Aa
Red Itchy Penis & Foreskin
I was worried that I was exposed to Herpes despite the fact that my partner at the time specifically said she does not and has not had any STD's/STI's. I've gone to numerous walk in clinics (all except one were sexual health clinics), but the stymptoms typically dissappear within hours of noticing them and washing the affected area. I'm a little more at ease now than I was before but I'm still wondering what could be causing my problems and how to treat it so it doesn't come back again.
I'm a 30 year old male and on October 30th of 2009 I had a date with someone who I'd talked to numerous times and gone out with a couple of times. Things became a little intimate and we were fooling around and naked. I did receive oral sex from her and she climbed on top of me to kiss me, holding my hands above my head and while she was kissing me she took me inside of her partially (although she denies I was inside of her). Immediately I freaked out and pushed her off of me and said she should not have done that. I had no reason to believe she had herpes but that was my concern right away. When asking her about having Herpes (HSV-1 or HSV-2), she became defensive and said she did not and has only had 2 partners in all of her life (her previous husband and someone she dated for a period of time). I told her that I do not have sex without a condom and that I had condoms with me since you can't be too safe. (To elaborate on this, I have but it was with girlfriends who I had been dating for 3-6 years). I quickly got dressed and left her place and drove home, worried the whole time and arriving home about an hour later.
I got home and washed my penis with soap and water, not noticing anything but still concerned. I continued to watch and monitor the area for weeks not noticing anything and washing every so often. Since then I have noticed the following things and have been documenting them ever since. I would like to add that until this encounter I would rarely pull back the foreskin on my penis to inspect or wash (maybe 5 or 6 times in my entire life).
November 28 - Late Afternoon
Itching sensation, scratched and immediately checked. Jumped in the shower and saw redness on the top of the head of the penis and on the inside of the foreskin where it meets the head of the penis. Washed and in about an hour or an hour and a half everything seemed fine. Still worried and called Telehealth, they were not sure but did not believe it was anything to be concerned about.
November 29 - Went to Walk-In Clinic near home first thing in the morning
Doctor there seemed as if I was just bothering her, took a very quick look and said it was nothing, that she'd seen many STD/STI's before and that I did not have one.
November 30 - Went to sexual health clinic #1
Was seen by an intern (I believe), and described everything to him. He took a look to see if there was anything visible and did not see anything to be of concern about. He consulted with another Nurse or Doctor who also said it was nothing to be concerned about.
December 21 or 22 - Went to sexual health clinic #2
Described what happend and my concerns, he wondered why I was immediately worried about herpes after the encounter, I could not say other than I was. He asked numerous questions and then visually inspected and said there was nothing to be concerned about, that it could possibly have been yeast. Advised to clean the area with mild soap and water and to keep it as dry as possible, provided a pamphlet on Yeast.
December 27 - Around 11am
Had more itching with redness. Again went and showered and cleaned the area and withing an hour or 2 things were fine again. Immediately after washing the itching is gone. For the 2 or 3 days leading up to this I did not wash or inspect the area.
December 31 - About 4pm
Noticed 4 tiny little bumps, spread out and not side by side at all. No itching. Washed and bumps were not visible a few hours later.
January 4 - Went to sexual health clinic #1 again
Described what has happend since I've been worried, no visual inspection of area done since no symptoms were present. Explained that at sexual health clinic #2 the person who I spoke to and saw me there mentioned it could be Yeast. She said it was possible but with no discharge there is no way to check/test for it. Asked if I should try to treat for it anyways and she suggested not treating since we don't know what it could actually be, this way we don't cause other issues. Also advised that if it happens again to have it looked at.
January 7 - First Thing In The Morning
Noticed a little bump on the left side and right side of the head, like a pin *****. No itching or pain. Washed and about 2 hours later things seemed fine.
January 9 - About 5:30pm
Noticed a dark red bump near the bulb (back of my penis) when pulling back the foreskin (almost like a single pin ***** or like an ingrown hair). No itching or pain. Monitored it for the next hour to see if it improved and showered an hour later which seemed to make it get a little better while in the shower but then after the shower it was the same. Does not hurt and is not itchy but does feel a little more sensitive than the area around it. With foreskin in place touching the penis I do not feel a thing. A few hours later it was looking better but red spot is still visible.
January 10 - Morning
Still a little red or pink but looking much better than when found initially. I have taken a picture of the area to document since it seems that whenever I'm able to go to a clinic to have them look everything is fine.
I plan on monitoring it and seeing what happens over the course of the next 24 hours and if the red bump is still there I will go to the clinic to have them look once again.
January 11
I wanted to add that I went to the clinic today after all despite the fact that the red bump I noticed on Saturday is pretty much gone.
I explained everything above to the doctor (or was it nurse), in the clinic and showed her what I looked like right now and her response was that I had nothing to be concerned about. She said that if it was an STD the symptoms would stay and not go away so quickly after washing. I pointed out the area on the top of the head of my penis saying that was the area that I had the first "rash" on and she was able to notice that it too was slightly pink still.
All in all she said that things look normal there and I should not worry. I want to believe her and am going to do my best to believe her but a little part of me still can't help but wonder and worry since I've never had this happen before (but in all fairness until that encounter I never really inspected myself down there other than taking a quick look here and there and definitely not so closely as I am now). She did provide me with some Canesten but advised me not to use it unless the symptoms come back.
January 15 - First Thing In The Morning
Noticed red areas around the exposed part of the head of my penis. Pulled back the foreskin to investigate and found other red, slightly itchy areas with another bright red dot. I jumped in the shower and washed and the spot seemed to get better and the itchiness was gone about an hour later. Checked about 2 and a half hours later and the area that had the bright red spot is gone but there is still slight pink on different areas of the head of the penis.
January 16 - 2:30 in the morning
Decided that I have had enough of this worrying and figured I would try the Canesten the doctor gave me despite the fact that the redness and itching are no longer present. Based on my research I've read that I should apply it at least twice a day for 2 weeks. To apply I pull back the foreskin and put it on the head of my penis as well as the inside of the foreskin before letting the foreskin slide back in place.
I'm a 30 year old male and on October 30th of 2009 I had a date with someone who I'd talked to numerous times and gone out with a couple of times. Things became a little intimate and we were fooling around and naked. I did receive oral sex from her and she climbed on top of me to kiss me, holding my hands above my head and while she was kissing me she took me inside of her partially (although she denies I was inside of her). Immediately I freaked out and pushed her off of me and said she should not have done that. I had no reason to believe she had herpes but that was my concern right away. When asking her about having Herpes (HSV-1 or HSV-2), she became defensive and said she did not and has only had 2 partners in all of her life (her previous husband and someone she dated for a period of time). I told her that I do not have sex without a condom and that I had condoms with me since you can't be too safe. (To elaborate on this, I have but it was with girlfriends who I had been dating for 3-6 years). I quickly got dressed and left her place and drove home, worried the whole time and arriving home about an hour later.
I got home and washed my penis with soap and water, not noticing anything but still concerned. I continued to watch and monitor the area for weeks not noticing anything and washing every so often. Since then I have noticed the following things and have been documenting them ever since. I would like to add that until this encounter I would rarely pull back the foreskin on my penis to inspect or wash (maybe 5 or 6 times in my entire life).
November 28 - Late Afternoon
Itching sensation, scratched and immediately checked. Jumped in the shower and saw redness on the top of the head of the penis and on the inside of the foreskin where it meets the head of the penis. Washed and in about an hour or an hour and a half everything seemed fine. Still worried and called Telehealth, they were not sure but did not believe it was anything to be concerned about.
November 29 - Went to Walk-In Clinic near home first thing in the morning
Doctor there seemed as if I was just bothering her, took a very quick look and said it was nothing, that she'd seen many STD/STI's before and that I did not have one.
November 30 - Went to sexual health clinic #1
Was seen by an intern (I believe), and described everything to him. He took a look to see if there was anything visible and did not see anything to be of concern about. He consulted with another Nurse or Doctor who also said it was nothing to be concerned about.
December 21 or 22 - Went to sexual health clinic #2
Described what happend and my concerns, he wondered why I was immediately worried about herpes after the encounter, I could not say other than I was. He asked numerous questions and then visually inspected and said there was nothing to be concerned about, that it could possibly have been yeast. Advised to clean the area with mild soap and water and to keep it as dry as possible, provided a pamphlet on Yeast.
December 27 - Around 11am
Had more itching with redness. Again went and showered and cleaned the area and withing an hour or 2 things were fine again. Immediately after washing the itching is gone. For the 2 or 3 days leading up to this I did not wash or inspect the area.
December 31 - About 4pm
Noticed 4 tiny little bumps, spread out and not side by side at all. No itching. Washed and bumps were not visible a few hours later.
January 4 - Went to sexual health clinic #1 again
Described what has happend since I've been worried, no visual inspection of area done since no symptoms were present. Explained that at sexual health clinic #2 the person who I spoke to and saw me there mentioned it could be Yeast. She said it was possible but with no discharge there is no way to check/test for it. Asked if I should try to treat for it anyways and she suggested not treating since we don't know what it could actually be, this way we don't cause other issues. Also advised that if it happens again to have it looked at.
January 7 - First Thing In The Morning
Noticed a little bump on the left side and right side of the head, like a pin *****. No itching or pain. Washed and about 2 hours later things seemed fine.
January 9 - About 5:30pm
Noticed a dark red bump near the bulb (back of my penis) when pulling back the foreskin (almost like a single pin ***** or like an ingrown hair). No itching or pain. Monitored it for the next hour to see if it improved and showered an hour later which seemed to make it get a little better while in the shower but then after the shower it was the same. Does not hurt and is not itchy but does feel a little more sensitive than the area around it. With foreskin in place touching the penis I do not feel a thing. A few hours later it was looking better but red spot is still visible.
January 10 - Morning
Still a little red or pink but looking much better than when found initially. I have taken a picture of the area to document since it seems that whenever I'm able to go to a clinic to have them look everything is fine.
I plan on monitoring it and seeing what happens over the course of the next 24 hours and if the red bump is still there I will go to the clinic to have them look once again.
January 11
I wanted to add that I went to the clinic today after all despite the fact that the red bump I noticed on Saturday is pretty much gone.
I explained everything above to the doctor (or was it nurse), in the clinic and showed her what I looked like right now and her response was that I had nothing to be concerned about. She said that if it was an STD the symptoms would stay and not go away so quickly after washing. I pointed out the area on the top of the head of my penis saying that was the area that I had the first "rash" on and she was able to notice that it too was slightly pink still.
All in all she said that things look normal there and I should not worry. I want to believe her and am going to do my best to believe her but a little part of me still can't help but wonder and worry since I've never had this happen before (but in all fairness until that encounter I never really inspected myself down there other than taking a quick look here and there and definitely not so closely as I am now). She did provide me with some Canesten but advised me not to use it unless the symptoms come back.
January 15 - First Thing In The Morning
Noticed red areas around the exposed part of the head of my penis. Pulled back the foreskin to investigate and found other red, slightly itchy areas with another bright red dot. I jumped in the shower and washed and the spot seemed to get better and the itchiness was gone about an hour later. Checked about 2 and a half hours later and the area that had the bright red spot is gone but there is still slight pink on different areas of the head of the penis.
January 16 - 2:30 in the morning
Decided that I have had enough of this worrying and figured I would try the Canesten the doctor gave me despite the fact that the redness and itching are no longer present. Based on my research I've read that I should apply it at least twice a day for 2 weeks. To apply I pull back the foreskin and put it on the head of my penis as well as the inside of the foreskin before letting the foreskin slide back in place.
I swear--not being mean but u r obsessing about your penis! One way of finding out what is going on is to go to your local mental health clinic and get someone to check you. That sort of obsession is not normal or healthy. And in all your life you had not pulled the foreskin back on your penis and washed it...omg I am surprised if you don't have a yeast infection because to me that is nasty and it concerns me that you put yourself in that situation and now you are freaking out like you are 13 instead of 30!! If I sound mean I certainly don't intend to sound mean but you need to get some help for your obsessive/compulsive illness before you get sicker from it. No one should be that worried about their penis to make a daily chart about what is going on with it unless your doctor should request that you do. I appreciate anyone who is trying to be conscious of their health but u are overly conscious!
February 12 – Morning
I had sex for the first time in 3 months last night and again this morning, afterwards rinsing with water and drying myself off with some toilet paper. It's now been about 5 hours since and the head of the penis when pulling the foreskin back is quite red. I am not experiencing any itching or any other symptoms but the head is red although only visible when pulling the foreskin back. I have applied hydrocortisone cream this morning as I have been since the 7th to see if it helps.
March 29 - Morning
To keep things up to date I did go to a walk in sexual health clinic and they told me the same thing, not to worry and that it was not an STD.
Since then things have been quite normal down there and I stopped the cream after 7 days as I was advised and just continued to rinse/wash with water and dry myself off before putting the foreskin back in place.
This morning I did notice more redness on the head of the penis but it was after masturbating (I don't believe I checked it before hand as I've calmed down quite a bit since and typically only check 2, sometimes 3 times a day (but not making special trips just to check as I was before).
I've washed again and am just waiting to see if the redness will go away, it's basically on the exposed part of the head of the penis and I do have a pull the foreskin back a little to see it. I'm not sure what's causing it but I'm trying not to alarm myself as my girlfriend was over last night and playing a bit and I'm wondering/thinking that she may have had something on her hand while she was playing (she was eating pistachio's earlier as well as a sandwhich and I'm unsure if she'd washed her hands after eating them), that could have caused it. Either way, as I said before, it's just red and I'm not experiencing any intching or seeing any bumps, etc. I'm crossing my fingers and believe it could just be something causing some irritation.
Even when I went to my new doctor and explained what was going on he wasn't concerned in the slightest, said it will happen from time to time on a normal healthy male just due to things that we do, what we eat, etc.
Since the redness was typically going away within hours I will post back later on today when things have calmed down (or if they haven't I'll keep you posted as well).
Thank you everyone for reading and by all means, if you do have any idea what might be causing this and how to keep it away for good please feel free to share, I know I'd personally love to not have to worry about this anymore!
I had sex for the first time in 3 months last night and again this morning, afterwards rinsing with water and drying myself off with some toilet paper. It's now been about 5 hours since and the head of the penis when pulling the foreskin back is quite red. I am not experiencing any itching or any other symptoms but the head is red although only visible when pulling the foreskin back. I have applied hydrocortisone cream this morning as I have been since the 7th to see if it helps.
March 29 - Morning
To keep things up to date I did go to a walk in sexual health clinic and they told me the same thing, not to worry and that it was not an STD.
Since then things have been quite normal down there and I stopped the cream after 7 days as I was advised and just continued to rinse/wash with water and dry myself off before putting the foreskin back in place.
This morning I did notice more redness on the head of the penis but it was after masturbating (I don't believe I checked it before hand as I've calmed down quite a bit since and typically only check 2, sometimes 3 times a day (but not making special trips just to check as I was before).
I've washed again and am just waiting to see if the redness will go away, it's basically on the exposed part of the head of the penis and I do have a pull the foreskin back a little to see it. I'm not sure what's causing it but I'm trying not to alarm myself as my girlfriend was over last night and playing a bit and I'm wondering/thinking that she may have had something on her hand while she was playing (she was eating pistachio's earlier as well as a sandwhich and I'm unsure if she'd washed her hands after eating them), that could have caused it. Either way, as I said before, it's just red and I'm not experiencing any intching or seeing any bumps, etc. I'm crossing my fingers and believe it could just be something causing some irritation.
Even when I went to my new doctor and explained what was going on he wasn't concerned in the slightest, said it will happen from time to time on a normal healthy male just due to things that we do, what we eat, etc.
Since the redness was typically going away within hours I will post back later on today when things have calmed down (or if they haven't I'll keep you posted as well).
Thank you everyone for reading and by all means, if you do have any idea what might be causing this and how to keep it away for good please feel free to share, I know I'd personally love to not have to worry about this anymore!
January 23 - First thing in the morning
Every so often right around the urethra opening and the exposed skin surrounding it I think it's slightly red, brighter than the rest of the head. It doesn't itch or bother me and doesn't really concern me but I wish I knew if that was normal too, I don't ever remember seeing it like that in the past but in all honesty I'm forgetting/having trouble remembering what it looked like before.
February 7
I've been pulling back the foreskin and washing with water only in the morning every day and treating with Canesten Topical Cream (1% Clotrimazole) 2 - 3 times a day and have no experienced any of the itching in the last 3 weeks and a few days. Currently I still have the red/dark pink area on the top of the head of my penis (only visible when pulling back the foreskin all the way), and I believe some redness around the opening to the urethra. Currently I don't have a regular doctor at the moment and still won't for a few weeks and any clinics I've gone to have been Sexual Health clinics which advised me that the problem is not an STD. I don't ever recall this redness ever happening before since all of this so I've continued to research the problem. Most things I've read seem to point to Yeast, Balanitis, Eczema or Psoriasis while the doctors at the clinics have said it's nothing to worry about or that it was most likely yeast. I've decided to start treating with Cortate (Hydrocortisone Cream USP 0.5%) to see if I would have any sort of improvement with the redness but have only applied it twice (once on Thursday and another today). The package states that it should be applied to the affected area 3 - 4 times a day but does not specify for how long. I'm still concerned but have been less concerned since seeing the last doctor who was extremely confident that it was not an STD but I still want to know what it is, why or how it happend and of course how to get rid of it and am hoping to have an answer for that very soon. If anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them.
Every so often right around the urethra opening and the exposed skin surrounding it I think it's slightly red, brighter than the rest of the head. It doesn't itch or bother me and doesn't really concern me but I wish I knew if that was normal too, I don't ever remember seeing it like that in the past but in all honesty I'm forgetting/having trouble remembering what it looked like before.
February 7
I've been pulling back the foreskin and washing with water only in the morning every day and treating with Canesten Topical Cream (1% Clotrimazole) 2 - 3 times a day and have no experienced any of the itching in the last 3 weeks and a few days. Currently I still have the red/dark pink area on the top of the head of my penis (only visible when pulling back the foreskin all the way), and I believe some redness around the opening to the urethra. Currently I don't have a regular doctor at the moment and still won't for a few weeks and any clinics I've gone to have been Sexual Health clinics which advised me that the problem is not an STD. I don't ever recall this redness ever happening before since all of this so I've continued to research the problem. Most things I've read seem to point to Yeast, Balanitis, Eczema or Psoriasis while the doctors at the clinics have said it's nothing to worry about or that it was most likely yeast. I've decided to start treating with Cortate (Hydrocortisone Cream USP 0.5%) to see if I would have any sort of improvement with the redness but have only applied it twice (once on Thursday and another today). The package states that it should be applied to the affected area 3 - 4 times a day but does not specify for how long. I'm still concerned but have been less concerned since seeing the last doctor who was extremely confident that it was not an STD but I still want to know what it is, why or how it happend and of course how to get rid of it and am hoping to have an answer for that very soon. If anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them.
Any ideas what this could be or what could be causing this? I'm worried and concerned as I've always been very careful with picking my partners and my sexual health although until my "scare" I did not pull back the foreskin and wash my penis as things were always fine. Could I have actually caused this problem myself by over washing and inspecting the area? I also worry about thinking that things are fine only to have another relapse later or even worse, pass on whatever this is to a future partner or wife.
Any help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Any help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Dermatology Community
Learn to identify and prevent bites from summer’s most common pests.
Doctors argue for legislation to curb this dangerous teen trend in the latest Missouri Medicine report.
10 ways to keep your skin healthy all winter long
How to get rid of lumpy fat on your arms, hips, thighs and bottom
Diet “do’s” and “don’ts” for healthy, radiant skin.
Images of rashes caused by common skin conditions
