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Rash on Foreskin
Hi All,
I've been getting a very recurrent red rash on my foreskin for the past year. I went through immense stress during and after a break-up and got my first rash then. To be open and honest, I have been sexually active, but with only with one person have I had intercourse with in my life.
The rash usually presents as a red ring or partial ring around of the opening of the inner foreskin. One time the entire foreskin was red with small red splotches on the glans, but most of the time it is just a partial ring around the foreskin opening. The reason I was so stressed is because a doctor misdiagnosed me as having herpes, which just shook me to the core. She claimed to have seen blisters, but when I went right after to an STD clinic to get a second opinion, she could not see any blisters or evidence of such blisters (i.e. there were no ulcers or vesicles); just red skin as presented to the first doctor.
As can be imagined, this sent me into a frenzy of testing for STDs (especially for herpes). I was swabbed for herpes, but the doctor said it would come back negative since there were no lesions; it came back negative. I was then given an IGG blood test 1-2 months after my last/first possible exposures; the test came back negative for HSV 1 and 2. I had a second IGG blood test at 5.5-6.5 months after my last/first possible exposures; these tests also came back negative for HSV 1 and 2. In addition to all this testing, multiple other doctors thought the first one was off her rocker as she visually "diagnosed" me when I wasn't presenting with any of the classic symptoms of herpes. Likely what she thought were blisters were actually Fordyce granules in my foreskin (had them since I was a little kid) that were highlighted by the red foreskin.
These rashes also did NOT present with fever, pain, blisters, ulcers, crusts, or swollen glands etc. Just red/pink and the affected skin sometimes looks a little puffy, but is soft and not tender to the touch. A doctor I saw actually squeezed and rolled the rash in his gloved hand to check for any pain or tenderness (there was none). Most of the time the rash is not itchy, but sometimes there may be a minor intermittent itch. Sometimes I may present with the rash and maybe an hour later, it may have gone away or changed significantly in shape or color. As the rash fades away, the skin can feel a bit dry and may scale a bit (in other words a thin layer may lightly flake).
My rashes respond well to the following:
- Lotriderm (corticosteroid/anti-fungal mixture)
- Lamisil Cream
- Ketoconazole Cream
With treatment with those creams, the rashes do not typically last longer than 2-3 days; after 1 day of treatment the rash looks substantially better. After I stop treatment, symptoms generally return within a week and I find I have to rotate creams. I no longer use the lotriderm since I believe the steroid has permanently damaged my foreskin (atrophy). While the lotriderm was extremely effective at eliminating the rash, after weeks of use, the rashes started coming back week after week when they were much more sparse before using the lotriderm.
I have been seeing a dermatologist and he says not to worry about herpes anymore, yet despite how well I respond to the creams, he doesn't think it's fungal but maybe contact dermatitis! It's been a year of this stuff and I still don't have a proper diagnosis. I want to be circumcised so badly, but he questions whether it would help me.
Is anyone else experiencing what I'm going through? I am at my wits end...every time I get a rash, I think about the first doctor's diagnosis and I get into a negative spin. This has affected me very deeply in a psychological way.
I tested negative for all other STDs as well, so I am confident it's nothing like that. I did full panel tests for everything twice; once at 1 month after last possible exposure and the second time 6 months after last possible exposure. My stress was extreme for 6-7 months during my fears of having herpes.
Duey
I've been getting a very recurrent red rash on my foreskin for the past year. I went through immense stress during and after a break-up and got my first rash then. To be open and honest, I have been sexually active, but with only with one person have I had intercourse with in my life.
The rash usually presents as a red ring or partial ring around of the opening of the inner foreskin. One time the entire foreskin was red with small red splotches on the glans, but most of the time it is just a partial ring around the foreskin opening. The reason I was so stressed is because a doctor misdiagnosed me as having herpes, which just shook me to the core. She claimed to have seen blisters, but when I went right after to an STD clinic to get a second opinion, she could not see any blisters or evidence of such blisters (i.e. there were no ulcers or vesicles); just red skin as presented to the first doctor.
As can be imagined, this sent me into a frenzy of testing for STDs (especially for herpes). I was swabbed for herpes, but the doctor said it would come back negative since there were no lesions; it came back negative. I was then given an IGG blood test 1-2 months after my last/first possible exposures; the test came back negative for HSV 1 and 2. I had a second IGG blood test at 5.5-6.5 months after my last/first possible exposures; these tests also came back negative for HSV 1 and 2. In addition to all this testing, multiple other doctors thought the first one was off her rocker as she visually "diagnosed" me when I wasn't presenting with any of the classic symptoms of herpes. Likely what she thought were blisters were actually Fordyce granules in my foreskin (had them since I was a little kid) that were highlighted by the red foreskin.
These rashes also did NOT present with fever, pain, blisters, ulcers, crusts, or swollen glands etc. Just red/pink and the affected skin sometimes looks a little puffy, but is soft and not tender to the touch. A doctor I saw actually squeezed and rolled the rash in his gloved hand to check for any pain or tenderness (there was none). Most of the time the rash is not itchy, but sometimes there may be a minor intermittent itch. Sometimes I may present with the rash and maybe an hour later, it may have gone away or changed significantly in shape or color. As the rash fades away, the skin can feel a bit dry and may scale a bit (in other words a thin layer may lightly flake).
My rashes respond well to the following:
- Lotriderm (corticosteroid/anti-fungal mixture)
- Lamisil Cream
- Ketoconazole Cream
With treatment with those creams, the rashes do not typically last longer than 2-3 days; after 1 day of treatment the rash looks substantially better. After I stop treatment, symptoms generally return within a week and I find I have to rotate creams. I no longer use the lotriderm since I believe the steroid has permanently damaged my foreskin (atrophy). While the lotriderm was extremely effective at eliminating the rash, after weeks of use, the rashes started coming back week after week when they were much more sparse before using the lotriderm.
I have been seeing a dermatologist and he says not to worry about herpes anymore, yet despite how well I respond to the creams, he doesn't think it's fungal but maybe contact dermatitis! It's been a year of this stuff and I still don't have a proper diagnosis. I want to be circumcised so badly, but he questions whether it would help me.
Is anyone else experiencing what I'm going through? I am at my wits end...every time I get a rash, I think about the first doctor's diagnosis and I get into a negative spin. This has affected me very deeply in a psychological way.
I tested negative for all other STDs as well, so I am confident it's nothing like that. I did full panel tests for everything twice; once at 1 month after last possible exposure and the second time 6 months after last possible exposure. My stress was extreme for 6-7 months during my fears of having herpes.
Duey
It does sound very much like a fungal problem or an irritation.
Use the creams for a few days after the symptoms have stopped to make sure it is well cleared up.
As a home remedy, you can apply natural yogurt to the area.
Do not use soaps or shower gels, just use gently non perfumed soaps if you have to. Do not wear tight clothing and only wear cotton, which helps your skin to breathe. Fungus live dark, damp and warm places and manmade fibres normally makes us sweat. Also only use non-biological washing detergents and gentle non-allergic fabric softeners.
Too much sugar in the diet can encourage yeast growth.
Always wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating food. If your hands are dirty, wash them first before you touch your genitals to urinate and wash them again afterward.
Antibiotics can also encourage fungal growth by destroying the good bacteria as well as the bad. A one dose oral capsule called Fluconazole can be got on prescription or purchased from the pharmacist for fungal growth (thrush).
If you have sugar diabetes, make sure that you have this under control.
Use the creams for a few days after the symptoms have stopped to make sure it is well cleared up.
As a home remedy, you can apply natural yogurt to the area.
Do not use soaps or shower gels, just use gently non perfumed soaps if you have to. Do not wear tight clothing and only wear cotton, which helps your skin to breathe. Fungus live dark, damp and warm places and manmade fibres normally makes us sweat. Also only use non-biological washing detergents and gentle non-allergic fabric softeners.
Too much sugar in the diet can encourage yeast growth.
Always wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating food. If your hands are dirty, wash them first before you touch your genitals to urinate and wash them again afterward.
Antibiotics can also encourage fungal growth by destroying the good bacteria as well as the bad. A one dose oral capsule called Fluconazole can be got on prescription or purchased from the pharmacist for fungal growth (thrush).
If you have sugar diabetes, make sure that you have this under control.
Thank you for the response. I am currently working with a dermatologist and my doctor to try to figure out what is causing this. I still believe it is fungal, at least to a certain degree due to how well I respond to those creams and the flaky nature of the skin in that area; never sensitive to the touch and only sometimes slightly itchy.
I am more or less hoping someone else who has gone through something similar can provide me with hope on this condition. My dermatologist assured me that I am not contagious, so that is good. I've been living with such a heavy burden for close to a year when I was incorrectly diagnosed with HSV and as a result have had much stress in my life.
Here's to a bright future and I am relieved it is not as the first doctor suspected.
All the best,
Duey
I am more or less hoping someone else who has gone through something similar can provide me with hope on this condition. My dermatologist assured me that I am not contagious, so that is good. I've been living with such a heavy burden for close to a year when I was incorrectly diagnosed with HSV and as a result have had much stress in my life.
Here's to a bright future and I am relieved it is not as the first doctor suspected.
All the best,
Duey
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
These symptoms can be due to dermatitis skin or atopic dermatitis. Although steroids, are commonly used for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, there are certain other agents also which are used like immune modulator drugs e.g. tacrolimus. These are available in the form of ointments and tend to prevent the recurrence. You can discuss with your dermatologist regarding the right use.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.
These symptoms can be due to dermatitis skin or atopic dermatitis. Although steroids, are commonly used for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, there are certain other agents also which are used like immune modulator drugs e.g. tacrolimus. These are available in the form of ointments and tend to prevent the recurrence. You can discuss with your dermatologist regarding the right use.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.
I should also note that due to my extreme stress, I developed seborrheic dermatitis on my face; my forehead, nose, eyebrows and now moustache area are affected. My symptoms are pretty mild and usually well controlled in terms of flaking and redness, but my oil production is out of control.
Never had these issues before my stress, but it just goes to show what kind of damage stress does to one's body.
I realize none of what I'm going through is major, but it's just tough dealing with issue after issue. The rashes on my foreskin have really taken away any drive to go on dates anymore.
Can anyone relate to what I'm going through? Any help or suggestions?
Never had these issues before my stress, but it just goes to show what kind of damage stress does to one's body.
I realize none of what I'm going through is major, but it's just tough dealing with issue after issue. The rashes on my foreskin have really taken away any drive to go on dates anymore.
Can anyone relate to what I'm going through? Any help or suggestions?
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