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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
What might this be?
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
What might this be?
by drazo, Sep 11, 2002 12:00AM
Hey Doc,
28 days ago today, I had one incidence of unprotected sex with my new girlfriend. The sex was "dry" and led to chaffing on me, so we stopped. About 1-2 days later, I noticed a raised red area on my penile shaft, about 1-2 inches from the glans on the foreskin. When stretched, it looks like small clusters of what could be called blisters, only I've had them now for a month. It hasn't spread, and if anything looks better, but hasn't gone away or turned to lesions or blisters. I've been tested for common STDs and was found negative for all. The NP thought it looked like HPV viral warts, but an acetic acid test was used and no whiteness. I was not tested for herpes, as the practitioner thought it would be useless if this were prodromal for herpes, but this was my main concern. My question is this.. without lesions and being completely asymptomatic otherwise, what are the chances that this is herpes? I haven't tried self-medicating in any way for fear of making it worse. There has been no scabbing over, no drying of skin, no pain or burning in my genital area, and again no "classic" blistering. The closest thing to classic herpes is the fact that I do have smaller papules thatlook a little like pimples within a few cm, but there is no pain. Can prodrome last for a month? Any insight would be most appreciated, as I've lost a lot of sleep stressing about this. Thanks.
28 days ago today, I had one incidence of unprotected sex with my new girlfriend. The sex was "dry" and led to chaffing on me, so we stopped. About 1-2 days later, I noticed a raised red area on my penile shaft, about 1-2 inches from the glans on the foreskin. When stretched, it looks like small clusters of what could be called blisters, only I've had them now for a month. It hasn't spread, and if anything looks better, but hasn't gone away or turned to lesions or blisters. I've been tested for common STDs and was found negative for all. The NP thought it looked like HPV viral warts, but an acetic acid test was used and no whiteness. I was not tested for herpes, as the practitioner thought it would be useless if this were prodromal for herpes, but this was my main concern. My question is this.. without lesions and being completely asymptomatic otherwise, what are the chances that this is herpes? I haven't tried self-medicating in any way for fear of making it worse. There has been no scabbing over, no drying of skin, no pain or burning in my genital area, and again no "classic" blistering. The closest thing to classic herpes is the fact that I do have smaller papules thatlook a little like pimples within a few cm, but there is no pain. Can prodrome last for a month? Any insight would be most appreciated, as I've lost a lot of sleep stressing about this. Thanks.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Sep 11, 2002 12:00AM
, Sep 11, 2002 12:00AM
Herpes blisters last 7-10 days. Apart from the fact that your bumps don't look like blisters, a month is too long. Nor are bumps a prodrome (precursor) of herpes.
It would also seem unlikely that you would get a cluster of warts. Acetic acid tests can have many false-positives (whiteness on non-wart things), but a negative test would also argue against warts.
What that? The result of friction, perhaps? Try some hydrocortisone 15 (OTC) a couple of times a day and see if that doesn't help.
And avoid unprotected sex. The anxiety it produces isn't worth it, not to mention what you might pick up, even if you didn't this time.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
It would also seem unlikely that you would get a cluster of warts. Acetic acid tests can have many false-positives (whiteness on non-wart things), but a negative test would also argue against warts.
What that? The result of friction, perhaps? Try some hydrocortisone 15 (OTC) a couple of times a day and see if that doesn't help.
And avoid unprotected sex. The anxiety it produces isn't worth it, not to mention what you might pick up, even if you didn't this time.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Look up info on MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM.
I will write a question about this also.
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