what could it be?

[Freakingout421]

pinkish red spots on glans and penis that peel after bath. do not itch or burn but are sometime tender when rubbing against clothing. have had these spots for over three months. i am sexually active with my gf of 5 years. she has never complained about these symptom. i am quite concerned about it but it causes me discomfort at all except for looking at it and the peeling which doesnt hurt. what could this be. please help.  i have used lotrimin and cortizone but the spots are skin discoloration is not going away.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Without examination,confirmation of a diagnosis is tough but it can be folliculitis,contact dermatitis,rash due to friction rub with clothes, dermatitis (atopic, contact, allergic),excessive sweating causing sweat dermatitis or balanitis(due to an underlying infection (bacterial and fungal as well as other organisms) .Even genital warts cannot be ruled out as it is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner.

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 bumps persist then it will be best to get it evaluated from a dermatologist.Genital warts have to be ruled out.

I hope it helps. Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.

[Freakingout421]

i understand your concern for warts that would be my concern as well but there when i say spots i mean just discoloration no growth. nothing even wart like compared to pictures on internet. i do notice tenderness during the while walking sometimes during the day. usually when put cream on. this spots are not bumps just discoloration and tendernes does that rule out warts. and are any of the other possible diagnoses contagious?
thank you for your help

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Since it is a discoloration, so rash due to friction rub or chaffing needs to be ruled out. Chafing is a continuous rubbing of the skin that causes redness or soreness.

Chafing occurs when the skin becomes irritated by the friction caused by rubbing – either against other skin or against a foreign material. Wash the areas several times with fresh water. Do not use any cosmetic products at the sites. You can apply some calamine lotion at the rash as it will help in soothing the skin.Also wear cotton undergarments.Application of mild corticosteroid cream and oral antiinflammatories like ibuprofen/acetaminophen are also helpful.If the symptoms are severe then it will be best to consult a dermatologist

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Kind regards.

[Freakingout421]

Thank you for your answers. but i have questions. i have been with one girl for five years and have had unprotected sex only with her. now i have had unprotected sex while this discoloration has appeared. she knows about my symptoms and she has not had any of them? is it safe to have sex with her. the discoloration and the skin is flaky. some of the spots look like they are getting better. but are still there. they are reddish pink and the texture is only slight different than the rest of the skin. I dont believe they are warts. i just want to know if this could be an std. i have talked to several past gf and they are all fine. i would go to the doctors but i have no insurance as of yet and to be honest i am afraid. what could be causing this and does this sound like any other std

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I would advise you to abstain from intercourse or use condoms during intercourse because it is not possible to judge a rash whether it is due to STD’s or not without examination. It is true that most STD’s are got through intercourse but it is also possible to get STD’s like warts even by close contact with the person or even by using towels etc which are shared by others who have this disease. There are many other methods to catch such an infection apart from intercourse. Moreover in the first post I had said that balanitis also has to be ruled out. It can be due to fungal infection which is highly contagious. However other conditions like sweat dermatitis, rash due to chaffing or eczema are non contagious.From the post,I evaluate it as rash due to chaffing or eczema.STD’s is a remote possibility but not impossible.Flat warts are also there.

I would thus advise you to get it examined from a dermatologist first.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional dobts.Kind regards.

[Freakingout421]

i know you cant diagnose without a examination. and you have already given me numerous things to check. IT is greatly appreciated. I have used lotrim fungal cream no improvement, i have used cortizone no improvement, im am using hydrocortizone and still no improvement. I am prepared if it is warts but this condition looks nothing like any wart ive ever seen or any internet pic of warts. it has lasted too long to be any std but warts if im correct. redness will not go away and the cream seem to make the skin peel when i take a bath.this is not painful when it happens. in sun light it looks red in different light it looks pink, but when i strecth the skin i see no lesions, and the pink or redness does not appear as severe. im am in the process of getting health insurance but it make take two more months through work. if it is warts what can they do to make my skin look normal again. surgery sounds expensive. My gf still does not have any symptoms. I am confused to how i contracted warts if that is what it seam. there is stiill no pain and the tenderness is lessening but red blotches seem to be spreading. ANy info will be appreciated. Thank again your the only one that has answered me so far. I am very clean and also hypochondriact.  Just dont know why or how this is happening to me.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Warts are tumours or growths of the skin caused by infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV).They are contagious when in contact with the skin of an infected person. It is also possible to get warts from using towels or other objects used by an infected person.
So it is not necessary that you get them only through intercourse.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Warm regards.

[Freakingout421]

i understand but the towel scenario doesnt work here i dont share towels. somedays it looks better than others but its not goin away. she has no symptoms and its been over three months. if i have warts it be safe to say she has warts correct. if i had anything contatgious she would have it right. i never used a condom since we are in monogamous relationship. i mean i did the first year we were together but not after that. so im confused. can you catch it from hot tubs or anything else. reconizing that it could be warts but dont look like warts. if its not warts and it was contagious she should have the same symptoms right?

[Freakingout421]

the condition has gotten worse. much more flaking on red spots. plus new red spots are developing with sever flakin. Skin is feeling very scaly. does this sound like herpes. The spots are cracking the skin now. and the new spots but i have never had blisters and they problem has been ongoing for several months as ive said with no change. some of the flaking is tender but not painful.