Rash on penis, what is it?

Okay, a little embarassed, but have to ask.  I will give some background first.  I am circumsized.  I have had the same girlfriend/sex partner for the last 4 years.  I have not slept with anyone else.  She was diagnosed with genital warts about 2 years ago, and i have shown no visible signs of them.  What are my chances that i may have contracted this.  Also, about a year ago i developed a rash which is mainly concentrated on the underside of my penis, and sometimes extends to the sides, but not to the top.  The rash appears periodically.  The rash only develops after sex, or masturbating.  Not everytime i masturbate, but almost everytime she and i have unprotected sex.  If i immediately wash my penis after sex or masturbating, it seems to decrease the likelihood of the rash developing.  ALso, i have noticed that if i wear a condom during sex, it doesn't develop as often.  Its starts off a little itchy, and in the next day or two, it develops a thin layer of scabbing.  I only apply neosporin to it.  Could this be herpes, or genital warts, or hopefully, just an unlucky rash?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

The rash sounds like chafing or irrtiation, certainly nothing like warts, herpes, or anything else unlucky.  Lubrication before and 1% hydrocortisone after should suffice.

It's hard to say what your risk of cintacting the warts is or was.  If you have nothing visible (and you'd dee 'em if you had them), then you should be OK.  Has your girlfriend had them treated?  If not, she should and should get regular Pap smears.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Jack Reacher]

Also, i must add, i just found some pix of what the herpes virus looks like on the penis, and i am a little relieved to say that they do not match the symptoms i described above.  There are no little pustules or blisters, just a slight itch and some swelling in the foreskin area... then the area begins to develop a thin layer of scabbing... usually happens, from my experience, after some seminal fluid comes in contact without washing immediately... please help.

[Jack Reacher]

She has had them treated, they were identified during a papsmear.  She then had them surgically removed, what is the usual period that the genital warts would lay dormant.  Like i stated before, she was diagnosed with this about two years ago, and i have yet to see any signs.  Her sister contracted them about 5 years ago or so... and during one of our break-ups, she slept with a man that her sister had in the past, and presto, a while later she is diagnosed with this same illness.  I am no genius, but i would say the likelihood that this person whom they have both had intercourse with, is carrying the virus, has to be pretty high...  Are some people, more or less suseptible to this virus?  You recommend me applying lubrication prior to intercourse or masturbation, or the hydrocortizone?  Thanks for your advise you have set my troubled mind at some state of ease.

[Jack Reacher]

Also, could i be somewhat allergic to my own seminal fluids?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Lubrication before, hydrocortisone after.  Allergy to semen may exist, but I've never seen a case.

Dr. Rockoff

[Jack Reacher]

Thanks for your help...

[WPOD1827]

Question:  Odd rash...in the groin area...never had unprotected sex....seems to be going away....red...iching....also seems to be goin away....just wondering what this was...lasted for a long while (month).....have been working out alot lately...

[WPOD1827]

oh ya what would be a good treatment fer this

[WPOD1827]

very dry too

[RickyLee]

Always a bit embarassing discussing the penis but I do have a slight problem that does not seem to want to go away. I have been circumsized. On the left underside of the penis at the very top just before the edge of the head of the penis I have a red rash that seems to want to stay and not go away. It appeared about 2 months ago just out of the blue and has a slight itch to it; just enough to make it irritating. It never scabs over and is always red. It is about the size of a dime and always in the same place. It never appears to be spreading. I have never had anything like this before and would like to see if go away and soon. I am not sexually active with anyone but my wife. Any suggestions to help this problem would be appreciated. I have not been to a doctor yet but am considering so if the problem does not go away but I see not releif without medication of some sort. What do you suggest?