irritated skin or genital herpes

[seekinghelp710]

Back in mid to late august I had oral sex and it was a little rough.  A few days later my penis began itching on the foreskin around the head of my penis and it was very red.  It would flare up anytime there was friction.  I went to the doctor and he said it could be herpes.  He tested me for herpes which I told him it would be positive because I get cold sores.  It was positive so he gave me an antibacterial ointment and Valtrex to take.  A few weeks later I went back, it had improved some but was still there and also an area on the glans had gotten red, was a little sore and looked like the skin was broken.  This spot had formed in less than a day and I had not seen a blister.  He prescribed more valtrex and told me to continue using the ointment.  The area on the glans cleared up in the next two days, however it returned a couple days later while I was in the shower.  I was washing the area, perhaps a little too much and rough (I can be a little OCD when it comes to washing sometimes) and the cut or sore came back immediately.  It went away again in a few days however the area on the foreskin has never gone away completely.  It has gotten better and then flared up getting really red and itchy, gotten better, then flared up again.  So almost two months later it still has not gone away.  I went back to the doctor and he prescribed more Valtrex and a different cream: Silver Sulfadiazine.  It seems to have gotten better, but is still a little red and itchy, especially when I rub it or wash the area.  

I asked the doctor is it definately genital herpes or could it be irritated skin.  He said it could be either one.  I don't want to tell people I have genital herpes if I don't really have it.  The person I had oral sex with said he was tested back in July for STDs and was clean.  I just want to know what this is, I'm tired of worrying about it and I can't get a clear answer.  Does this sound like herpes to you?    

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I suggest that you see a doctor who knows what herpes is and how to treat it.  Your case does not sound anything like herpes.  Also, I don't know what herpes test was "positive" and what that has to to with oral cold sores.  Please avoid excessive washing, minimize friction, apply a lotion as often as you like, and see a doctor who knows how to diagnose skin problems and STD's.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[seekinghelp710]

Well the doctor I've been seeing is a dermatologist.  The test he did was a blood test, I had asked if the test showed which type of herpes simplex I had but he said the test he did doesn't show that, it just shows if  have herpes simplex.  I already knew I had herpes simplex because I get cold sores, have gotten them since I as a child.