Hope you can help

[jlcolt7]

I had protected sex with a woman. Afterwards I went into the bathroom removed my condom and washed my penis. I milked it and wiped the tip with my hand. Not too long afterwards I had a rash on my penis. Red bumps that would last about a week then look like they were flaking off. No discharge or blisters. Went through a time of feeling really bad not hungry just overall not feeling well. It comes back if I masterbate. HIV, Hep,Syph, claymidia were all neg. Any ideas? I really would like to start having sex again but will not until I get this figured out. I am not allergic to latex.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As you imply you know, the timing suggests an allergic or chemical reaction to latex or to lubricant in the condom.  All allergic reactions have to start sometime, and no allergic reaction ever occurs on the very first exposure to an irritant. In other words, your belief you are not allergic to latex might not be accurate.  Your rash  cannot be due to an STD you acquired during the exposure you describe:  no STD pathogen can pass through intact latex or polyurethane; and your description doesn't sound like an STD anyway.



I would not have recommended the STD tests you describe.  To know what's going on, don't try to figure it out online or by self-diagnosis; see a health care provider, such as a dermatologist.  In the meantime, you can be confident you don't have anything that can be sexually transmitted to a partner.



Good luck--  HHH, MD