candida or herpes

hi doc. sending this question as i am nervous over a condition which started last week in my groin region -- on both the inner sides of my thighs and inner sides of my pubic hair area where the groin and thigh meet as well on the right side directly below the scrotum.

the area in question has had pink spots (mostly centered around the hair follicle) which eventually dissipate and/or turn red. additionally, the skin looks like it peels away in certain areas. no blistering, oozing, itching or pain though. slight tenderness - yes but nothing to really note.

i started to break out with these over the last week in which i was on vacation in florida on day 4 and 5 out of 6 days in total. in florida, the tempature was hot and very humid.

saw a dermatologist on monday and he looked at the area and determined i had candida albicans. no culture taken and had me take fluconazole.

reason why i am posting to this forum is because i had a sexual encounter about 10 weeks ago where i received a massage, genital stimulation by her and single licks by her on the thigh, ear, scrotum, & nipple.

so, got me to wondering whether this might have something to do with my current condition. i noticed in reading some websites that herpes can be misdiagnosed as candida.

do you think what i describe sounds like herpes? do you think i should go back and ask for a culture or get tested since no culture was done for both candida and herpes? if so, when? lastly, could my encounter be responsible for this?

thanks

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

This does not sound like herpes.  it does sound like candida.  Candida lives in the gut, and most men who get it don't get it from women who have vaginal discharges.  The contact you describe 10 weeks ago does not sound likely to have anything to do with your current problem.  If the treatment you're getting works, you're all set.  If not, another look by the doctor might be in order, but not because this is likely to be herpes.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff