Blotchy red rash/irritated skin on penile head (lasted for over 3 moths now)?
Posted , 410 users are following.
Part of the skin on the head of my penis has become slightly red and is causing some pain/irritation.
It first appeared the day after I used a condom so I think I must have had a reaction to the latex or some other substance in the condom.
The tip of the penis became super sensitive and noticeably hurt whenever it touched my underwear.
The skin was and still is noticeably red close to and directly around the meatus. This redness gets worse and bigger after I've come out the shower or masturbated.
An hour or so after ejaculation, I get a slight burn/irritation at the very end of the urethra when I urinate and this can last for a few days before subsiding. This has put me off from masturbating as much now.
This has lasted for about 3 months now with no signs of improvement.
I saw a doctor and was prescribed timodine/hydrocortisone cream and this didn't have much effect and am slightly worried it may just make things worse so have stopped using it for now.
It almost seems as if the redness comes from within the skin rather than on the surface.
I don't think its balanitis as I haven't had that for over 12 years when I was a kid and that was with the usual smegma discharge etc, whereas this is just redness.
I've attached images to show how it looks straight after showering, which is when the redness is at its worst and the contrast between the normal skin colour and the redness can be clearly seen.
16 likes, 1576 replies
eg1706 Jason1327
Posted
I'm circumcised guys, I've had no stickiness, pain or discharge.. it's just pink/red and very spider veiny down there now. I'm bang on three months now and nothing has changed. It looks very dry and blotchy/leathery on my penis head when erect.
Darty17 Jason1327
Posted
Questions: For any of you that had a biopsy of your glans, 1) How painful was the procedure/recovery? 2) Did you heal back to normal? If not, what happened, and how long did it take?
Thanks!
aubag25 Jason1327
Posted
Does anyone tried to look inside urethra. I think I can see some abnormal redness inside. it's difficult to take a picture of it since camera is not focusing inside.
a8888 Jason1327
Posted
I've been following this thread since the beggining of my symptoms 18 months ago. I have the same symptomes than anyone here. And I've also been trying anything from antifungal to antibiotics. My immune system is in good condition and I have a clean hygiene of life.
I've been diagnosed a few days ago. Everything makes sense now. Before unfollowing this thread I morally felt like I had to inform you what it is, and to stay here a few more days to answer questions.
I am positive to HSV1 (labial herpes, cold sore), long time contamination. I discovered it in the results of the complete panel of blood tests I've been doing several times because of that glans redness. I've been asymptomatic until April this year - my first ever cold sore. For the first time, in September this year, I had genital blisters/ulcers. I ran to my doctor who performed a swab and came back with a positive HSV2 (genital herpes). Symptoms were mild (only a few tiny spots and a light nervous pain).
I remember having tried oral Valaciclovir (herpes medication) for a week, just to rule out Herpes, as I was still undiagnosed, like 8 months ago. Unsurprisingly, the redness almost disappeared (or became almost insignificant) but when I stopped taking it, it came back like before.
So, the conclusion is that I've been infected by HSV2 probably 18 months ago (beggining of my redness), this infection has remained dormant like it often does when someone's already infected by HSV1 and has a strong immune system (HSV1 antibodies could help avoiding HSV2 clinical manifestations).
I stupidly thought that a correctly used condom would protect me for anything. I learned the hard way that it doesn't. Now all my life is shaken because of that incurable infection surrounded by a lot of stigma.
Feel free to ask anything.
Darty17 a8888
Posted
The Swab test for hsv2....was this skin cells over the redness, urethra swab, or something else? What medicines do they have you on?
Darty17
Posted
Apologies for double post. I ask because most of us do not have open sores or fluids that could be easily swabbed....Just discoloration.
a8888 Darty17
Posted
I've been swabbed on the redness (glans + foreskin) without any result.
Then when I had the blisters, I've been swabbed on them. HSV2 positive.
C56026 a8888
Posted
what is the risk of HSV2 really ? i know its life long but i have more gut issues than redness. i think immune will suppress over time.
Darty17 a8888
Posted
Thank you for the reply. That is what I assume. Just having the redness, there would be no skin test. But if I ever get a blister/lesion, it be worthwhile to have it swabbed.
Phils3454 a8888
Posted
Did you ever get a blood test for HSV2? Did it come back negative? I've gotten a blood test for HSV1 and 2 three times now. All negative.
jake28951 Phils3454
Posted
Why have you been tested 3 times?
JBrizzle1526 a8888
Posted
From what I remember, a lot of us have had no blisters or open sores. I personally think it's a gut issue and am addressing it as is. Got an array of natural remedies and pills. Going to rinse myself out with some hardcore stuff and hopefully have some good updates in 5 weeks (that's how long the program is).
eg1706 a8888
Posted
hi mate, sorry to hear... its been over three months for me now, no sores or blisters.
i have also been tested for HSV1/2 3 times now and all negative, my only symptoms are a bit of tingling in my scrotum ever now and then, and when ever i am erect the head of my penis is red dry and leathery with occasional red dots. ive also noticed a lot of spider veins on my foreskin/head of my penis.
i would have hoped to have a diagnosis by now but my dermatologist and doctor says im okay?
eg1706 a8888
Posted
attatched is some pictures of my condition.
very red and veiny.. blotchy..
a8888 Jason1327
Posted
I've been blood tested three times as well. Reason : because I asked too, HSV suspicion. All tests came back negative. My dermatologist says she doesn't even look at the results cause it's insignificant to her eyes, HSV diagnosis can only be made by swabbing blisters, in her opinion. And I'm the living proof she's right.
jake28951 a8888
Posted
Thanks for sharing a8888 and good luck. It must be some relief to have a diagnosis.
In 18 months, you can narrow it down to one instance? If it was dormant for that long, is it not plausible that it could have been dormant much longer too? Seems hard to pinpoint the contraction for most of us.
The 90 day HPV blood test is 100% accurate if that helps you figure out the timeline.
jake28951
Posted
Sorry...98% accurate.
a8888 jake28951
Posted
Thank you Jake for your support. Actually it's no relief at all, HSV2 being a incurable infection, transmissible even with a life-long suppressive antiviral therapy (that I began the same day of my diagnosis). It's worse than that, it completely shakes my whole life (especially the sexual and sentimental part of my life). I don't wish that to my worst enemy. Every clinical trial of vaccine failed since more than 2 centuries.
The only hope is coming from Keith Jerome's lab which has had good results recently. But we're still far away from a cure.
I wish you all get another diagnosis because being diagnosed HSV2 positive is really terrible.
jake28951 a8888
Posted
Hey don't get so down. Surely you know how common it is and for most people after the first year or two it becomes almost unnoticeable and, at the very least, extremely manageable.
Joeshmo a8888
Posted
look up CRISPR Technology...The science shows they believe soon they will be able to cut viruses such as HSV2 out of the body your life is not over