Tingling scrotum, itching, and paper cuts

[StudentStruggler]

For months, my scrotum alternates between getting warm, reddened and inflamed, and then drawing extremely taut and very wrinkled and hardened, feeling almost as if it's "retracting" into the body. During the red stages, it itches like crazy, and there are little bumps all over. Also, the skin on the scrotum flakes from time to time. The scrotum tingles anytime I haven't slept enough or if I drink caffeine. These same conditions also produce small slits, or "paper cuts" along the inside of my groin, in the folds of the thigh. These cuts take up to a week to heal with a dried-up white looking appearance around the edges.

I tried both Loprox & clotrimazole for jock itch first, but neither of these helped. Next, I tried Elidel for scrotal eczema, but it didn't help either. Around this time I also got a few pimples on my chest and stomach, from the center of which protruded a hair. However, a course of antibiotics for folliculitis also hasn't helped.

Because I get this whenever I haven't had sleep or when I have caffeine, and since the intial scrotum tingling was accompanied with backaches as well, I suspected herpes. I have not had any sexual interaction for almost 3 years, so I wonder if this rash starting a few months back was the primary outbreak after dormancy. I have not had typical HSV blisters, and a blood test confused things, as I tested positive in a combined HSV 1&2 IgG, but negative in the type-specific tests (0.07 and 0.00 for 1 and 2). Could it be HSV? Would lack of sleep or caffeine affect yeast or folliculitis, and would these cause tingling? Thank you!

[monkeyflower]

Well, there seems to be some sort of subtle link to a particular topical product that supposedly kills the herpes virus. They also claim that you can get rid of herpes, but then be reinfected at a later time. As far as I know, this is totally untrue. I also distrust sites where there is no information about the people who operate the site, their credentials, their sources of information, etc. However, to be fair, most of the other info I read is accurate.

As for linking types of herpes, I didn't mean HSV1 and 2. I meant they also talk about chicken pox, etc.

Really, in my opinion herpes just isn't that big of a deal. Granted, some people have frequent and ferocious outbreaks, but overall herpes is certainly treatable and liveable. I think the fact that it's a STD is what freaks people out most, because if you caught it from someone sneezing on you, people would treat it like the minor annoyance it is. It just suffers from the stigma of all STDs in our sex negative, sex phobic culture. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I'm willing to rethink my viewpoint if presented with some good, solid evidence that I'm wrong, and STDs really are the bane of our existence everyone seems to think they are :-)

[Delilah]

I'm not going to scare my childen about sex..I'm going to inform them as to how careless people are.  And I'm going to bring them to a place just like this to show them just how ignorant people are with their sex lives and how their actions are seriously altering peoples lives all over the world.  And maybe JUST MAYBE they'll not be one of these idiots on this board.
It's fine that guys have your opinions and stick to them, to each his own.  I also have my opinions and will continue to stick to them as well.  
The people here can go right along cheating on their spouses with hookers and skanks at sex parlors and continue spreading their filth to their unsuspecting mates.  That is a very charming characteristic.
I'll bookmark this page to inform people of things we should NOT to do.

[Delilah]

I contracted herpes from a cold sore on my husbands lip 5 years ago. I dont know about the rest of you but when I was in school all they said about herpes was that you had it for life, then they moved on to something else.  Yes is was my and my husbands ignorance that got us where we are, but it wasnt because I was sleeping with shady characters.

[ry2fly]

Thanks Monkeyflower for your educated contributions and personal experiences in this forum. You have certainly helped alot of people out with herpes questions and experience. Good on ya. Another thing if Deliah is so high and mighty why does she have a STD? The bottom line is that STDs can happen to anyone sexually active, so DO NOT JUDGE PEOPLE. Different strokes for different folks. I have learned more from this forum than any sex ed class in high school and college. In America too many people view premarital sex as a bad thing and view STDs with a social stigma. If you go to Europe everyone is much more open about sex and disease prevention. We should do the same and its all about a change of attitude and putting religious beliefs out of our sexual education. Deliah this a medical forum not a morality forum. Please keep the 2 separate and back your opinions up as they are pure BS. keep it real.

[monkeyflower]

Thanks :-) I just wanted to suggest you check out the Waxman report on sex education in schools, if you haven't already. We are doing a huge disservice to kids in this country. Our sex "education" is in reality leaving kids absolutely in the dark and completely unprepared for the realities of life.

[ry2fly]

Deliah, oh man where do I start? You couldnt be more wrong and felt a strong urge to set you straight after reading your BS much like monkeyflower is.Yeah those sites you listed look pretty reilable, yeah right. Have you noticed that they are trying to sell something? Why dont you go to the ones monkeyflower listed as they are reliable sources? Or are you that ignorant. Nothing is ever diagnosed on this board alone, but Doc Handsfield gives his opinions on this board much like my physician gives over the phone. I think the Doc on here knows more than you. No wait, he does know more than you. He has been right with everything he told me on this board and my doctors (who saw my sypmtoms) agreed with his advice. This a great forum and it provides people who dont have insurance or access to healthcare to gain advice on medical treatment. Especially in the USA where our government cannot provide its own people with health insurance, but can spend hundreds of millions a day to fight a pointless war. Why do you feel the need to judge what people do? Please do not scare your children about sex for their sake. Have you ever noticed the more you tell an adolescent not to do something they will do it? The problem is we have conservative Christian groups trying to scare teens about the evils of premarital sex and not really addressing practicing safer sex. You can tell a child not to go near water all you want, but wouldnt you feel more comfortable if you taught them to swim? In Europe & Australia children learn about sex at a young age and practice safer sex. They also have lower STD rates than the USA, hmmmm I wonder why? Im sorry for rambling on but please do not scare your kids about sex for their sake. You could do alot of psychological damage. You obviously have some issues to be addressed. Monkeyflower does a great job relaying personal experience, gives very reliable info and does not judge others activities. You should do the same. This forum has provided me (and others)with much information and access to someone with over 30 years in the STD field. Sorry for the long response but Doctor Handsfield does great work on this forum and I do not want to see a bad apple spoil the whole lot.

[Delilah]

Herpes is herpes..reguardless of how you got it.  Its the same virus and the treatment is the same weather you got it from sleeping around or contracted it from your mothers kiss when you were 4.  It's still herpes and caution needs to be taken.  I dont know what you are talking about with reguards to the site trying to sell their products.  The site has no products..its just a forum for people inflicted with herpes.  I think sales people drop in from time to time and post but that isnt all the forum is about...those are just a few posts by someone.  Now there are things that people have tried and had results from and recommend..but people want that.  They want to know of products, vitamins, foods, ways of living their lives that will reduce the the number of outbreaks and/or severity of them..so I think that's a good thing.

[monkeyflower]

Whoa. First of all, what I see here is mostly posts from extremely anxious, frightened people, who have been tested repeatedly for various STDs and are still concerned.

I think you have to remember that the actual practice of medicine is considerably different from what you read on these boards. Think of it this way: people who are anxious about herpes are going to visit herpes boards and post their horror stories. Their experiences are quite often an anomaly and/or are colored by their emotional attachment to (whatever). They're not always based on scientific/medical fact. I like Dr. Handsfield's approach - he's interested in communicating medically accurate information, not scaring people.

You seem pretty judgemental about the people who post here and their activities. I think it might be a good idea to examine why these things upset you so. I also think that kind of judgement doesn't belong here on this board. If the posts you read bother you that much, I think it'd be a good idea to just avoid this site.

Also, please don't try to frighten your kids about their sexuality. Scaring them does nothing but leave them unprepared, and puts them at far higher risk of unplanned pregnancies and STDs. Instead, I encourage you to make the effort to educate them wisely, to help them develop a healthy sense of themselves and their sexuality. That way, you'll keep the lines of communication open, and you'll be the person they know they can come to for honest, open information. To that end, I think it might be an excellent idea for you to read "Sex and Sensibility: The Thinking Parent's Guide to Talking Sense About Sex", by Deborah Roffman.

[Delilah]

Very true.  I agree completely.  I think you are talking about that chorophor product or whatever the hell it was.  All of us actually thought it was some salesman making claims.  People tried it I guess..it was really expensive.  It didnt really seem to make alot of difference from what people were saying.  
There arent any doctors or therapists of any kind on that site so I was never really concerned with credentials..it's pretty much people who have herpes..some who have done alot of research...talking about things we've found out and read..blah blah.  Alot of times it's good for people who've just found out they have it, they come and vent, *****, cry whatever.  I'll be honest, some of the "doctors" here I'm not so sure about.  They'll prolly kick me off the board for saying it but some of the things they say floors me.  I feel that sometimes they are giving some of these people bad information.  They always tell them to check with a physician but not all of them are gonna do that.  Alot of these people clearly are putting themselves at risk and by telling them that their symptoms dont "sound" like correct symptoms I fear thats giving bad information to people that may not quite have the mentality to take the information and go further. I wonder how many of them leave and think.."well the online doc said I was cool so I'll just keep doing what I'm doing".  Alot of these people are lacking in the common sense department.  Having sex with prostitutues and visiting sex parlors then wondering why they are having problems is pretty ignorant.  I'll tell you one thing..the first thing I'm doing when my boys get old enough to start wondering..I'm gonna bring them to someplace just like this and tell them...see all things you can come into contact with?  Maybe I'll scare them into keeping it in their pants until they are responsible enough to do otherwise.

[Delilah]

Enlarged cervical lymph nodes, a decrease in appetite for a few weeks, neckache, headaches, stomach pain, and was extremely fatigued along WITH a possitive hsv test and it "doesnt sound like an herpes"?  IT'S HERPES!  I have had herpes for the last 5 years..those ARE herpes symptoms.  I dont understand why people here are so reluctant to say to someone..yes it sounds like you have herpes.  People are giving classic herpes symptoms and the doctors are saying..those arent symptoms of hsv. I've been on this forum for only a few weeks and I'm reading posts by these doctors and I really dont understand how you can tell people that these arent symptoms of hsv...I really dont.  I dont want to be offensive to what you do but, have you ever actually seen herpes?  Have you ever talked to someone with hsv about their symptoms?  It's like the doctors here are scared to tell someone that they have herpes.  I think you are giving people a false sense of security.  Everyone's herpes symptoms can be different..the virus effects everyones bodies differently but the symptoms are usually very similar.
I've also heard the doctors on here say that you dont break out right away when you contract herpes.  ALOT of people have symptoms within 24 hours.  I contracted it via a cold sore on my husbands lip during oral sex..it was a wednesday night..by the time i woke up thursday morning I had bumps from front to back.  I didnt know what was wrong.  We have a monogomous, faithfull marriage..Within 3 days I was so sick I couldnt hardly walk! I had to go to the emergency room on a sunday.  My legs had shooting pains down the back of them..the glands under my arms..in my thighs hurt..my back my stomache...my body all over just hurt!  I had a fever...Those are symptoms of herpes.  You said you tested possitive for hsv1 and 2...you have an std....and that std is HSV. You ACTUAL doctor has already established that.  
I am a member of a herpes group that is really good..just people talking about symptoms and their feelings..if you want to join..be my guest..they are very helpfull there.  

http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/messageforum/index.php?sid=f3b58ce53265d5bb5197a7983decaa10

Also..here is a good site on herpes 1 and 2.  It's very informative and accurate.  People there know what they have and they have learned how it works and how to manage it.  I rarely have outbreaks.  I went 2 and a half years without an outbreak.  It is a manageable infection if you are informed.

http://www.racoon.com/herpes/main/hsv1-2.html

[Delilah]

Oh..and the reason you break out when you dont get enough sleep is because you are letting your immune system drop.  There is a list of foods that are known to trigger hsv to come out of remission..coffee is on that list.  You more than likely contracted it years ago..people can go a long time with no symptoms then one day break out.  It's how the virus works.  You have to keep your immune system up..if you are tired..sleep. If you are hungry..eat.  Try not to allow yourself to get sick..because that will cause your immune system to drop and you may have an outbreak.  That's what happened to me. I went for 2 and a half years with nothing..then my son braught home a bug from school.  I ended up getting a sinus infection and broke out.   Keep yourself healthy.

[monkeyflower]

He apparently tested negative by the tests that are considered accurate. Not all herpes blood tests are the same.

Also, you rarely have outbreaks just because that's how herpes is. I'm not sure how you meant this, but herpes is totally manageable regardless of how well informed you are. I have herpes, and have never had a single obvious outbreak. I imagine I would have the same experience whether I knew about herpes or not :-)

I checked out the first site you recommended. Although it seems the little bit of information I read is pretty accurate, it is a site whose purpose is to sell you their product, which makes me quite suspicious. Also, I couldn't help noticing they definitely try to make herpes (the STD) seem more ominous by linking it to other forms of herpes, when really that's sort of pointless. I would stick to these sites:

www.cdc.gov/std
www.ashastd.org
www.westoverheights.com
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/std/index.htm

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I have nothing more to add; your symptoms still don't sound like STD.  That said, herpes is a possibility for almost any inflammatory genital lesion, but I can't speculate furher.  See a health care provider.

HHH, MD

[StudentStruggler]

I forgot to mention that when I intially got this for the first time a few months back, I also had enlarged cervical lymph nodes, a decrease in appetite for a few weeks, neckache, headaches, stomach pain, and was extremely fatigued.  These symptoms also frightened me as to a possible Herpes outbreak.  In addition the foreskin of the penis wrinkles up and takes on a shriveled appearance.  I also had what looked like a tiny pimple/blister/abscess inside the foreskin on the glans, however this has never popped and causes no pain, and has remained this way for the past few months.  The tingling/itching/cuts flare up every few weeks, with the symptoms almost completely dying down in between.  Thanks again, and I'd really appreciate any insight you could offer Doctor!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your symptoms don't sound like STD of any kind; more likely some sort of dermatitis.  Have you seen a health care provider?  That's the obvious next step.

It doesn't sound like herpes, but I'm not sure how to interpret the test results you describe.  If the second test was the HerpeSelect, you can rely on the negative results.

Good luck-- HHH, MD