Contact Dermatitis??? WTF

[beason]

This started way back in like December 2009 when I went to the E.R. and to my doctor. I probably went to the doctor 3 times and the E.R probably 4 times. Heres the story. I had sex with a girl probably a year before december of 2009 and she ended up calling me in december telling me that the guy she had sex with has been diagnosed with Herpes simplex and with HIV. So I had Herpes tests done and HIV tests done, and the list goes on. So finally my doctor told me if i wanted a sure answer than go to a dermatologist. so i ended up going to a dermatologist in january and he told me I had contact dermatitis and prescribed me some hydrocortizone cream and thats the last i went. I ended up being off my insurance and now I have no job etc so I cant afford to go back. The issue i have is this thing keeps "flaring" up. It only is on my left side of my penis shaft/foreskin area underneath the head. It kinda looks like a broken blood vessel and theres always a redder sometimes blueish in color "discoloration" there and thats where this starts. I havent really been exposed to anything the could have caused this "allergic" reaction. I havent had a change in soap, laundry soap, body wash, etc.... I did think it was some KY massage oil lotion but i only used it one and that was way back. Some days its perfectly fine and other days its redder and irritating. It does NOT hurt to go pee, to have sex, etc. Sometimes if you touch it you know it..... Whenever im in the humidity, have tighter jeans on, think about it, having a stressful day is when it most seems to occur.... My girlfriend has been using the Nuvaring for her birth conrol since around the time of this occurance but everything we have looked up online has no negative side effects for guys and everyone my girlfriend has asked said it cant be that..... I'm just trying to get help or more answers onto what I really do have.... People said balantitis but it really cant be that cause i'm circumsized. i just dunno what to do. I know I have been negative for diseases but the only problem is what keeps causing this reddness/ "inflammation"?...... All answers are really appreciated.     "thanks"

[beason]

yeah i went back to the er and they ran tests and stuff since i dont have a doctor. they told me everything came back negative again. its still red and sometimes gets one or two lil bumps that looks like a lil dot from a pen. they told me that those werent herpes or any stds but that it could be " pearly penile papules" or something like that but i looked them up and they are around the head of the penis not the shaft... its just so confusing and worries me. they said contact dermatitis but i dont see where contact dermatitis can cause bumps and red irritation like that. ive noticed calamine lotion does help some, but it dont go away. im so scared but if the tests all came back clean again for the 3rd/4th time.... i just am so lost at what it can be or why its still an ongoing process. thanks for the help.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be eczema or some sort of dermatitis. It does not sound like herpes blisters. Apply some calamine lotion on the affected area and keep the area well moisturized. Try taking some antihistaminic like Benadryl. You can also apply 1%hydrocortisone cream on the effected area. Try taking Vitamin C along with this treatment. Vitamin C is a general anti-allergy supplement. If the symptoms persist then oral steroids are needed for which I suggest you to consult a doctor.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.