Does this sound like herpes?

[JB201331]

Started as a small red pimple that didn't respond to the usual (unscented soap, &Clearasil ointment), I paid no mind
because it seemed to go away, but then came back. No crust, no blister, no leaking, no itching. I had an older prescription corticosteroid ointment, so when it came back, I used it, and it went away pretty much over night, a few days later it came back, except there were a couple more, same characteristics, small, rashy looking rest spots, almost like a pimple, but no white head or pain, sometimes I felt some irritation, after shaving especially, I began using vitamin e oil as a facial moisturizer after shaving/bathing. A few weeks later, another spot appeared on the opposite side of my face, same BS, several more appeared around it, but would respond very fast &good to the steroid ointment, but within a week or so, they would start showing up again. This has been going on for about 6 mos now, they come and go, small clusters or red spots, no oozing/fluid/leaking/itching/pain, no crusting over, no flu-like symptoms, swollen glands, etc. Now I have a few around the bottom &side of my eye lid, they show up, I hit them with the ointment &they go, within a day or two, and then come back about 10-12 days later. That's my current situation. I've shown a few people, and they say I'm overreacting, &say "I can barely see them"....it just bothers me that they keep coming back, and seem to be slowly spreading around. This has been going on for about 4 months now. Now...about 8 months ago, I had unprotected sex with a gal, oral, and vaginal, on several occasions, we kissed, she performed oral on me as well, I have nothing whatsoever going on with my penis, no discharge, no sores, bumps, pimples, etc. of any kind, ever.

For the past year I have also been under an incredible amount of physical, &physiological stress, that has been causing me to loose sleep, and sometime appetite, I had previously been diagnosed with clinical depression, several years ago &have been on 20MG of Celexa daily, with no adverse effects, up until the past year when it has started to "fizzle out, &even have an opposite effect, as anti-depressants sometimes do, I am do for a check up, and discuss possibly getting a new med.

I am 31, heavy smoker, muscular, very lean, active.  A bad habbit of Diet Coke &Camel lights.

With this information, does this facial rash thing sound like a herpes virus infection?

I will check with my dock to be sure, in the near future...just sitting here tonight, curious.

Thanks all!

[gracefromHHP]

I think you worry too much....lol

see the dermatologist so you can stop driving yourself crazy like this :)

[JB201331]

Thank you for the answer, I have looked at tons of pics of herpes online...if it is what I have, it must be super mild, because I don't have blisters, and what I wondering is, if it is...would it really clear up within a day or two of being lightly treated with a corticosteroid? also, during this last sexual encounter, my genitals were exposed far more times than my face, oral sex happened once I think, but we had regular intercourse at least 10 times, and nothing has happened downstairs. These details make me feel like a total pig, and a bit embarrassed...I've always been a gentleman and treated women with respect, it was heat of the moment type stuff. I was 30, she was 37. She has since moved for a new job, I don't have her contact info anymore, I've tried to look her up with no luck. I take a multi vitamin, 1000MG vit. C, flax seed oil, liquid b-vitamins, and I eat raw garlic...daily, I know that I put enough bad stuff in my system, so I need to vitamins/minerals/etc. Also, if you didn't know me &saw me, you'd think I was the picture of health, I jog, lift weights, box, martial arts...always been fit.  So don't know, some kind of dermatitis, a weird outbreak of acne...I don't know...never really had any health/skin issues...ever..didn't go through acne as a teenager like a lot of kids. Im going to wait until the rash comes back, and not treat it with steroids, then go get a culture done or a blood test (they can detect herpes virus with a blood test, right?)...the rash doesn't ooze, so I don't know how a culture would work out.

Thanks again for the help!

[gracefromHHP]

I'd stop using the topical steroid cream at this point. it isn't made to be used the eyes as well as if by chance any of this is herpes, topical steroid cream triggers it to get worse.

at this point, you need to be following up with a dermatologist. This doesn't sound like it's all a herpes issue if any of it is.  if they visually suspect herpes, they should be confirming with a lesion culture too.

best of luck and stop back to let us know how your appointment went :)

grace