Herpes moving around?

[iVille]

Hi, some years ago I had a rash on the inside of my elbow, scratched it mindlessly and it erupted with sores which resemble everything I've seen about herpes, so much so that when people asked me what's that thing on my arm I would jokingly say it's my herpes outbreak. Anyhow, after picking at it furiously and tearing every sore so the skin would be flat, it eventually went away (some weeks later), no scar, no nada. Like 2-3 years later, I get the outbreak on my inside elbow again..hmmm, I go to the doctor for him to comfirm what I suspect, he even give me some story about someone who kissed his child above the eye and now the child as an outbreak in that area every now again. I think it was a made up story to offer some sort of comfort. Right, so after that visit I patiently wait for the bumps to go away, which they do. Since then eveytime I feel an itch in that area I ignore it. Haven't had an outbreak for a good long time now. Scratch, scratch my lower leg itches, wait what's that? Oh f.....I'm now experiencing my second outbreak on my calf in quick succession from the first (alot of irritating mosquitos where I live so mindless scratching occurs) same left side as I had experienced on my arm, didn't mention that earlier. Well, what I want to know, does herpes move around like that? Like where the skin is weak or something? Cause that's been my experience, its like it lurks around my nerves and where I scratch and weaken the skin it breaks out.

[gracefromHHP]

I'm sure they can handle things like this - it's most likely to be something like eczema, psoriasis , fungal infection or even a contact dermatitis.

grace

[iVille]

D=, the thought that it might not be herpes is actually comforting...

I'll see what I can do about the tests and stuff. I live on an island and I don't have too much confidence in the medical people around here.

Thanks for the responses by the way.

[auntiejessi]

That's one of the things that makes us think its not herpes - it doesn't migrate.

You should have a type specific IgG blood test, and also a culture done of these spots BEFORE you pick and poke at them.

Have them do a regular wound culture - it will look for whatever grows.

Aj

[iVille]

Testing was just physical examination. I've had rashes before this ain't a rash unfortunately. I've had unprotected sex with my girlfriend who has gential herpes, which she told me after I complained about the bumps on the inside of my elbow. If I hadn't already decided to spend my life with that woman before hand, I would've been pretty peeved, or moreso.

Moving along, like clockwork when she gets outbreaks, I get tingling sensations under my skin (random locations) like my nerves are going mad and become sensitive to touch. (she doesn't even need to tell me)

So I have the look, the symptoms (peculiar as they are) and a partner with herpes, I'm past the point of maybe this isn't herpes. What puzzles me is the migration of the outbreak site.

[gracefromHHP]

Did you ever have any testing done to confirm that the rash on your elbow was herpes?  a lesion culture of active symptoms?

This really doesn't sound like you have herpes going on. it sounds more like a dermatological condition. I'd follow up with a dermatologist for further evaluation.  It would be very unusual to have herpes on your elbow and then later on get ob's of it on your calves which is why I"m betting it's something else.

grace