Oh I should add that you will always get symptoms with syphilis, but they aren't always noticeable.
Inspection? While I sit and ponder about how I'd feel if my partner inspected me, I do have to say that you can have gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, syphilis, herpes and HPV with no symptoms at all. Your inspection wouldn't find something that is not giving symptoms at that time.
Flaking or peeling skin sounds like dermatitis or a fungal infection, but you need to get it checked to be sure.
Aj