Dr. Nidhin Varghese
Dermatology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I had unprotected sex four days ago. I use sanitizer to sanitize my penis. But now I have a white blister on the tip of my penis and foreskin. What could be the reason for that lesion?
Kindly help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Thank you for your query.
I understand your concern. It is most likely contact dermatitis due to the use of sanitizer. But I suggest you to follow a few instructions mentioned below.
I hope this has helped you. Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for your reply.
Also, what is the difference between herpes and dermatitis?
Kindly help.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Herpes presents as grouped vesicles or papules on an erythematous surface. After a secondary bacterial infection, it can start showing pus. Irritated dermatitis starts with redness and blisters. Blisters might be of varied shapes. The only way to differentiate between them is the Tzanck smear test.
I hope this has helped you. Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply,
Those blisters disappeared the same day, and I have attached pictures of them.
I am due for a doctor's consultation today, but I wanted to know your insight.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
If it is cleared off within a day, then it is most likely an irritant contact dermatitis. As those blisters have cleared off, it is impossible to do a Tzanck smear now. The only way to check herpes is to go with HSV titers after a month.
For now, I believe you need a topical antibiotic with mild steroids. Let the doctor examine you, preferably, after which it is better to start.
Do let me know what the doctor suggests after the consultation.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply,
Have you seen the other pictures? The blisters were gone in roughly 12 hours. But why those appeared five days after using sanitizer and alcohol-based soap and unprotected oral sex? Also, I still have irritation, and it does not feel like the aches are getting better. Does it look like herpes or sound like herpes symptoms, or is it more like other health issues?
I will get those tests done with my local GP. Waiting for a call right now. Had no chance to do anything over the weekend, and yesterday they had no slots. I would like to know your opinion. I will also provide this information to my GP as a second opinion.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Did you have any problem after applying the sanitizer within 24 hours? Or everything started almost four days later?
If you had absolutely no problem till four days after the sanitizer application, then it is herpes.
Irritant rashes will appear within a day. Now even if it was herpes, they have cleared off. A Tzanck smear cannot be done now because you need the blister fluids to check and confirm. You will have to wait for three to four weeks. By then, HSV (herpes simplex virus) immunoglobulins are expected to appear in your blood, and you can test that to confirm.
Coming to reducing the ache or irritation at present, you can use either Lidocaine jelly or a combination of topical steroids and antibiotics.
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Dermatology
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