Worried About Herpes

[SILVERBOX]

Hello and thank you for taking the time to consider my question.

I am in a prolonged state of worry. Perhaps my fears are unjustified and I am connecting unrelated things, however, I find myself somewhat stuck and in need of some medical information.

The concerns are regarding herpes. The fears started when I was at a few strip clubs and received a number of lap dances. I was always fully clothed. I started to fear that I could catch herpes from a lap dance particularily if vaginal fluid caused the dancer's underwear/thong to be wet and also made my pants wet.

The fear has become very real as about 1 month ago I developed 2-3 small very itchy red dots on 1 side of my buttocks. I rubbed 1 of the small spots and it became very chaffed/raw and was then about the size of a quarter. A 2nd followed the same pattern and became an itchy scaly spot There was never any fluid or blister. I applied hydrocortisone cream and this helped the itch, however, the 2 areas have remained somewhat raw and scaly

I started to consider ringworm as a possible alternative explanation instead of herpes. I applied lotrimn to the spots and the surronding area. A day or 2 later the perimeter of the area where I applied the lotrimin had 4-5 new small itchy red spots. They are not clustered. They are each about 1/2 inch apart. They look small red dots/mini pimples and they itch. I have resisted scatching as it would likely create new raw patched like the first 2.

I can't let go of the fear that I have contracted herpes. Is there a risk of contracting herpes through clothing in the manner I describe and what is your opinion/recommendations regarding the area I have described.

Once again, thanks for considering my question. Happy New Year.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I thunk your buttock rash represents folliculitis, or blocked pores, common in this region.  I doubt that herpes can be contracted through clothing, and in any case, what you describe is not what it looks like.  I'd apply bacitracin ointment once a day and otherwise leave the bumps alone until you can show them to a doctor.  Also, I'd avoid sexual behavior that produces so much anxiety.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[jte777]

RELAX. I know what it is like to have an irrational fear. You are going to find that there is no possibility of getting herpes through clothing. Think about it for a second. People who have herpes only shed a small amount of the time and you had clothing on. Pants and/or underwear. In all likelihood, the clothing and friction have caused irritation and that is what you are noticing. I have very little doubt that when the doctor responds to you (and he is the Expert about these things) you are going to get the response that this is not herpes. You might also read some of the other posts concerning herpes. It seems to me that somewhere along the line I have read a story similar to yours about a fear of herpes going through clothing.