Herpes or folliculitis?

[covertmission]

My boyfriend had a "rash" on his genitals that he says was healed by taking apo-cephalexin about 6 months ago. He has had recurrent "infections" since then, that look alarmingly like genital herpes. This "rash" appears as several clusters of bumps that look like little blisters, that scab and heal over and disappear. These bumps appear across the top of his pelvis, where pubic hair grows. He often shaves this area. More recently the bumps appeared directly on the lower portion of his penis.

He has NONE of the symptoms associated with genital herpes such as pain, itchiness or the usual prodrome. Nor did he ever have an initial "outbreak" that was worse than what he is currently suffering from. Also, this "infection" behaves strangely: just as one particular area heals, another rash develops in and around the same area. He has been swabbed for herpes, and had a negative result. He was more recently swabbed (at his own insistence) for staph, and is awaiting results.

What does this sound like to you? Herpes? Folliculitis? Something else?

[jagesh50]

Very much like a folliculitis.