TREATMENT

[E. JONES]

HELLO, I WAS WONDERING IF THERE  WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE FOR HYPERPIGMENTATION UNDER THE SKIN. I HAVE USED FADE CREAMES, BUT THIS ONLY LIGHTENS THE TOP OF THE  SKIN, BUT NOT THE SPOTS UNDER THE SKIN. THE SPOTS ARE BROWN AND RED AND MAKES ODD SHAPES MOST OF THE PROBLEM IS ON MY LOWER LEGS. CAN THE FADE CREAM PENATRATE UNDER MY SKIN AND CLEAR UP THE SPOTS? SOME OF THEM ARE ROUND SPOTS,OPEN CIRCLES,LINES AND I'VE HAD TWO LETTER SHAPES. I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THEM GO AWAY COMPLETLY. THERE ARE NO LUMPS. THEY DO NOT HURT OR ITCH. THE BLOOD TEST SHOW THAT I AM FINE (SO FAR), HOWEVER I WANT THESE TO GO AWAY I'VE HAD THEM FOR TWO YEARS. THEY START OUT RED THEN AS TIME GOES ON THEY TURN MEDIUM BROWN AND THEY STOP AT THE ANKLE. CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME IDEAS FOR MY DOCTOR(TEST,VITIMANS,CREAMES,TREATMENT ETC...)

[wondering]

I don't mean to be an alarmist, but the part about feeling "tingling" when one of these bumps is about to form, reminds me of the "tingling" feeling in my lips when a cold sore first begins to form. This may be a form of Herpes (which can be contracted without sexual penetration). As Dr. R often mentions, it is difficult to diagnose skin conditions without examination. Please see a doctor in person to confirm your medical condition.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Postmodern:

I like your moniker.

No, you can't get herpes without sex, or anything else.

You're describing eczema, possibly aggravated a bit by the friction of masturbation.  Just use the hydrocortisone when needed.  The rash always comes back when it wants to, but means nothing.  Neither do the pimples; just a normal variant.

Best.

Dr. R

[postmodern]

I can't ever post on this message board! Even when it is a new day and their are NO entries it STILL tells me you have reached the limit for the day! I have been trying to post for 2 weeks now. So i'll try and ask a question in somone elses response.

I have a Bright red rash at the base of my penis shaft which is most severe on the underside portion and on my testicles near the base of my penis shaft(where they both touch each other during flacid stage). It can itch on occasion but generally "seems" to flare up mostly at night. I have used 1%hydrocortizone creams and it works extremely well -removing the redness within a day or two but my rash ALWAYS comes back soon after.This has been going off and on for about 10 months now. Hot baths and shampoo also "seem" to aggravate it. I have completely stopped using soap/shampoo around this area not to mention quit taking hot baths but that hasn't really let up on the aggravation(rash) either.

I also get pimples on occasion -say once every 4-6 weeks that generally form a white head after a few days(I can pop them just like a pimple on my forhead causing white "puss" comes out). The pimple generally appears in one of a few selective spots on my penis base and sometime I get multiple smaller ones ones. I at times tend to feel "tingling" when a pimple is about to form.

I am a virgin but masturbate rather frequently -can I contract herpes via masturbation? Does this sound like herpes to you? The base of my penis has always had many white/skin colored bumps that are filled with a hard white substance and can be bursted. I am to understand these are normal cysts. Can these bumps get infected forming my pimple???

Are pimples/eczema on base of penis shaft a common thing? I cant find mention of genitalia at ANY eczema website. Everywhere I go only mentions STDS when talking about genital rashes/pimples.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Who should I go to to get this examined? I phoned many dermatologist clinincs and the secretary always says NO when I ask if they do cultures/blood tests for STD's.

thanks for the help and sorry for hijacking somone else's post, I am just at wits end.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I apologize, but there isn't too much I can tell you.  It sounds as though you have a skin disease, perhaps eczema or something like it, which leaves dark marks on the skin.  Your best bet is to treat the condition, but I will have to leave it to the doctor who actually sees you to determine what that condition is and how it should be treated.

Sorry I can't be more specific.

Best.

Dr. R