Is My Doctor Correct?

[Cambridge]

I seem to be having lots of different problems, which I can only assume are related.  I know this is a long story, but I wanted you to have the facts.  About 2 months ago, I started a new relationship.  We were having sex, but we always used condoms.  The relationship was short lived, and we broke up shortly thereafter.  However, two weeks later I developed a skin irritation on the head of my penis and slightly underneath it.   When I looked at my penis, I could not see anything wrong with it.  It was little redder than usually, but it looked normal.  However, the skin felt like it was burning and I was experiencing some soreness.  It burned when I urinated, and my penis was very sensitive to warm water.  To make it worse, my prostate started to hurt a few days later.  I went to my Doctor, and he tested for gonorrhea (negative results) and Chlamydia (also negative).  He really did not see any redness, so he thought it might be all internal.  He gave me 2 weeks of Levaquin (an antibiotic for the urinary tract).  After two weeks, the pain in the prostate went away, but the soreness on the skin still remained.  I had read on the Internet about Yeast infections, so I started using Lotrimin.  I used that for about 3 weeks, and my symptoms were almost completely gone.  At this time, I meet a new girl, whom I began a new sexual relationship with.  As always, I used condoms.  However, my burn sensation on the head of my penis returned the very next day.  Again I used the Lotrimin, hoping it would work.  It seemed to ease the pain through week, but the pain always returned after sex.  After a few weeks of this, my penis kind of crusted over and the skin flaked off.  I went back to the Doctor, and explained the situation.  He felt it was not a yeast infection, because the skin was not bright red.  He thought it might be a latex irrational.  He gave me some Elidel (pimecrolumus cream) and suggested I use non latex condoms.  I used the cream, but it only seemed to hide the pain.  About a week later, my lips, the area under my nose, and my chin started burning.  It felt like I had a sunburn, and was sensitive to warm/hot water.  When I looked in the mirror, I could only see minor redness, but my lips were very chapped.  I talked to my girlfriend and she mentioned that she did have a yeast infection.  I went back to my Doctor, and he again told me that it could not be a yeast infection because it was not bright red.  He recommended that I use the Elidel around my lips too.  I have been using the cream for about a week now, and the symptoms remain (although with less intensity).  However, today, my eyes started burning.  They are both blood shot, and my eyelids are kinda of red.  I called my doctor, and he felt it had nothing to do with my other symptoms.  He recommended that I see an Eye Doctor.  So, do you think my Doctor is on the right track?  Should I ask my Doctor to recommend a Dermatologist or an Urologist?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Yes, your doctor does indeed seem to be on the right track.  The bloodshot eyes, for instance, are certainly something different.  The problems don't sound anything like yeast (and yeast is not often transmitted from women, who get yeast infections all the time).  

Your porblems sound like eczema, with an overlay of anxiety.  Using pimecrolimus is a good idea, because it is effective and won't make the skin stay red and sensitive, the way even mild steroids sometimes do.  Eczema can affect the penis, as well as the skin around the eyes.  In other words, I think from what you've told me that your docotr is correct in approach.  Your symptoms do not sound like those of an STD or yeast infection.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

Dr. Rockoff