Candida or Herpes?

[jpvel]

So, I have narrowed down my potential genital disease to either herpes or candida. Roughly 10 days ago after masturbating daily for about seven days consecutively I noticed a red bump/blister at the top of my penis shaft, on the penis, but close to the base surrounded by pubic hairs. I figured it was just an ingrown hair pimple and dismissed it. It is still there except it's progressed in stages, at first it appeared bulbus, round, and red and felt as if it was pulsating to some extent. Next, it formed a lined white border of dry skin around it that looked as if the blister just broke through the skin separating the blister from the rest of the skin. Also, the surrounding area around the blister has a lighter red surface. The blister has only caused irritation (not pain, but discomfort) when it is touched or pressed upon, particularly after showering/in the morning, when it's very dry. Today, the white lining of cracked/dry skin is gone and the blister is the size of a pea. It has a black/very dark red speckle close to its center that appeared today (I am telling myself it is a blood mark or hair trying to get out) and a small speckle of crusted or dried skin on the other side off-center.

I have heavily researched herpes and it doesn't exactly match up to what I have seen or read about, but I know herpes comes in different varieties. It does not look like a water or burn blister at all, nor does it appear to be filled with a liquid or puss. It looks closer to a blood blister, except probably not as dark red. It is just scaly bulbus round and red.

I know some of the symptoms of herpes as well such as swollen lymph nodes and tingling in the legs or genital area and I feel like I've experienced a bit of that, but it was very transient and may have been mainly psychological.

I have not been trying to touch my penis at all, but I forced myself to get erect and noticed a patch of dry skin (lined) on the underside of my penis as well.

Thoughts? Seeing dr soon.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

You know, I can't really know what's going on here!  I can't see the lesion and honestly have no idea what it is.  But if you tell me you have a bump on the genital skin and it become a wet blister, I feel obligated to ask you to have someone do a swab for herpes from this blister. Having said that, what some people call a blister, others might never call a blister.  This is the problem with doing this online.  Yes, go today and have someone look at this but try not to panic about this, OK?

Terri

[jpvel]

I will leave work early and go today or tomorrow. In the meantime, does this still not sound like herpes? I feel like I am going to have a panic attack.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I think waiting until next week to see a dermatologist is not the correct strategy.  If you have a wet lesion, it needs to swabbed now, not in a week when it may well be gone.

Terri

[jpvel]

Thanks, Terri. I have an appointment with my dermatologist next week and will do so. Does any of this change your earlier comment that it doesn't sound like herpes? I promise this is my last post until I get my test results. I am just severely frightened.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I think you should go in and have it swab tested for herpes.  Seeing a provider is the best thing for you to do at this point.

Terri

[jpvel]

Update: I woke up this morning and the blister was a little wet. I took toilet paper and wiped it and the fluid appears to have some blood in it (marginally). The fluid also crusted onto some of the pubic hairs. The blister is now pretty flat, not as red, and is not sensitive at all to touch. I pressed pretty hard on it and I felt no sensation. It doesn't look ulcerated (cratered). Does this impact anything?

[jpvel]

Terri,

Thanks for the hasty response. It is one blister and the only other irregularity that I've noticed is the patch of dry skin on the other side of my penis shaft. The blister is the size of a pea and upon last observation has cracked dry skin (appears scaly) on its outer portions. It does not have an indentation in the center and I don't think it's molluscum since I had that four years ago and had them cryo'ed after diagnosis. Plus they're not sensitive to touch, right?

The blister has not ulcerated or opened in the 10 days it's been there. It has only gotten more dry w/ a cracked skin perimeter and is a deeper shade of red from the shiny smooth bright red it was before.

I am not sure if I've been tested for herpes, but have blood work done every year at my routine physical and my GP does check for STDs (not sure if herpes is included though). The only contact that concerns me are two incidents, 1) I had protected sex (Oct 30) with a girl at the beginning of her period (she did not alert me) and blood did get on my skin that was not covered by the condom (where the blister is), 2) I regrettably had unprotected sex once in late Sept with a girlfriend at the time.

In your experience does candida produce blisters? Based on my input, what should I look for in case of herpes? If this is still around after two weeks is it likely not herpes since they avg two weeks? Are there any other diseases it could be? Cancer? I am genuinely frightened and can't focus on anything else and have the LSATs coming up in three days. I am seeing a derm late next week. Thanks so much.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

You are certainly a very careful observer of your own body.  Its not really possible to say what this might be, but it honestly doesn't sound like herpes to me.  Is it the only bump?  Does it have an indentation in the center?  Have you ever been tested for herpes?  Have you recently had a contact that concerns you?

Terri

[jpvel]

also, when i have applied friction (attempting to get erect for further inspection) to parts that seem impervious to whatever is ailing me my entire penis a good deal of my penis is dried up and chalky looking afterward. i dont know if this helps, but just another observation.