Aa
I need to know if you think this is Herpes?
I have always had a dermatitis eczema like condition around the fold on the left side of my scrotum where the scrotum meets the penis. The result is i get a dry itch that can sometimes turn red. The skin there is also frequently flaky and dry white, but red depending on whether i've itched too much. Also the skin can be broken here and exposed, if i've itched too much.
Recently I had unprotected sex with a stranger, and at the same time noticed that my groin area was producing a bad odor, I figured it was the result of a fungal infection, from wearing the same running shorts too frequently without washing. A couple days later I started to itch a lot at the site where my eczema usually bothers me. This time instead of a dry itchy feeling there was a slightly moist itchiness with what felt like a bump. 2 days later days after the itching was left unabated I looked at the area and a deep red sore, almond shaped, approximately half the size of a thumbnail appeared. It was very raw and glistening, and when i pressed at it hard with my thumbnail, a clear fluid came out. If you look extremely closely at the area of the sore there looked to be microscopic small circular dots(less than a mm maybe half of one) in the inflamed glistening area of the sore. After another 2 days the area of the sore started to dry out and it looked deep red, but now the skin looked dry and cracked like the eczema that previously occupied that space with a layer of flaky skin over the previously glistening surface. What should i be worried this could be? Do you think this is Herpes? Please let me know. I will provide any additional information.
Recently I had unprotected sex with a stranger, and at the same time noticed that my groin area was producing a bad odor, I figured it was the result of a fungal infection, from wearing the same running shorts too frequently without washing. A couple days later I started to itch a lot at the site where my eczema usually bothers me. This time instead of a dry itchy feeling there was a slightly moist itchiness with what felt like a bump. 2 days later days after the itching was left unabated I looked at the area and a deep red sore, almond shaped, approximately half the size of a thumbnail appeared. It was very raw and glistening, and when i pressed at it hard with my thumbnail, a clear fluid came out. If you look extremely closely at the area of the sore there looked to be microscopic small circular dots(less than a mm maybe half of one) in the inflamed glistening area of the sore. After another 2 days the area of the sore started to dry out and it looked deep red, but now the skin looked dry and cracked like the eczema that previously occupied that space with a layer of flaky skin over the previously glistening surface. What should i be worried this could be? Do you think this is Herpes? Please let me know. I will provide any additional information.
Does herpes have a different presentation on skin depending on one's ethnicity? Specifically do east asians show any characteristics of their presentation of the disease that is either unique or more likely?
you need to be seen today or tomorrow and get this looked at. though indeed eczema can sometimes appear this way, many other things can too like bacterial infections and yes, herpes could appear this way too. If they suspect herpes, they can do a lesion culture and typing but you might get a false negative since it's been a few days.
since you had unprotected sex, you also need to follow up with full std testing at the proper times. you can get tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, ngu and trich after 1 week post encounter. syphilis after 6 weeks. herpes, hiv and hepatitis after 3 months. we don't have commercially available testing for hpv to cover that base. did you have your gardasil shots for hpv yet?
always protect yourself and only have protected sexual contact outside of a long term monogamous relationship with someone whose status you are aware of. it's not worth the risk to your health or the worrying!
grace
since you had unprotected sex, you also need to follow up with full std testing at the proper times. you can get tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, ngu and trich after 1 week post encounter. syphilis after 6 weeks. herpes, hiv and hepatitis after 3 months. we don't have commercially available testing for hpv to cover that base. did you have your gardasil shots for hpv yet?
always protect yourself and only have protected sexual contact outside of a long term monogamous relationship with someone whose status you are aware of. it's not worth the risk to your health or the worrying!
grace
no one can tell you what it is besides your doctor so the most i would say is ask your doctor...it might not be anything to worry about but just get it checked out to be on the saafe side.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
