Rash on both sides of upper, inner thighs

[slopes]

Since late February, I've had a rash on both sides of my upper, inner thighs near my scrotum that has come, gone, come back, faded, become irritated and now seems to be fading away again.

I got into the bad habit of taking a shower at the gym and then putting the same underwear (boxer briefs) that I used when I worked back on for the ride home. And used shower gloves continuously for a few weeks without washing them.

But I’m concerned it could be a STD, which is complicating things with my new girlfriend…because I've asked her now 4 times whether she's been tested for everything, which she has. I have been given oral sex about 7 times since mid-February, but haven't had sex, and I haven't seen any visible cold-sores on her mouth.  After first oral, I noticed a painless, flat, rash that looked like a series of dots on both of my inner thighs. There was no discomfort; I have not noticed them if I hadn't been examining myself so closely.

I went to the doctors a few days later and was told that I have jock itch and was prescribed a cream and the rash did clear up.

Then, in early March - about 3 weeks after our first hook up – I got sick with a few flu-like symptoms, but I felt better within a day or two. Then the rash came back later that week after skiing.

I recently applied Lanasil cream and the area looked a little better. But I also applied a Hydrolatum cream to prevent chaffing and friction and that made it worse.  It looked red and blotchy and became slightly bumpy in some areas – and looked like bites on Sunday. I went back to just the Lanasil and a cornstarch powder and the rash seems to be fading again.

I do have a doctor’s appointment next week, but I wanted to ask a few questions:

1. Would a herpes rash fade and come back in the time frames I described and respond to jock itch cream?
2. Since I've only had an oral encounter, wouldn't it be logical to assume that the rash would appear on my penis or scrotum if it was a STD?

[slopes]

Thank you, Doctor.

I saw my physician and he said wasn’t too concerned about the rash, which is still not itchy and doesn’t hurt (with the exception of some minor chaffing) so I guess it’s more of an irritation. I’ve noticed that it looks better in the morning, but the dots get redder and more pronounced throughout the day. I’ve been applying Lotrium Ultra two times a day, which seems to work better than the Lamasil, but it won’t go away completely.

Is there any type of cream or something else that I could be applying to make this go away?

I guess I just need to ask again, but if this was herpes, would the symptoms get better then come back for this amount of time?

[willy851]

Not an std
It's jock itch, you need to keep the area dry. Use Lamasil or similar anti fungus cream twice daily. DO NOT use clothes over again towels or anything. This could take two weeks or more to get rid of if you follow this procedure.
The creams work better than sprays. The moisturizer will not help. You need to kill the fungus.

[Morrison0665]

I have some rash on both laps close to my scrotum and it itches a lot,I'd like to know if its an STD or just an irritation.

[memexxx]

I aint here so often but I'd say its
a) jock itch if it has a clear border (esp when u used the gym showers)..lamisil the best/ or erythrasma-usually a border+tiny wrinkles- check it out! -erythromycinm helps. dont believe ur doctor, bcuz he aint care too much..
b) spots- candidiasis(very likely), serbohorreic dermatitis, (in extreme sexual contact, google scabies or pubic lice) spots might be caused by folliculitis or there is a kind of ( erythrasma cornyebacterium which affects the folicle) google all the pictures of theese n give ur scrapings 4 the microscopy what i always advice..best ov luck n I donno how to support the doctor....Its really fun to help peeps - always give the best advice because the patients r suffering. the money isnt everything

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

This does not sound anything like an STD.  It doesn't even sound like fungus at this point, only irritation or perhaps just extra pigment from prior irritation.  It is time, I think, to stop interrogating your girlfriend about STD's and to get whatever reassurance will work for you to realize that you don't have one.  With a rash like yours herpes is not, repeat not, a possibility.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[willy851]

Jock itch usually affects the creases of your legs and thighs. It can get pretty bad. I wouldn't go to the doctor until you try treating it properly. Naftin is a better anti fungal, but I think it's prescription. You need to be very careful at the gym. Use foot wear and dry your feet after the scrotal region, with a clean towel. Make sure the area is dry before you get dressed.