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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
What could cause this?
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.
What could cause this?
by concerned_guy, Aug 28, 2005 12:00AM
I have had psoraisis (psoriasis) on my penis for about 3-4 years. It has always been in a very few small plaques. The plaques always got hard dry skin on them - unmistakeable. I treated them with Dovonex and Ultravate infrequently but as necessary. A tube of each would last forever because I used so little. They were very effective each time in totally clearing the small plaques.
After having unprotected sex (vaginal & oral) about 3 months ago I started having painful urination the next day. Within a few days I got dizzy, viral-like symptoms and the burning urination continued. I immediately got a rash on my penis in the areas where I had treated with the creams. Within days I noticed around my eyelids got itchy and my nose - no bumps or rash.
The rash on my penis was mainly behind the head in the foreskin area at first. It burned like crazy occasionally. The rash was mainly just very red with red bumps on the leading edge as it spread. It eventually covered my entire shaft on the top. At one point I thought I saw a blister in one area of the redness, but it never made a sore. The rash didn't itch much, just mainly burned.
Over time I got intense burning in my penis, scrotum, buttocks, and thighs at times. Some days the burning is worse than others, but I have had it non-stop for almost 3 months now. The burning gets worse as the day goes on. The burning moves from one place to the next routinely. When I'm sitting it's in my buttocks, when I stand sometimes it travels to my feet.
The rash has gotten better but my health has deteriorated. Now most nights I feel fatigued, feverish (although I never have fever-just feels like it), and my stomach is all messed up - bloated, and sometimes I feel the burning up toward my stomach, though not generally.
I have been to a urologist who said the rash was not herpetic. He surmized it may be my psoraisis (psoriasis) -- this is so different. I went to my dermatologist. He also said it didn't look herpetic. In the last 2 weeks I have developed the rash on my inner thighs..it has cleared considerably on my penis now. I went to a local STD clinic and am awaiting HSV and other STD results. The doctor there said it looked like yeast/fungal to her and suggested Lotrimin. The Lotrimin seems to be helping some (still early to tell) but the burning in my penis, scrotum, legs and into my stomach continues.
I feel terrible daily. My face also still burns as if feverish, but I don't have a fever when I check. Is it possible I have the fungal/yeast in my bloodstream to produce these symptoms? Would systemic fungal infection cause burning like this -- very worried and my Dr's have just dismissed this as my psoraisis (psoriasis). What should I do...very distraught. Is it normal for an initial herpetic infection to burn like this for this duration -- 2-1/2 months? I know this is a load to digest, but any insight appreciated.
After having unprotected sex (vaginal & oral) about 3 months ago I started having painful urination the next day. Within a few days I got dizzy, viral-like symptoms and the burning urination continued. I immediately got a rash on my penis in the areas where I had treated with the creams. Within days I noticed around my eyelids got itchy and my nose - no bumps or rash.
The rash on my penis was mainly behind the head in the foreskin area at first. It burned like crazy occasionally. The rash was mainly just very red with red bumps on the leading edge as it spread. It eventually covered my entire shaft on the top. At one point I thought I saw a blister in one area of the redness, but it never made a sore. The rash didn't itch much, just mainly burned.
Over time I got intense burning in my penis, scrotum, buttocks, and thighs at times. Some days the burning is worse than others, but I have had it non-stop for almost 3 months now. The burning gets worse as the day goes on. The burning moves from one place to the next routinely. When I'm sitting it's in my buttocks, when I stand sometimes it travels to my feet.
The rash has gotten better but my health has deteriorated. Now most nights I feel fatigued, feverish (although I never have fever-just feels like it), and my stomach is all messed up - bloated, and sometimes I feel the burning up toward my stomach, though not generally.
I have been to a urologist who said the rash was not herpetic. He surmized it may be my psoraisis (psoriasis) -- this is so different. I went to my dermatologist. He also said it didn't look herpetic. In the last 2 weeks I have developed the rash on my inner thighs..it has cleared considerably on my penis now. I went to a local STD clinic and am awaiting HSV and other STD results. The doctor there said it looked like yeast/fungal to her and suggested Lotrimin. The Lotrimin seems to be helping some (still early to tell) but the burning in my penis, scrotum, legs and into my stomach continues.
I feel terrible daily. My face also still burns as if feverish, but I don't have a fever when I check. Is it possible I have the fungal/yeast in my bloodstream to produce these symptoms? Would systemic fungal infection cause burning like this -- very worried and my Dr's have just dismissed this as my psoraisis (psoriasis). What should I do...very distraught. Is it normal for an initial herpetic infection to burn like this for this duration -- 2-1/2 months? I know this is a load to digest, but any insight appreciated.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Aug 29, 2005 12:00AM
, Aug 29, 2005 12:00AM
No, it's not normal for herpes to burn like this. It isn't normal for psoriasis to burn at all. In fact, I can't think of any disease I know of for which such suffering is normal, or even possible. You may or may not have a yeast infection or just chafing, but I would be willing to wager that most of your symptoms, like feverishness or bloating, are due to anxiety. It's time for you to stop suffering like this. Once you find out that your STD tests are normal (and I think you will find this out), ask your general doctor to check you out head to toe and let the dermatologist check you out one more time. The--when you learn that you have nothing seriously wrong with you--and again, I am confident you will find this out--it will be time to get past this and get on with your life. If you need counseling help to do so, by all means seek it out. And for heaven's sake, avoid unprotected sex, to save both your skin and your sanity.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Just wondering...if I have genital herpes, shouldn't I have classic herpes blisters with prodromal symptoms lasting over 2-1/2 months?
Dr. Rockoff
I have read where herpes, diabetes, and many more afflictions cn cause neuropathy. Apparently when the virus recedes to the ganglia at the base of the spine this can cause nerve damage, which can be presented as burning in the areas I have it. If my herpes test were to come back normal, should I see a neurologist if the burning continues?
Dr. Rockoff