Herpes or What?

[One Life]

Dear Dr,
Hello first of all,Im a 23y old male and i have this problem.
About a month and half or so i had sex with this girl,I did not know to well i used a rubber but when we finsh the condom had broken.About 5 days after i got this rash on the foerskin of my
penis,It looks like when you get dry skin but red and very itchy
i get this in three different area on top of the forskin,when i pull the skin back to check myself is looks like cracs just a few and in the other area's it look like little pores sctterd all around the tip of the forskin.So i applied some A+D ointment
petrolatum53.4%&lanolin15.5%.About a week later it went away
the same week it went away i had sex with my girlfriend and i
began to the typical herpes sympton tinglin,bruning,itchy and
the rash came back samething as before.I have been to all the herpes sites on the web and i costantly read that 90% of pepole
don't know that they have herpes becuase they get mild sympton's
i have not goten any blisters or anything like that but can you
have herpes and not get blidters... PLAESE HLEP ME ALL I DO IS
THINK ABOUT THIS....AND DON'T GET ANYTHING DONE...


P.S IM CRCUMSIZED.
P.SS TAHNKS FOR TAKEING THE TIME..

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

All the symptoms you describe sound more like irritation and friction and not like herpes.  To be as sure as you can, you should show the rash to a doctor when the rash is visible.  Meantime, use lubrication to limit friction, apply hydrocortisone 1% after the rash appears--if it goes right away in a day or so that would also argue against herpes.

Just because some people have herpes and don't know it doesn't mean you have it.  Tingling and burning can mean lots of things besides herpes.

Get the rash checked out so you can stop worrying.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Nurch]

Ok, I had the same problems as the guy described above.  I went to show the doctor and he said I did not have any signs whatsoever of an infection of Herpes.  I did this after a month from having sex with my fiance`.  I mean I had tiny sores, but it wasn't as bad as the doctor described with Herpes patients.  Don't worry, I had 2nd and 3rd oppinions. I told him about the websites I had read about with Herpes infections and he said that most of the websites out there are just making guesses to their best knowledge of Herpes and using classic symptoms.  He also said that most people think they have Herpes and usually do not since it is only a regular bed rash caused by friction or rubbing when you have certain dreams (I think we know what I am talking about. HAH!).  Anyways, I had blood tests and culture tests for Herpes and have never been positive for a Herpes infection.  I am a supreme hypochondriac and I even scare myself when I come across these pages.  I am sexually active, but both my fiance` and I have been tested and been negative for STDs.  When I get a bed rash, I get so worried, I just break down and cry.  Seriously.  But my question is, should I be worried like this about herpes?  I have heard about Herpes Encypholitus where you go blind and deaf from Herpes, and is usually contracted when you have herpes and then get contact with someone with Meningitus.  I have also heard that bed rashes can stay with you if you keep rubbing the area, not allowing it to heal properly.  My doctor has said that rashes will remain longer if you do not take care of them, i.e. use ointment and to quit poking at it and worrying about having Herpes.  He also suggest the "Power of Suggestion" which can make matters allot worse just by over thinking about a problem.  He called it, in simple terms, "Over stressing a minor situation."  I mean, I did get a minor pain from when I touched it, but it wasn't something that made me say "ouch!"  I don't know, What can you recommend for mental ease?  I have seen medical professionals, and have had tests done over and over, but why am I not at rest?  PLEASE HELP!!!!!

-Harry

[Nurch]

Actually, I just wanted to note that when I shifted where my penis sits within my underwear, as in from left to right and vice-versa, I notice that I get no more rashes on the unexposed site.  I don't know, but this sounds wierd to me.  I have had no blistering or whatever either afterwards.  

Just a comment to make, from my best knowledge given by my doctor and research, if anyone has a red open spot on your penis, whether on the shaft, the head, or other common spots that Herpes makes, DO NOT CONCLUDE THAT IT IS HERPES!  I suggest getting culture tests and blood tests first.  Do not go to websites and so on about Herpes.  They usually say stuff that are similar to regular rashes or friction blisters, and leave you in a panic.  It is worse if you are a hypochondriac like I am.  People do have bed-rashes and friction rashes that are similar to Herpes symptoms.  The best thing to do after you have had sex for the first time, and have developed a rash or open red spots, etc., seek medical attention first and foremost.  Coming to a forum like this one with a great doctor is also well advised in my oppinion.  But you get immediate responses after seeking a doctor's oppinion, face-to-face (no offense doctor).  

What I did first was ask my partner about her history.  That is the first step in preventive medicine.  Yes people do lie for fear of losing someone they love, and that is where condoms come for that extra safety.  Also, if you clean your area all the time, that is also another reassurance that you can prevent a Herpes infection.  Herpes takes several weeks for infection, depending on the person's immune system.  If you clean your area well, you have nothing to worry about.  Soap and water, as well as Hydrocortison will get rid of Herpes.  Always keep that area clean at all times.  Same thing goes with contracting an HSV-1.  Brush always and keep clean.  Hygene is very important.  I just wish Herpes sites would say all this stuff.  Herpes sites should also warn people to not confuse these things with normal rashes or bed-rashes.  Yes they are similar at times, but not the same.  

Good doctor, please make comments to anything that I may have said wrong.

Thanks and God Bless All

-Harry

[ChicagoKen]

I have 3 red bumps between my anus and scrotum... I am wondering if this is something to be concerned about. The first two red bumps don't itch, and I wouldn't notice them, except if I touch them they are uncomfortable and rubbing them is a bit painful. Then, on my scrotum, I have one postule -- it looks like a pimple, but its been there for a while. I scratced/squeezed it off and it came back.  Thats it... should I be concerned for an STD? I haven't had anal sex, but other men have performed oral sex on my and so I don't know how serious this is.

Thanks,

[ventura80]

A related discussion, please help!! was started.