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Herpes or Aldara?
Hello doc,
I was diagnosed with genital warts and on Aldara cream for it. My wart went away quickly in about 2 weeks.
Here’s my worry:
I had mild skin irritation while I was on it, but a week after I had stopped the Aldara I developed a rash around my anus near where I had been using Aldara and I’m worried it’s herpes. It was a red rash. It itched, felt irritated, and the skin was shiny. I would compare it to mild sunburn. I never saw breaks in the skin: no blisters, ulcers, or scabs. There were, however, tiny, red, separated dots in the rash around the hair follicles I think. I didn’t have any fever, aches, or tingling. I started putting cortisone on after a week. The cortisone helped, and the redness mostly went away and the irritation was reduced. I’ve used the cortisone a few times a day for about three weeks, as well as aloe and other moisturizers, and they help a lot. In general is it bad to use cortisone, especially since I have HPV?
It’s now been over a month and the rash is not fully gone. At present it isn’t really red, but will get red after I touch the area. It still feels a little irritated. There are still dots. I’ve noticed the rash will become more irritated if I don’t wash for a day, if I walk a lot, if I don’t use moisturizer or cortisone, or if I touch it.
I have pale, delicate skin. I have a healthy immune system. I’m not sure if I ever had cold sores. I always used condoms. I slept with four men, none of whom had herpes to my knowledge. The last time I had sex was about 35 days before the rash began and a week after I stopped the Aldara.
Please tell me if you think I have herpes or if it’s related to the Aldara. I’ve read that one can get herpes-like symptoms from Aldara. Is it normal to experience this a week after I’ve stopped using it? Is it normal for it to last this long? Is it possible? I’m very petrified, too petrified to go back to my gyno. Please help.
I was diagnosed with genital warts and on Aldara cream for it. My wart went away quickly in about 2 weeks.
Here’s my worry:
I had mild skin irritation while I was on it, but a week after I had stopped the Aldara I developed a rash around my anus near where I had been using Aldara and I’m worried it’s herpes. It was a red rash. It itched, felt irritated, and the skin was shiny. I would compare it to mild sunburn. I never saw breaks in the skin: no blisters, ulcers, or scabs. There were, however, tiny, red, separated dots in the rash around the hair follicles I think. I didn’t have any fever, aches, or tingling. I started putting cortisone on after a week. The cortisone helped, and the redness mostly went away and the irritation was reduced. I’ve used the cortisone a few times a day for about three weeks, as well as aloe and other moisturizers, and they help a lot. In general is it bad to use cortisone, especially since I have HPV?
It’s now been over a month and the rash is not fully gone. At present it isn’t really red, but will get red after I touch the area. It still feels a little irritated. There are still dots. I’ve noticed the rash will become more irritated if I don’t wash for a day, if I walk a lot, if I don’t use moisturizer or cortisone, or if I touch it.
I have pale, delicate skin. I have a healthy immune system. I’m not sure if I ever had cold sores. I always used condoms. I slept with four men, none of whom had herpes to my knowledge. The last time I had sex was about 35 days before the rash began and a week after I stopped the Aldara.
Please tell me if you think I have herpes or if it’s related to the Aldara. I’ve read that one can get herpes-like symptoms from Aldara. Is it normal to experience this a week after I’ve stopped using it? Is it normal for it to last this long? Is it possible? I’m very petrified, too petrified to go back to my gyno. Please help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This doesn't sound like herpes at all. No herpes outbreak ever lasts a month, and the symptoms don't suggest herpes anyway. Aldara irritation sounds more likely, but usually wouldn't last so long. A yeast ifection also sounds like a good bet.
All this is speculation; no distant online source can make a clear diagnosis and I won't try. You should return to the health care provider who prescribed the Aldara. Until you are professionally examined, stop treating the rash with cortisone, moisturizer, or anything else; those things will just make it harder for the health care provider to tell what is going on. But in the meantime, don't worry about herpes. It's not the cause of such symptoms.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
All this is speculation; no distant online source can make a clear diagnosis and I won't try. You should return to the health care provider who prescribed the Aldara. Until you are professionally examined, stop treating the rash with cortisone, moisturizer, or anything else; those things will just make it harder for the health care provider to tell what is going on. But in the meantime, don't worry about herpes. It's not the cause of such symptoms.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Thank you so so much. I will look into going making an appointment with my gyno. Your advice has really served to settle my thoughts. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
