Rash on Penis

[steve123]

About a week or more ago I noticed 2 small red spots on the shaft of my penis,  on the left side.  They seemed to only be noticeable when irritated,  like after a shower or masturbation.  At first I thought they were going away, but just today after a shower and scrubbing,  I noticed there are more of them from spreading.  They don't itch and I don't even notice they are there unless I look.  They don't seem to be bumps,  just redness of the skin.  I'm probably going to the dermatologist soon if any of the creams I have don't make it go away.  I've looked around on the internet and can't seem to pin down what it is.  I have HSV-1 and this doesn't seem to "feel" like herpes, but like I said,  it doesn't "feel" like anything.  I have included a couple of pics:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid152/pbae31e41d2cfd6f0f9c4c55258b2fe6b/f5a60473.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid152/p9215d77ce8c3a1c2a50d7e969b533a8f/f5a60118.jpg

1st is left side of shaft,  2nd is left side again, near the scrotom,   some of the spots are on the scotom, and near the base,  as well as a couple of spots on the head of the penis as well.  Seems to all be on the left side from the top to the bottom.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Hard to tell for sure from the pictures, but irritation/folliculitis seems most likely.  It looks too widespread to be typical herpes, at least the classical form.  Also, herpes would be drying up and scabbing after a week.  I would see a doctor while it's still there, and avoid rubbing and scrubbing.  Apply bacitracin or neosporin, as these might help a bit.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[steve123]

Hey doc, here is another update before you respond,  I just talked to my most recent sex partner,  we had unprotected sex a few days ago and she said that the following day, after contact with me, she noticed she had some itching around the opening of her vaginal area.  She mentioned previous problems with fungus infections etc.  We first talked about it today and she says it has gotten a lot better just over 2 days.  Today as I mentioned is the first I've noticed anything serious and since I posted earlier today,  it seems like it might be clearing up some.  We haven't had sex with anyone else in two months or so and we both seemed to have gotten the symptoms at the same time.  I haven't seen her in person but she described it as like an allergic reaction to something.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I don't think that changes my recommendation.

Dr. Rockoff

[steve123]

Thanks doc,  I put on some polysporin as well as some tinactin and it seems to almost be gone after 2 days.   My partner put on something similiar she had and hers is pretty much gone now.  Guess we will re-apply for 3 days or so to make sure it doesn't come back.

[steve123]

Its been 1 week and wanted to post a followup since no one on here ever does.   I used antifungal cream twice a day for 5 days and now it is totally gone,  It was mostly gone after 2 days, as it responded immediately to treatment.  5 days after my post I looked and noticed that some dead skin was flaking off at all the sites of the infection, which is consistant of what happens a week or two after I take nizoral for tinea versicolor.  

Only thing I wondered about is what kind of fungus it was and where it came from.  It also seems to have been easily transmitted between us.

[CuriousJae]

A related discussion, STD or Irritation? was started.