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Chronic Skin Problems

38 yr. old male diagnosed with hsv-1 in April 06.  After the initial break out I had one more break out between April 06 and November 06.  Fairly mild at this point.  In November 06 had unprotected sex after a night out and 3 days later was diagnosed with NGU on a paper urine test which was treated with doxycycline.  Went through alot of stress after this unfortunate event and one month later started experiencing extreme skin problems after transiting back and forth from hot humid climates (Phillipines) to cold climates (Japan).  Over the next couple months I was retested for NGU (neg.), Syphillus (neg.), Chlamydia (neg.), Gonorrhea (neg.) among others.  Eventually over the next year and a half I finally received assurance it was not HIV either.

As I said earlier, the month after my unprotected sex, I develped severe skin problems.  My skin changed in texture from smooth to rough and maybe even oily at times.  But my face color changed also to a blotchy skin color of white mixed with red blotches and especially after shaving.  My hair follicules felt different after shaving and were more irrittated.  I no longer get acne on my face, but now I get these bumps that act like acne, but end up turning into hard bumps on my face and then after a month or two they will sort of go away...  At least until they come back in either other areas of my face or scalp or in the same place.  I itch all over, but primarily on my scalp, face and arms and arm-pits and around my groin area and I guess pretty much all over, but predominately in these areas.  To make matters worse, I now have herpes breakouts more often...  around every month to two months.  Obviously stress does not help and I have gone through alot of that.  A dermatologists that I've seen says I may have hives, seborrheic dermatitis and rosaecea but nothing definitive through testing.  She took blood tests and found that all my levels were normal to include a thyroid test also.  So I guess the bad thing here is that I don't know exactly what happened and I am dealing with military red tape when it comes to getting tested.  But it has been almost 2 years since the incident and I still have the following symptoms...

When I work out and sweat...  My scalp itches horribly.  When I shave in the morning...  My face sort of turns white with red blotchy patches (but then goes away after a little bit) and skin is left feeling irritated.  I break out in herpes hsv-1 around my groin area every month or so (which is alot more than when I was first diagnosed).  And I get red acne type bumps on my face and scalp that turn into hardened bumps after trying to pick them and the bumps do not completely go away and almost leave a permanent little bump underneath the skin.  My skin texture has changed, but it is hard for me to explain this...  from smooth skin on my forehead to a kind of oily not so smooth surface.  And lastly, you can not really tell by just looking at me, but the bumps come in at about a rate of 2 or 3 a day in my scalp and maybe 1 a day on my face and neck area...  But not in a group of rashes or anything that would stand out.  I have dealt with alot of stress which I'm sure is not good, but I've also spent the last 8 months relaxing as much as possible and taking skin medications and taking care to use the right soaps and shampoos and everything...  But nothing works.  What are your thoughts on this unfortunate situation?

2 Responses
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207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
I agree with Daisy.  This doesn't sound like an std, but maybe its a fungal infection, an allergic reaction, etc.  You might see a dermatologist for an exam.

Aj
Helpful - 0
494623 tn?1278279352
I really don't know what this could be but due to the stress you have been under  have you asked about reactive Psoriasis ? this is a very itchy and irritating skin condition and can often be triggered by stress and anxiety,although it doesn't typically affect the face,but does the scalp and most other areas.
Please understand I am not a Doctor and am only taking a stab at a possibility.
Try not using soaps of any kind use a cleansing gel when washing that doesn't contain anything other than pure ingredients.
Also use pure moisturisors at all times especially wen you are in many different weather conditions.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help in this it does sound lke your having a really tough time with this.

Daisy  
Helpful - 0
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