Previous blood tests

[J12]

I asked question 1/26/05 about a blood test. The test was the HSV 1 and/or 2 Antibodies IgG which came back negative for 1 and 2 with an interval of .23. I still worry, as far as symptoms go i've had redness, scaliness, and cracking in the groin area.  I've been diagnosed with jock itch and have used lamisil.  I have gotten large and small areas on the inside of my leg as well as my scrotum.  Also, I get what appears to be infected hairs on the lower half of my penis.  always in different places, and they come out of these white glands and usually have a very small hair coming out of them opposed to a large hair that come out of alot of the glands.  My doctor became suspicious of herpes when i developed a red wet rash on my penis. it developed after masturbation, a rubbed a place on myself from friction which scabbed over quickly.  this has happened since i was a kid.  This particular time I became paranoid and began dousing the scab with neosporin.  I used the neosporin at least ten times a day for about 8 days then this red wet rash developed in the area where i put the neosporin.  It went from being red and wet to yellow flaky crusts which healed up in about 2 weeks especially after i quit using the neosporin.  That was five years ago and nothing has ever reappeared in the area.  Sometimes I think the neosporin was responsible for the event what do you think.  Also, what do you think about the infected hairs and the issues i've had on my groin.  Should i trust the test that I took and forget about this or should i still consider other tests.      

[gracefromHHP]

using neosporin on the genital area can cause rashes. Our genital skin is very sensitive and topicals like neosporin can be very irritating since they aren't designed to be used on that area.  It's not something that you should routinely apply to the genital area without a doctor's advise in my opinion because it can make a bad thing worse :(

grace

[J12]

Just wondering if you think it is conceivable that over using neosporin can cause a contact dermatitis like the one I mentioned.    

[anxious7]

I have red scally spots on the head of my penis in the pubic area above my penis and on my scrotum. I have had these symptoms on and off for about 5 years. I have inverse psoriasis. When I stress out it shows up stronger. When I eat right and work out it tends to go away. Maybe you should see a dermatologist to diagnose your situation. I also thought I was infected with herpes on my genitals. My psoriasis flared up worse than ever from the stress and anxiety.

Good Luck!!!

[ryn21]

When I was younger, I used to get jock itch and other genital conditions from playing sports.  I used neosporin on the red areas, because I was afraid to go to the doctor at the time and figured I would treat myself (wrong move).  The neosporin made the symptoms worse.  I was told that the neosporin will block the follicles causing other skin conditions as well as make a fungal condition worse.  The doctor advised me never to use neosporin in the genital area unless directed by a physician.  Your condition may be related to a fungal condition.  Your spots sound like sebaceous cysts.  They are not sexually aquired, simply caused by a pocket of sebum building in the follicle from blockage.  They are nothing to worry about.  Whatever your red, moist spot was wasnt likely HSV, as your tests prove otherwise.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Trust the test results.  Your negative blood test results prove your symptoms 5 years ago were not due to herpes.  They don't sound much like herpes anyway.  I have no opinion about other possible causes.  Conceivably folliculitis, certainly not an STD.

HHH, MD