Welcome to the forum.
We get many questions about various kinds of nonsexual or semi-sexual contact during lap dances and in strip clubs. Just scan any 10-15 threads at random and you'll probably find at least a couple, always with the same answers: no risk and no need for testing. But maybe it's time for a blog-like response to aid in efficient replies to future questions. Your closing comment ("From what I've read, both of these situations were low risk") suggest you know this -- but here goes anyway.
The only way STDs are acquired in strip clubs and similar "adult entertainment" clubs is if unprotected intercourse occurs while there. There is no STD risk from kissing, fingering, body rubbing, exposure to genital fluids through clothing, or hand-genital contact, even when lubricated by genital fluids or saliva. Why not? Because STDs are not simply infections that happen to involve the genital area. The bacteria and viruses that cause them evolved in a way that requires intercourse or similarly intimate exposure (e.g. from mother to baby during delivery) for transmission to occur. If superficial or minor exposure to small amounts of these bacteria and viruses, or to infected fluids, could result in transmission, they would be common in people who haven't had sex and would not be classified as STDs to begin with.
Could rare cases in fact be transmitted by the sorts of contact you describe? Perhaps once in a long while, but far too rarely to measure or worry about. Just think about the millions upon millions of such exposures that occur every year in the United States; plus the fact that even the busiest STD clinics never see infected patients who only had such exposures. With virtually no exceptions, everyone with diagnosed STDs has had intercourse (vaginal, anal, or oral), usually unprotected. This fact alone tells you that there is no significant risk -- apart from the biological factors just discussed.
As for your symptoms, I can understand why their occurrence following these events caught your attention. However, the majority of genital area rashes and skin irritation are not due to any STD; and no STD typically causes a red, irritated rash of the scrotum. This is far more likely to be jock itch, dermatitis, or something along these lines -- completely unrelated to the events described above.
If your symptoms persist, you might try an OTC jock itch treatment, or hydrocortisone cream, and see a doctor if the problem persists. But I see no need for worry or for STD testing, and I'm sure it is safe for you to continue your normal sexual practices with your regular partner.
I hope these comments have been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
I forgot to mention, this took place about two weeks ago. I went in for a physical and the Dr. did notice the redness in the scrotum and suggested cortisone 10. He did not seem to think it looked like herpes but I have heard others say their only symptom is red, burning feeling skin. Could herpes be passed from lightly touching an area and touching skin/penis/eye or does it require heavy friction between the genitals directly? If no blisters have formed since 2 weeks can herpes be ruled out?
Thank you for your detailed response. I guess my main concern was hearing that somethings can be transferred skin to skin.
Herpes lesions (i.e. blisters, open sores, etc) may have redness sounding them and may have pain that some people would describe as burning. But herpes doesn't look or act at all like this; and yes, blisters or sores would have been apparent within 2-3 days, let alone 2 weeks.
And as should be clear from my comments above, you couldn't have caught HSV from the exposures described. Do not be tested for it. As for skin to skin transmission, that means direct contact between genital skin surfaces, or genital anal. It doesn't mean via hands or body fluids.
That will end this thread. Do your best to move on without worry about herpes or any other STD.
Thanks so much for the information Doctor. Very informative.