Herpes

[worried in toronto]

Hi Doctor,
Sorry to be graphic
I have posted again to ask you a different question regarding herpes. I am uncirucumsized and for the past 6 years i have the odd reddish rash that appears on the foreskin a few times a year. This reddness appears usually after sex or when i have not washed properly or excessively masturbated with my own semen. I have noticed a tiny cluster of three bumps that look like a canker sore in the mouth but they are painless, do not itch and go away when i put polysporin on them. They often appear in different places when the thin foreskin gets really irritated. I normally apply polysporin or a hydrocortisone and they go away fairly quickly without any bother. They never grow or blister up and they never crust. The tiny bumps last about 2 days or less when i apply the cream. I don't have any groin swelling when they appear and no other physical symptoms. Could it just be a weak foreskin suceptible to infection? The bumps are a greyish white very tiny and are completely painless no itching and not sore to touch. I looked at herpes pics on the net and they don't look like the typical ones but more like a miniscule painless canker maybe from trauma or something?

What does it sound like to you doc?
Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I wish I could help, but your description doesn't ring a bell in relation to any specific syndrome or medical problem I have heard of.  You are right in your implied assumption that it does not sound like herpes.  If your further description (below) is accurate, I might take a guess at simply prominent sebaceous glands, perhaps more visually prominent when the surrounding skin is slightly irritated or perhaps redder after stimulation.  But this is only a guess.  You might consider seeing a dermatologist; or perhaps post your question on the MedHelp dermatology forum for Dr. Rockoff's assessment.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[worried in toronto]

I must add Dr. H that the inflammation/bumps which arose late last night have gone down considerably today and appear to be dissappearing. So in short, if something like this occurs it lasts less than a day with polysporin treatment or hydrocortisone

Herpes?

[worried in toronto]

I must revise what i earlier wrote. The tiny bumps do not look like mouth cankers, but more just very tiny grey coloured bumps 3 together. They are totally painless and seem to be disappearing already as is the reddish rash