Recurring rash on penis

[Mingles80]

1 year ago I had a full STD test and tested for HSV1(no surprise I get cold sores).  6 months ago I received 1 minute of unprotected oral with a sex worker and and washed with soap immediately after.  Since then I have had no symptoms.  About 1 month ago I started getting an itchy red rash at the base of my penis. Over the course of 24 hours it got worse and I had determined that it was poison Ivy as I started to break out in rash other places.  I put clotrimazole and betamethasone cream on it, took some benedryl and it cleared up within a week.  Just yesterday though I noticed 2 red bumps on either side of my penis just below the glans that burn slightly.  It has now been 24 hours I took some benedryl applied more cream and the bumps now look less like bumps and more like a red rash.  Is it right to assume that this is related to poison ivy and not unsafe sex practices?  The last rash responded well to the cream and with the timing leads me to believe that it was poison ivy since steroid cream healed it.  I don't believe an STD would show symptoms so long after exposure and if it did I don't believe a steroid cream would clear it up.  Is there any need to seek further medical attention or should I just wait this out?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  While I cannot tell you with complete confidence that the bumps you have noticed are related to your recent poison ivy, I am quite comfortable in assuring you that they are not related to your receipt of oral sex 6 months ago.  The timing is wrong for this to be HSV pr any other STD and your risk of getting HSV or any other STD from the exposure you describe is vanishingly low.  I would simply observe the bumps.  If they do not resolve, stop putting the topical creams on it for a few days and see your doctor.  My guess however is that these will resolve with the therapy you are currently using (unless they are normal structures that you simply had not noticed in the past which is a possibility).  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are correct, topical steroids would not effect wither HSV or HPV. further, topical steroids ahve no meaningful effect on immunity.  EWH

[Mingles80]

Thank you for your quick response doctor.  This will certainly help to ease my mind.  Am I correct that HSV and HPV wouldn't respond to steroid creams?  From what I've read since a steroid lowers your immune system it would make things worse if this were an HPV outbreak.