Red Spots on upper inner thigh and penis

[LATiger]

For years I have gotten pimple like sores on the front and back of my thighs (upper and lower) and buttocks. Frequently, they will come to a head and puss will come out if squeezed, sometimes along with hairs --like ingrown hairs. Recently, I have had an outbreak of these bumps, but within the last week I also have noticed a few red to dark purple looking spots on my upper, inner thigh around the crease of my leg. Now, within the past several days I have begun to see redness on my scrotum (seems like where it would touch the area where my inner thigh has red to dark purple spots) and red marks on my penis near where the foreskin of the shaft meets the head. The red marks are on the shaft and around the ring of my penis. One looked dry and scaly. I applied hydrocortisone cream and the scaly, dry feature seems now to look more like maybe tiny bumps (I can not tell). Only one red mark on my thigh or penis seems to have this dry, possibly bumpy look. Any thoughts? Do you think they are related? I am sexually active, but only with my long-time girlfriend. Do you think it could be an STD? The redness did seem to get worse the morning after sex, but there is no pain associated with the red marks or spots. Maybe it is worth noting that my girlfriend also had a break out of pimple like bumps on her buttocks a couple of months ago that appeared, but then cleared up and have not returned. It may also be worth noting that once a week or so I shave my scrotum and the area around my penis, but I have doing this for some time w/out redness.  

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Nothing that sounds like STD in your description.  The thigh bumps sound like folliculitis and the scrotum and penis sound like irritation.  I would avoid irritation and popping of lesions, not use anything medicated, and get yourself examined when you can, so you can find out for sure.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff