Looks like herpes

[Whitedove]

I am experiencing what I believe is genital herpes. I get these puss bumps every few weeks. I have seen several dermatologists in person and they all say it’s blocked oil glands or folliculitis from trimming/ tight friction
But this time its not a puss pump, its more of a pimple and is red around. I have taken a full STD panel test every 6 months with IGG type specific and everything has come back negative Can you tell me what this is? Does herpes look like this? I have seen pictures online that look like this and its genital herpes

[Terri Warren]

It is possible that the spot is genital herpes. Have you ever had the swab tested for herpes? That would be the most accurate way to figure out both if this is herpes and or what type of herpes it is. When you say that you have had an IgG antibody test six months ago that was negative, were you tested both for HSV 1 and HSV-2? Have you ever had anything before that looks just like this? I doubt that herpes would be coming back every two weeks for you and if the dermatologist says it doesn’t look like herpes then it probably isn’t. Are you report that this one looks different than the others right? How long ago did this come up? If it has been losing the past couple of days, I might suggest going to the health care facility that can do A PCR swab from this bump. Then I would be certain that you were tested both for HSV 1 and HSV-2 when you have the IgG test done.

Please let me know if you have other questions.

Terri

[Whitedove]

Well I experienced clear fluid blisters after sexual exposure about 3 years ago which I thought was herpes. I went and got tested for both herpes 1 and 2 IGG type specific every 3-6 months and I have been doing the tests ever since because these pimples keep coming back and I want to be certain it is not herpes

Doctors say there is really no way to tell through the blood work. I had a pcr swab test on the puss bumps which also came back negative but not on something like this

Is it possible that I was exposed to herpes and blood tests keep coming back negative even with these symptoms? Can the antibodies hide in the blood?

Does the picture of the pimple look anything like herpes?

[Terri Warren]

There certainly is a way to tell through blood work which is why we do IgG antibody testing. However if you might have HSV 1 genitally, the screening tests commonly used are not very good for HSV 1. They are much better for HSV 2. There is a test called a herpes Western blot and that test is far more accurate at detecting HSV 1 infection. Your description of clear fluid filled blisters certainly raises questions in my mind about genital herpes as it has in yours. Is that the only time you’ve experienced the fluid filled blisters? If so that symptom history is far more consistent with having HSV one. People who have HSV 1 have very infrequent recurrences versus those who have HSV 2. you ask if antibody can hide in the blood and I think the answer to that is not that it hides in the blood but that’s some tests are better at picking up antibody than others. And this is especially true with HSV 1. the marks on your penis may or may not be herpes I just can’t tell by the picture. My suggestion to get clarity about the situation is for you to obtain the herpes of Western blot to more effectively rule out HSV 1 infection. You can accomplish this through our clinic if you wish. We can order your blood to be drawn and a Quest laboratory near where you live or you can contact the University of Washington where the test is done and ask them to send you a test kit. You would then take the kids to your healthcare provider who would draw the blood spin and send it to the university.

I hope that this is helpful.

Terri

• This reply was modified 7 years, 12 months ago by Terri Warren.

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