I need help again...

About two months ago I posted the message listed below.  After your response, I was tested for Herpes I and II again and again it came back negative.  Then, about two days ago I got the exact same symptoms as my last episode in the exact same locations (bright red spot on one side of my penis, small red spot on another, and two red spots on the bottom of my scrotom).  Additionally, a few spots on my fingers are sore and have a red tint (and I'm almost positive the same spots were sore and had a red tint last time).  Should I be tested for herpes again? Is it at all possible that it could still be herpes or something serious? I appreciate your help.

Old message:

About one year ago, I woke up one morning with a small sore on the shaft of my penis. It did not hurt at all and scabbed over within a day and disappeared within 2 days. I thought it was just an abrasion and moved on. Exactly one month later, I woke up to see that there was a quarter sized bright red mark in the exact same spot that I had previously noticed that small sore the previous month. There was also another very small red spot further up on my penis. However, within 2-3 days, both red spots disappeared. Then, about 2.5 months later, I noticed another small sore on the other side of the shaft of my penis. Being concerned at this point, I went to a urologist and took a blood test for Herpes. The blood test came back negative for both Type 1 and Type 2 and I moved on. Please note that this was about 15 weeks after I first noticed the 1st sore and about 17 weeks after I had unprotected sex. Four months later, I noticed another very small scab on my penis that went away after 1-2 days and about 2 months after that I noticed the exact same quarter sized red bright red mark (that was somewhat sensitive this time) in the exact same spot as before and another very small red spot further up on my penis that was also in the exact same spot as about 10 months ago. The small red spot disapeared after 1 day and the quarter sized red spot remained sensitive for about a day and then I noticed a number of very small pinpoint sized scab marks two days later that disappeared one day later. I also noticed two small scabs on the bottom of my testicles that same day. I'd appreciate it if you can tell me if you think this is herpes, and if so why did I get negative results when I took the blood test? I've read that herpes is often accompanied with a fever and swolen lymphnodes and I've never had any of these symptoms when I noticed the sores. I've also never had any blisters or puss around the sores. If it is not herpes, could it be another STD or any other condition? Although I doubt it is related, it should be noted that I had testicular cancer about 2 years ago and went through 5 weeks of radiation treatment on my lower abdomen. I'd appreciate any insight you can give me and please let me know if you think I should get further blood tests or if I am being concerned over nothing. Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

These are not the symptoms of herpes.  They may represent an allergic reaction to a food or to a common non-prescription medication, such as a vitamin or pain reliever.  It is possible--likely, I would say--that no specific cause will ever be found.  The point is not the specific cause but whether it matters.  If you get red bumps every now and then and they don't hurt or bother you, what does it matter--as long as you know they aren't herpes or an STD.  And they are not.  I advise you to go back to your dermatologist for a little detective work.  But if no trigger is found, then you can just ignore the symptoms when they come.  Time to stop worrying about herpes.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff