Recurrent, long-lasting herpes outbreaks

[Brookhaven]

Hello,
  
   Earlier this year I developed a red, itchy rash in my pubic hair. The doctor told me it was probably an allergic reaction and put me on cortisteroids, which didn't help much other than bringing the redness down. I was told that it was probably a nickel or cobalt allergy, and given an allergy patch test. However, the test came back negative. At that time I was getting small clusters of lesions that would start off as redness, turn into vesicles, then scab over. The problem was that as soon as one lesion would scab over, another would form. This went on for about two months.
  After the last of the lesions healed, I had about a month and a half with no lesions. However, I did have some mild redness and itching at the same site during this "clear period", but that would come and go.
  After a month and a half with no lesions, they came back in the same place and I went to the doctor again. This time I went to another doctor, who seemed convinced that it was not an allergy, but herpes. I requested that he do a zanck smear. He looked at it under the microscope for at least 10 minutes, and didn't seem very happy with it. He said things like "this is not a very good example of a herpes smear, but I can see some signs that it is herpes". He put me on zovirax. I took the meds, which didn't do much, and I was still not completely convinced about the diagnosis.
  That was about a month ago. The lesions that he saw are almost completely healed, but now new lesions are forming, just like before. If my previous outbreak was any indication, I have at least another month of this to look forward to. I really don't want to go back to the doctor because they all seem to be acting on assumptions and not trying to recognize that my case is not exactly normal for HSV (at least in my opinion).
  My question is this: Is it possible that these lesions take a month to heal, then form new lesions with little or no reprieve, dragging on through two months or more? When I'm "clear" should I still have redness and itching in that area?
  I will admit that these lesions do look like herpes. They itch, they hurt, and they follow all the stages normally associated with HSV. But the severity and duration seems unusual.

Thank you--

[Brookhaven]

PCR non-reactive for HSV-1 and HSV-2. My new diagnosis of the day is folliculitis.  

Yes, I have been trying to self diagnose, but that's only because none of the doctors seem to actually care about getting the right answer. Also, I should note that I was a US Navy Hospital Corpsman for six years, three of which were in a clinical setting, so I'm not a complete medical moron.

Thanks for all the help, everyone. I really appreciate it, but I think I'm just going to let this one ride. Final lesson learned: Don't take anything on faith. Get lab results.

[gracefromHHP]

I think you've been spending too much time online trying to self diagnose perhaps?

Let me know if you need help with your blood test results. I'd return to the dermatologist for further follow up to try to get to the bottom of all this regardless of what your hsv2 results are.

grace

[auntiejessi]

Grace will be back tomorrow, so I will let her respond.  :)

I just didn't want you to think you are being ignored.

Aj

[Brookhaven]

One more thing: I am considering Hidradenititis Suppurativa as a likely differential diagnosis, especially if I come back negative for HSV-2.

[Brookhaven]

Thanks Grace. I got a blood test for HSV a few days ago and I'm waiting on the results. I'll post them here when I get them.

[gracefromHHP]

The patch tests look for allergic reactions, not just skin sensitivities and they also don't cover everything.  I laughed when I got allergy testing done a few years ago - came back negative for everything even though certain metals cause me to have reactions and there is a huge list of products I have to avoid.  The derm doc just looked at me and told me she told me so that the testing wasn't going to be too worthwhile but we had to cover our bases.  

MRSA is  HUGE issue right now and it frequently causes symptoms in the genital area.

There are all sorts of dermatological conditions out there too.  

Hsv1 isn't likely to be reoccuring this often. Herpes in general isn't likely to be hanging around this long.  This is why I said even if you do have herpes - it's not likely the only thing going on.

grace