male yeast infection?

[phishsticks]

I've been taking doxycycline for a week now (for prostatitis).  Yesterday I noticed that the head of my penis was really red and is peeling a little bit.  Nothing hurts or itches and there is no discharge, it's just really red, like a wide red strip down the head of my penis.  I also have pearly penile papules on the head, or so a dermatologist told me, the bumps have definitely been there before, maybe i'm just noticing them more now because the redness makes them look more pronounced?  My last sexual contact was 6 and 1/2 months ago, brief unprotected oral (receiving...).  I saw my urologist today and he told me he thought it was a yeast infection (from the antibiotics) and prescribed me some anti-fungal / steroid cream.  I've made an appt. to see a dermatologist on monday just to be sure.  Essentially, I'm just wondering whether the symptoms sound like a yeast infection, or what the possibility is that it could be something else (like herpes?  Could that manifest 6 1/2 months later?  Would there be pain if it was herpes and not a yeast infection?).  Any help would be appreciated, stressing out.

[phishsticks]

Thanks Doc.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Thanks for the follow-up. Doxycycline can certainly cause a rash of this sort.  It is called  'fixed drug erruption" and they can take several days to resolve which sounds to be the case for you.  Try not to worry.  EWH

[phishsticks]

Hi Doc, so I did go to the dermatologist.  Two of them looked and said that they believed that the red rash was a type of reaction to the doxycycline (apparently this medication is known to cause spot rashes in some people?).  They prescribed me Alclometasone Dipropionate (.05).  I have not been taking the doxycycline for about 4 days and this is my 3rd day using the cream.  The rash is still there, though (perhaps?) slightly less red.  I notice that when I massage or touch the area it blanches and returns to the normal color... But of course after that it goes back to being red...  I've been noticing that my urine is cloudy at the end of the stream lately, I've had this before but...  I guess I was just wondering if you've heard of rashes like this before?  Whether this sounds typical?  How long I should wait to contact the dermatologist again if I don't notice marked improvement?  Still freaking out, even though I've had a urologist and two dermatologists look at the rash...

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I agree with your urologist.  What you describe sounds like a fungal infection which you were predisposed to because of the antibiotics you are taking.  Most people have yeast and other fungus on their bodies but it does not grow or cause inflammation until something like antibiotics or increased moisture makes conditions right for the yeast to grow.  When it does it is typical for the combination of color (redness or pink coloration) and the mild inflammation to make something like pearly penile papules more apparent.

There are no STDs that come to mind which would appear in the manner you describe 6 1/2 months after sexual contact.  

I hope this comment helps. There is a fair chance that there will not be something for the dermatologist to examine in a day or two.  EWH