before it dries up.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff