penis red spots

[tsnip]

Hello,

Since a few months I have this problem:

I get red spots on my penis. At first they are just little spots (beneath the skin), but friction makes them bigger. sometimes they also tear after friction.
Sometimes they are little, sometimes they are bigger (such as a patch of redness)
They are not bumpy but more flat.

They appear mostly on the head of the penis but also on the foreskin that covers the head. I have not noticed them anywhere else.

They do not hurt or itch very much, but they are more sensitive and hurt a little bit when touched. Sometimes they itch but not for a long time.
It comes and after a while it goes away again.. but keeps coming back.

I went to my doctor, and he said it was nothing to worry about, just a bacterial infection. He didnt think it could have been yeast infection or herpes since that would have itched much more, and because there was no discharge coming from the penis.

We also did a blood test for STD's but it was clean. My doctor didnt feel it was necesarry to take a sample from inside my penis since he was pretty sure it wasn't a std.
My girlfriend also did a test at the gynaecologist which was clean as well. She also hasn't noticed any symtomps of any infection in her vagina.

My doctor subscribed hydrocortisone to smear on it. I also asked for some anti-fungal cream (daktarin).
The cortisone doesn't seem to make it any better, it just looks worse after using it. The fungal cream seems to help a bit more, it soothens the sensation.

I have had 5 unprotected sex partners. 1 of them contacted me saying her doctor found traces of HPV infection. I had sex with that girl ~5 months before I got these spots.

Alot of searching keeps pointing towards yeast/balanitis, but I am also scared that it might be HPV?

What do you think, and what might be a course of action to cure this?

Thanks!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be friction rub with clothes,sweat dermatitis or flat warts(although the location is little less common).

You may try calamine lotion on the rash.You should also maintain hygiene and try to keep the area clean and dry, wear loose-fitting cotton clothing. Also use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove.Avoid any kind of cosmetics.You can also use a barrier cream with zinc oxide paste or calamine lotion or a mild steroid cream like dermacort on the rash. If the bumps are itchy,you  can take some antihistaminic like benadryl or Claritin.

If the lumps persist then it will be best to get it evaluated from a dermatologist.Genital warts have to be ruled out.
I hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.

[uniqueflower]

bump!