Small lesions on penis

[Lucky147]

Hi,
     First of all I would like to thank you guys for the website. I am 22 year old male not sexually active since july of 2007. I am un circumsized and I do masterbaute everyday. I had sex in the begining of july/07 with a girl using a condom but condom slipped off and right away i stopped and put on a new one. In the third week of october 2007 after masterbation I noticed small red bumps on my penis (whole bunch of them, no liquid or anything in them). I left it alone they went away in like a day or so. I regularly masterbated after that sometime 2-3 times a day few months after that i saw them again and they again went away after 1 day. A month or so after that i noticed them again this time still no liquid or poping open they went away after 3 days. Then i went on cipro for 5 days and didn't masturbate for like 20 days no problem at all. When I masturbated again they came back went away after a week this time but left redness on my penis. I wash my penis with soap everyday when I take a shower. Right now I been using lubrication while masterbuating i still notice them there from last week or so but they aren't as red or bad as they use to be. I have switched soap from irish spring to antibacterial soap and now to ivory. They don't burn or itch, they are red and very small with any liquid and there whole bunch of them. Do u think its some kind of std. Just to keep in mind I can't pop them and there is no liquid in them either they are like very small red dots. Could it be herpes. Please try to help me. Thanks.

[Dr Smitha Mathews]

Hi,

Yes, herpes lesions do appear as vesicles. These can blister and form ulcers.

But since you have had an encounter with some risk of herpes transmission, it would just be confirmatory to rule out herpes infection. The insistence on diagnosis or ruling out herpes infection is due to the nature of the infection and the fact that if you have contracted the infection, you carry the risk of unknowingly infecting a future partner.

Hence, even if herpes seems unlikely, it would be best to be sure.

I do think that the lesions you have described could just be contact allergy, as some individuals are allergic to baby oil also.

Regards

[Lucky147]

Doesn't herpes have fluid in them? Am not a doctor please don't feel offended by me asking all these questions. Thanks

[Dr Smitha Mathews]

Hi,

"Herpes viruses cycle between periods of active disease—presenting as blisters containing infectious virus particles—that last 2–21 days, followed by a remission period, during which the sores disappear. Genital herpes, however, is often asymptomatic, though viral shedding may still occur. After initial infection, the viruses move to sensory nerves, where they reside as life-long, latent viruses. Causes of recurrence are uncertain, though some potential triggers have been identified. Over time episodes of active disease reduce in frequency"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_simplex

Could you have any systemic bleeding disorders? This can be inferred from family history or from blood coagulation profile.

Tiny pinpoint red dots that appear without pain and do not appear to have fluid in them could be petechiae.

A herpes blood test will conclusively inform about the possibility of herpes infection.

You can try local hydrocortisone or betamethasone ointment, but it is preferable not to use steroids over sensitive vascular areas like the penis in view of the potential to develop telangiectasis. However, short-term treatment lasting not more than a week is permissible.

Try switching to olive oil instead of baby oil.

Regards

[Lucky147]

Thanks for the response but herpes don't the bearkout last for more than a week and have some sort of liquid in the lesions. I have no liquid in them wut so ever. The lesions are as small as a pen dot. I just have whole bunch of them. There is no pain or itchy what so ever. I use baby oil as a lubrication with vitamin e and aloe vera and recently started using it. Should I try Hydocrostione cream over the counter. I did go to the docotr in jan and she said its not if then went away in a day or so.

[Dr Smitha Mathews]

Hi,

The most likely possibility here appears to be that you could be allergic to some substance that is causing a contact dermatitis over the penis.

As the rash seems to fade on abstinence from masturbation and appears again on masturbation, the lubricating agent could be suspect. Check that the product has not expired and does not have any substance that you have had an allergy to in the past.

Yes, herpes is another possibility and you can have a blood test done to diagnose herpes infection. Herpes infection is lifelong once acquired and can have recurrences and dormant phases based on individual differences.

Meanwhile, switch to another lubricating agent, such as a natural oil, and check whether the rash reappears.

Do keep us posted on your doubts and progress.
Regards