Red ring and red blotches

2 weeks ago a red ring appeared on my upper right arm (around the vaccination spots). A week ago I became intimate with a new guy and two days later, red blotches started on my chest - only a few at first. I now have about 15 small, red slightly raised blotches on my front, four on my arm and some on my back. They are nowhere else. Could this be due to something passed on to me or does this sound like an allergy I have been developing and is coincidentally manifesting itself now? What can I do?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

This is just an educated guess, but you may have pityriasis rosea.  This commonly affects young adults and starts with a scaly patch off center (like the upper arms).  This is followed by smaller versions of the same spot on the torso.  These last a few weeks and go away.  You get this once per lifetime.  You did not pick it up from sex.

Of course, you'll need to see a doctor in person to establish this diagnosis for sure.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[anon123]

yesterday there was a slight tickle or itch on my genitals where my penis meets the scrotum so i scratched it and immediately after the itching became more intense. i ignored it because i didn't want to make it any worse. a few hours later i noticed there is a slightly raised, bright red ring on the back on my penis near the tip and below that where it had been itching there is a  red patch about 1 inch in diameter that is painful and burns whenever i touch it (visibly it reminds me of what happens when you scrub your hands too hard and the skin gets raw). it does not hurt or even itch (in fact is not even noticable) as long as i don't touch it. also starting about a week ago i had pain in my lower back around my tail-bone that felt like a bad bruise, there is no visible bruise but it was very tender and it hurt if i sat down too hard. the last girl i had sex with was also experiencing sever lower back pain about a week after having sex with another guy. i'm concerned because after doing some research these seem to be common symptoms of the first breakout of herpes.   (all of my symptoms arose within a week of sexual contact with said girl).
any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[JackTrav]

I also have a similar condition.. Small red circles and blotches appeared on my back first then moved down my sides and around to my stomach. Now they are seeming to move down my arms and are at my elbow level. I also just discovered after my little girl drew on my with ink that they soak up ink and make it very hard to wash after my stomach is blue spotted. My back and sides gets very itchy if i stress over anything, this also occurs when having sex. My partner has not contracted the same rash.

please help