Reply To: Presentation of pustules/dermatitis around body

[JCDenton]

Thank you for the reply! The 2000 character limit sorta made it hard to explain everything in one go.
My primary physician said to observe it for a time and come back after four weeks to retest (blood test only, no swab) with the second visit after to take another blood test. No additional comments/actions outside of a referral. The dermatologist said the culprit was likely fungal in nature, and believed a swab would be inaccurate as most of my symptoms are clearing up already and wouldn’t catch fungal/herphatic agents accurately. My primary likely gave me valstrex just in case, and the topical cream I got from the dermatologist won’t make any immediate improvements. If it wasn’t for the sinus infection I would have written the symptoms off as fungal folliculitis, but only one or two of the pustules had follicles sticking out of them, out of roughly seventeen. Two filled with blood instead of pus, likely due to friction. I’ve also felt burning sensations on the top of my lip but not directly on the lip itself, and itching/burning in my eyes, face, and groin. Mostly before the pustules pop up, but sometimes with no papules/pustules forming. Whether it’s psychosomatic, prodrome from herpes, or fungal infection is maddeningly ambiguous. One of my partners also developed pustules on her back, face, buttcheeks, and papules between the inner thigh and outer labia. Not nearly as much as I did, or for as long. Her sinus issues are constant so illness symptoms would be masked. No tests on her end yet.
I’ve had chickenpox twice and shingles when I was thirteen, so the pustule popping up on the tragus of my ear was worrisome. Herpes Zoster would not typically present how I had it or spread that well to another person.
Thank you for your time and advice! I feel after a third blood test around the third month mark and the advice given to me by you would more accurately conclude any misgivings I had.