recurrent pustule on penis shaft

[youngman1425]

I am a 29yr old male in "good" athletic shape with no history of cold sores.. I was screened last year for STD's but  not for herpes becasue there hadnt been any physical symptoms at that time. STD screen came back negative. I do have a history of pustules/cysts on my chest where there is hair and my underams examined and treated by my derm. A couple times they had to be excised and drained in the office by PA.

Friday evening I notice a pustule on the shaft of my penis half way up just off to the side. It stung a little bit and I could see a distinct head on it. I would describe it more as a pustule than a pimple. It stung to the touch and I decided to pop it. Once I popped it a VERY small amount of distinct puss came out.  Sort of a small spec of puss. No bleeding or liquid came out and it stopped hurting/stinging once the pus was out. Like immediately. It went down drastically in size. It was still a bit red but quite small. I prob wouldnt have noticed it at this stage but I can see it since it started with discomfort and a spec of puss. Sat/Sun still a bit red but healing quickly. I did not put any medicine on it only washed in the shower with my body wash. Today being monday morning It is gone.

I had a similar pustule in the general area with the  same time line a couple of months ago (three days from pustule to being gone).  I showed a pic of the first one to GP and said it didn't look like an STD. It was a pic and she was not my dermatologist. I decided to show her when I was in for something unrelated.

One fact that may or may not be important is that I would describe affected area gets the heaviest friction during masturbation...

Reading past forums and other sites they say things can go unnoticed but actually be STI's etc.. all the way to very drastic photos/descriptions etc..

What do you think this is by my description?? What do you suggest??

Thank you for your input..

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You need to go have someone more knowledgeable thatn you take a look at this.  Stop messing with it and go see someone.  EWH

[youngman1425]

now being a week later I have just gone into the bathroom and noticed another pustule of sorts on the middle of my shaft on top but on the other side of the ones I spoke about in above post/question. It is not in the general area because its on the other side. It was much smaller and no pain associated with it. compared to other that occured last week the puss in this one is slightly less dense although puss came out. now that the puss has been popped out its just a red slightly raised spot.

Please help me out doc..

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I do not see the need for you to discuss this with your partner.  It is unlikely to be HSV and if it was due to HSV you would have probably gotten it from her, correct?

As for showing your dermatologist a picture. Picutes just don't take the place of a direct examination.  Little to be gained.  I would try to put this behind you unless it recurs.  EWH

[youngman1425]

Also...I do understand what you say about folliculitis but what concerned me the most was that it was on my shaft. I have dominant hair follicles at the base of my penis but the center shaft does not..

[youngman1425]

Yes you are correct..my other skin problem I mentioned is indeed folliculitis. I have had two sexual partnes in the past year and have been in a monogomus relationship with one of the partners for about 10 months.

The topic of herpes has not come up between us specifically and I have not talked about my mysterious pustule with her either. Do you recomend I do?? I do not believe that she is infected with herpes or anything else but humans are carriers with no signs and can pass them along etc soo I think its almost impossible to know without blood testing....right??

Nothing leads me to believe that the other partner I mention has HSV either...

This part does kind of confuse me with the "dormant" effect etc..

I think what scares the most people about this virus is that it has so many faces and too many variables that everything from a "soar throat" to giant ugly blisters all over the face could be HSV. That along with having the virus for life.

This being a recurrence would you recomend me going to my dem to show him a pic specifically??

If the spot was still there I prob would have tried to get in to my derm but it is not there anymore and it occured friday evening.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  Obviously it is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis over the internet.  I will try to offer some suggestions which I hope will be helpful to you.

You do not say anything about your sexual history.  If you are concerned that this is herpes, I would point out that herpes typically appears for the first time within 2 weeks of exposure to an infected partner.  Don't know if this time frame fits for you or not.

Have told you about HSV, I have to say that what you describe does not sound like HSV.  Herpes lesions tend to be grouped and their contents are clear, not pus filled.  What you describe sounds most like folliculitis (I suspect this is what your other skin problems is) or possibly molluscum contagiousum.  Either way, the right thing to do is, should this recur, have it seen by a knowledgeable clinician (perhaps your dermatologist of an STD specialist).  If it does not, I would not worry about STD unless there is something I have missed.  I would not recommend a blood test for HSV at this time.

Hope this comment is helpful to you.  EWH