HERPES & FORDYCE SPOTS, WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?

[nickname010101]

obviously i know there IS a difference, but appearance-wise, do they bare any similiarity? particularly, at the on-set of herpes?

for me, personally, i've noticed what i believe to be fordyce spots (sebaceous prominences): tiny, slightly elevated white bumps that resemble really small whiteheads. About a dozen or so on the underside of my penis shaft. They dont seem to be 'clustered' or 'cauliflower' in shape, but 2 seem close together, making me wonder if a cluster will appear later on?

Theyve also started appearing only in the last 2-3-4 months and seem to be growing in numbers..

from the pictures on the net i've looked at, i think they are fordyce spots, but i have a fear this could be herpes for various reasons: i've noticed a spot that appears fleshy coloured & kinda shiny on my scrotum, theres no direct pain from it/touching it. Previously, there was another one several weeks ago, which has since disappeared without incident. Also, i've gotten a recurring sense of slight pain in my penis/groin/butt, but this could be from exercise & me over-worrying about it. At times i notice really slight pain, at other times i dont.

i've also received unprotected oral-sex from my g.f. for the last couple of months, and i'm pretty sure they appeared before (i cant remember specifically) but they seem to have grown in numbers since then, which could possibly suggest a source?

We're both getting tested soon, but I was wondering if anyone can enlighten me about this. If I had herpes, would it be blatantly obvious that something is up? Like I said, some of these have been here for a few months now..?

and to the point of my question, would the difference between fordyce spots & herpes be blatantly obvious? or do they bare a resemblance at an early stage? how can i tell the difference? specifically what should i expect if its herpes?

thanks!!

[gracefromHHP]

http://www.chestersexualhealth.co.uk/whats.htm  scroll down to the women's section where it has pictures of fordyce spots - they don't look anything like herpes for the most part. Also fordyce spots won't progress to an ulcerated area like herpes does - they tend to stick around unchanged where as herpes would have a definite appearance, ulceration and then healing and normal skin within 1- 2 weeks.  

Have you seen a doctor yet?  Your symptoms sound more like molluscum than fordyce spots from your description of them.

grace

[BIGMISTAKE33]

Hey, I have had a herpes scare recently and what I thought were herpes sounds exactly what you describe, i showed them to two doctors and they said it was normal, you should see a doctor, the relief after feels great

[vestaburg]

i have small white bumps all over my sack and they started at the base of me penis now they are starting to move up farther. a lot of them have hair growing out of them but some dont. they dont hurt and are small and more visible when i have a boner. HELP!!!

[auntiejessi]

They sound like either fordyce spots or hair follicles.  You should get it checked to be sure its not warts.

Aj