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I've had issues before with redness and sores on my penis, and during the lockdown, one dermatologist said it was genital herpes. He prescribed Acyclovir, but it didn't work, so I saw another dermatologist in person. She diagnosed it as a secondary bacterial infection and balanoposthitis, which cleared up after treatment. Out of curiosity, I got IgM and IgG blood tests for HSV 1 and 2, plus other STD tests, and everything came back negative. I repeated the tests after three months and they were still negative. Now, this year, I've noticed redness and a sore again. Should I be worried that it's herpes, or is it likely to be something else?
I've had issues before with redness and sores on my penis, and during the lockdown, one dermatologist said it was genital herpes. He prescribed Acyclovir, but it didn't work, so I saw another dermatologist in person. She diagnosed it as a secondary bacterial infection and balanoposthitis, which cleared up after treatment. Out of curiosity, I got IgM and IgG blood tests for HSV 1 and 2, plus other STD tests, and everything came back negative. I repeated the tests after three months and they were still negative. Now, this year, I've noticed redness and a sore again. Should I be worried that it's herpes, or is it likely to be something else?
I've had issues before with redness and sores on my penis, and during the lockdown, one dermatologist said it was genital herpes. He prescribed Acyclovir, but it didn't work, so I saw another dermatologist in person. She diagnosed it as a secondary bacterial infection and balanoposthitis, which cleared up after treatment. Out of curiosity, I got IgM and IgG blood tests for HSV 1 and 2, plus other STD tests, and everything came back negative. I repeated the tests after three months and they were still negative. Now, this year, I've noticed redness and a sore again. Should I be worried that it's herpes, or is it likely to be something else?
Given your previous history and negative blood test results for HSV 1 and 2, it is less likely that the current symptoms are due to herpes. It is important to consider other possible causes such as a fungal infection, contact dermatitis, or another type of bacterial infection. I recommend using an antifungal cream like Clotrimazole 1% twice a day for 2 weeks to see if there is any improvement. If there is no improvement or if the symptoms worsen, please consult a dermatologist for further evaluation and management.Last updated on 04 Jul 2025
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