PENIS RASH

[TOMMYBOY165]

Dear Doctor,

I am having a simlilar problem as the one davey24 4-21-02 sent in. I wrote you back in I think it was November. I had a problem with a botchy red rash appearing on the tip of my penis after having sex with my girlfriend back in July 2001. I thought I may have an std so I went to the doctor,thinking it may be herpes he gave me a herpes cream just in case,after three days of using the herpes cream it had gotten worse. So I went to a dermotologist and he said it was a yeast infection. He had help me somewhat with a anti-fungal cream  but I never seem to get rid of it It may lighten up but never fully goes away. If I masterbate or have sex it gets all red and rashy.The tip of my penis never seems to clear up always a hint of a rash. Never had a problem urinating. I Have been to a few Dermotologist. So I must say I have been really freaked out about this whole thing. I am uncut and keep it as clean and dry as possible,I went to the urologist and they say I need to be Circumcised and gave me all the reasons. I agree, I am going for it next month. But my question is, I do have very slight little bumps just below the tip of my penis I believe these are from the rash, not the ones around the ring that un- cut guy sometimes have. They never hurt never burts,never get big.Is the tip of the penis sometime like this or is it suppose to be smoothe. The urologist says I am fine.I am hoping after the surgery I will get back to normal. We'll It will take a bit of getting use to. I was up to this point freaked out that it may be herpes as you read that their are not always blister, But do you think after going to three gp's and two dermo's and two uro's ,they wouldn't pick up on that. They all say its not.

thanks in advance
tommyboy165

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Tommy:

It's not herpes.  Period.  Herpes causes a cluster of blisters, but these go away after 10 days and come back every once in a while.  You can't miss them.  Based on your detailed description, you don't have that.

Like many of my other questionders, you are describing mild irritation of the penile skin.  Sometimes thinn-skinned areas like the penis can feel red and tingly off and on for long periods.  That wouldn't be a problem worth paying attention to, if it weren't for the concern that it's an STD.  It couldn't be.  

Therefore, you don't need to worry about getting back to normal.  You already are normal.  It's time to put the episode behind you, Tommy.

Circumcision will no doubt reduce the irritation potential on your penile skin.  Your job then will be to ignore these minor imperfections and irritations and get on with it.

Good luck.

Dr. Rockoff

[mayday77]

i would like to say that about 2 days ago, i noticed the same symtoms, and it seems like almost once every year for some reason in the spring i get an irritation there, i too am uncut, and these little red dots pop up all around the head. there is no burning just irritation and it's very sensitive. my concern is; can this infect my wife, i too am scared that this could be some type of std.

[donnyboy]

I also have this. It first started about a month ago when my girlfriend went down on me (we hadnt been sleeping together).

When I have an erection, the shaft and particulary the head gets really hot.

After masturbation or ejectulate, the tip of the penis and the end of the foreskin gets red, or pink... but after a few hours returns to normal. Ive been to the doctors and she perscribed me Fucidin Cream, which I gather is for skin infections.. I have been using this but it still keeps getting red and hot.

I am going to go back to the doctors next week, but I would just like to know what people think... Is it anything serious?

[avgguy34]

Tommyboy165......have you had any luck?? any results??   I, along with you, and davey24, have basically the EXACT problem all the sudden !!  Please let me know if anything has happened, or if anything has helped.

in combination... what do you think about additonal factors like 'heat of the summer', change in workout activiity.....ie staying more sweaty and moist than normal- increasing fungus growth?

Man, best of luck!!



Below is a comment I posted on endoftherope's msg

Dipping in Salt Water twice daily for a few weeks does sound logical... At least it is something different!! I dont know if it works yet for me- but certianly willing to try. This appeared a 2 weeks ago for me. Same as most posts on this subject, I was sure I had contracted a STD, same as most the tests are negative, same as most was perscribed 'clotrimazole'  (hydrocort has done nothing to help).....and same as most, am NOT HAPPY with the fact that something that use to give me pleasure now is painful !!   As well UNFORTUNATELY-- in surfin the web on the symptoms..there's not much out there, nor much advice on treatment, and not much hope on it going away.

Something changing overnight like that is hard to cope with on any area of the body. Women have dealt with media's input and idealism for years, the perfect body, the perfect breasts, etc...and yes probably due to 'men' in positions of power and decision making. Men have not seen the pressures of that outwardly until recent years, although internally deep down somewhere- many of us have been taught 'to have a penis is to have power'....and the bigger the better. (note I said MANY, and I'm NOT saying it's right!)  I do believe other men who have NOT had something like this happen can see the psychological effects...as well, no matter HOW WRONG IT IS having the idea of one little organ defining oneself-- it has a major impact I feel....something that had potential of giving pleasure to someone else (or one's self) Is now all red, bumpy, and HURTS ! All practically overnight!

So yes, as with everything.... there is time to cope and deal and try to fix,, and then comes a time to cope and deal and move forward--and everyone does that in their own time!  Right now, I'm gonna dip myself in some salt water!! lol-- and then go buy some yogurt to eat daily!! (Dr also said it was like a yeast infection?? go figure...maybe I'll smear some of that on too!

Best of luck to everyone!!   my nickname at aol.com will get to me, if you think i'm wrong, offbase, helpful, or find a treatment, feel free to write!

[TOMMYBOY165]

I just want to say , thanks for the comments. I have finaly after a long bout with this rash, had a circumcsion two and one half weeks ago. Seem a bit different down their still,in the healing stage. I could just imagine what you guy's are feeling. One day your fine the next day you wake up to a problem on you man hood. I had never had any problems.I cant say anything much help my problem. Heat of the summer,sweating from a run never had an effect on me before and I dont believe it had anything to do with my rash. Boy what a year.  I will keep you posted on my recovery and how I make out.

tommyboy

[JohnDaly]

Is anyone taking Effexor, Trazadone, or Atenelol?  My symptoms began after I began using these medications.

[thom]

I too have had similar problems to some of the people here & was also freaked out for a while. Reading some of the stuff put me at ease a little! I'm familiar with the irritable red blotches on the head and the humps that don't burst around its base, it just came on again recently, just as it's been getting hot, the summer heat idea sounds like a possible explaination to me. I am also not circumcised, and I'm trying to keep as clean as possible; previous times when red irritable patches have appeared, they have been few in number, but this time things are a lot redder & uncomfortable. I've also considered the salt water, it seems like a good idea, it can't do any harm. I just hope it clears up soon!

cheers guys

[magia]

Hello,
I have been reading alot of the explanations and have not found one that covers my problem. I am married and we use contraception prior to our orgasm. The problem I have for the past year or so is that after sex usually a couple of days I get a dryness on the penis and also cracking along the skin creases on my penis. These are like hairline cracks and are painful in the shower. The skin on the penis drys out sometimes and sort of flakes off. Recently we changed to non latex condoms in the hope that I was allergic to latex. The symtoms have got better and i always wash after sex. These past couple of days i have had itching with the cracking and I have been putting on an anti itch type cream, could have done with some in the car on the way home today!Is it maybe the acidity of my wife or allergies to the spermicide?
Does anyone else have the same thing??

Thanks

[Jonboy]

I first noticed a red rash appearing on the tip of my penis two years ago.  I went to the doctors about the problem and he gave me some 'Dactacort' cream as he thought it was a yeast infection.  This seemed to cure the problem at first but the problem never really went.  If the rash flaired up I would apply the cream again and after a day or so it would look normal again.  This had been going on for two years now until the other day when I decided to go back to the doctors and see whether he could sort it out for good.  He referred me to the GU clinic at the local hospital.  I went there in good spirits hoping that at last my troubles would be over.  however once I got there it was a completely diffent story.  Within 5 mins I was surrounded by 5 Indian doctors and nurses.  They took a scrape and urine sample and then told me they needed a swab sample from inside. At this point I was half way out the door. No Way!
I am a 21 year old straight and single male in perfect health. What the hell is going on? Ive already been told by the doctors that its not an STD so what could it be??  Ive got to go back in a month, but am dreading it!!