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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Herpes?
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
Herpes?
by SamTheMan, Nov 11, 2004 12:00AM
Hi Dr.,
First, thanks so much for this forum. You provide such a valuable and appreciated service.
I am embarrased as to how ignorant about Herpes I have been I am 30 yrs old, and having not believed in pre-marrital sex, I have not had sexual intercourse, but have received oral sex from 2 women and have kissed many. Lately I have been reading up alot on the topic and have become concerened.
I first received oral sex 4 years ago and don't recall any symptoms from that. About a year ago I received oral sex and around the same time (I dont recall when in relation to the act) i noticed one single flaky-white tiny pimple on the head of my penis. it was not blistery, not painful, not itchy, and in fact it fell off within a day or two at most. in fact, after it fell off with no marks at all. certainly no open sores or anything that i thought resembles herpes. Nothing like that had ever grown on my penis before then, and nothing since.
Recently, though, i noticed a red zit-like small bump on my pubic hair area. it went away within 2 days, a similar one popped up an inch or so away, also went away, and then a similar one same pattern a few days later. i have been examining, touching, rubbing, and scratching the area which is now also red. but now that i think about it, i have had similar patterns before andi recall the pubic area being red sometimes before also. i dont recall ever seeing a "cluster of blisters" though upon inspection some areas are red and a drop raw, maybe from the fact that i scratch there alot. do i have need to be concerned?
all the things i read are so confusing. some websites make practically anything sound like genital herpes to the point that it can make you crazy. then today i read an article that was somewhat comforting. it seemed to say that if one had previously been infected Orally with Herpes HSV-1, that it would be extremely difficult/rare to then contract HSV-1 in the genital area. Is this true? If it is, since HSV-2 is very unlikely to occur in the oral region, it would seem very unlikely that I have contracted genital Herpes, since it is highly likely that I have already been infected with Oral HSV-1 and have never had sexual intercourse.
In any event, I thank you in advance for your response and would appreciate any details you can give comparing what herpes looks like as opopsed to "pimples" or some redness due to the pimple or scratching in the genital region. As I said, I can't ever really say that I have seen a "cluster of blisters. Though I have seen individual pimples (sometimes a day or two apart withing the same area) and redness at times.
Best,
Sam
First, thanks so much for this forum. You provide such a valuable and appreciated service.
I am embarrased as to how ignorant about Herpes I have been I am 30 yrs old, and having not believed in pre-marrital sex, I have not had sexual intercourse, but have received oral sex from 2 women and have kissed many. Lately I have been reading up alot on the topic and have become concerened.
I first received oral sex 4 years ago and don't recall any symptoms from that. About a year ago I received oral sex and around the same time (I dont recall when in relation to the act) i noticed one single flaky-white tiny pimple on the head of my penis. it was not blistery, not painful, not itchy, and in fact it fell off within a day or two at most. in fact, after it fell off with no marks at all. certainly no open sores or anything that i thought resembles herpes. Nothing like that had ever grown on my penis before then, and nothing since.
Recently, though, i noticed a red zit-like small bump on my pubic hair area. it went away within 2 days, a similar one popped up an inch or so away, also went away, and then a similar one same pattern a few days later. i have been examining, touching, rubbing, and scratching the area which is now also red. but now that i think about it, i have had similar patterns before andi recall the pubic area being red sometimes before also. i dont recall ever seeing a "cluster of blisters" though upon inspection some areas are red and a drop raw, maybe from the fact that i scratch there alot. do i have need to be concerned?
all the things i read are so confusing. some websites make practically anything sound like genital herpes to the point that it can make you crazy. then today i read an article that was somewhat comforting. it seemed to say that if one had previously been infected Orally with Herpes HSV-1, that it would be extremely difficult/rare to then contract HSV-1 in the genital area. Is this true? If it is, since HSV-2 is very unlikely to occur in the oral region, it would seem very unlikely that I have contracted genital Herpes, since it is highly likely that I have already been infected with Oral HSV-1 and have never had sexual intercourse.
In any event, I thank you in advance for your response and would appreciate any details you can give comparing what herpes looks like as opopsed to "pimples" or some redness due to the pimple or scratching in the genital region. As I said, I can't ever really say that I have seen a "cluster of blisters. Though I have seen individual pimples (sometimes a day or two apart withing the same area) and redness at times.
Best,
Sam
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Nov 13, 2004 12:00AM
, Nov 13, 2004 12:00AM
What you describe is almost certainly just irritation, not herpes. It is possible to contract herpes 1 from oral to genital contact, but not that common (especially if the women in question didn't have visible cold sores), and in any case, it doesn't sound as though that's what you have. I share your assessment of herpes websites, which often take the fact that herpes can rarely look atypical to mean that anything could be herpes, which makes people like yourself unnecessarily--in my view--anxious. However, there is no need for you to just sit and worry about this. Ask your doctor to order a herpes 2 glycoprotein-based blood test (see www.herpes.diagnosis.com for details). A negative result--almost certainly what you'll get--will tell you you're fine and can stop worrying.
Meantime, please leave the penis spot alone, apply vaseline once a day, and, if you should get any new rash on your penis that you don't recognize, leave it alone so it's recognizable, and show it to a doctor.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Meantime, please leave the penis spot alone, apply vaseline once a day, and, if you should get any new rash on your penis that you don't recognize, leave it alone so it's recognizable, and show it to a doctor.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
I just wanted to add one thing to my question. The red "pimples" i described which popped up within a few days of each other in my pubic hair area all seem to have had a hair coming out from the center of it. I know you've said this is consistent with folliculitis, but the fact that i have alot of hair in that region anyway makes me concerned. also the fact that the area around the pimples is reddish (even the ones that have completely healed already) also concerned me.
Ok i will now try to calm down a bit and stop obsessing over this and await your response. :-)
--Sam