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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Self Inflicted Injury or Herpes
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Self Inflicted Injury or Herpes
by bing84, Jul 18, 2006 12:00AM
About two weeks ago I noticed a white dry patch of skin on my penis shaft, near the head in the middle. It remained there for about a week and would go away after a shower but then return later in the evening. After a week i don't know why, i guess my ocd got the better of my and i decided to scratch the area with my finger nail until it became a red sore. It was healing within a day or two but I continued to reopen it by scratching at the area. My concern is that this could be herpes and I just exposed it. There were no blisters or bumps in the area or any redness before i started picking at the area. The "cut" or "sore" has been there for about 10 days because I am constantly stretching it out or scratching it. I am concerned because it has never bled. It stings when i scratch or touch it and hurts under the water in the shower. My last sexual exposure was 11 months ago and I have never had this happen before. Is it possible for herpes to show up out of the blue after 11 months. During the 20 day window period after my last exposure I was constantly checking the area for signs or symptoms of herpes and there were none. Does this sound like it could be herpes? I have read sites where herpes can appear as just a cut, do you think this could be the case? Can herpes manifest itself as just a dry patch of skin? Is there anything else i should be on the lookout for considering its been about a year since my last sexual exposure? I am beside myself with fear and don't know what to think, this worrying has negatively affected my life for the past 11 months.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Jul 20, 2006 12:00AM
, Jul 20, 2006 12:00AM
This sounds like an irritation aggravated by picking. It does not sound like herpes. I advise you to leave the spot alone, apply vaseline twice daily, and show it to a doctor. I think that doing a herpes 2 blood test is also a good idea, not because I think it's herpes but because I think it isn't and getting a negative test would reassure you enough so you can move on.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
1) Have you ever seen herpes manifest itself as a white patch dry skin?
2) Is there anything i should be on the lookout for?