I am asking this question since I think my old question got lost, apologies for the incovenience. I had recent interaction with Terry and had been on this forum around 6 yrs ago.

I saw few bumps on my penis head which seemed similar to balanitis pics online. They did not have any cracks or open sores, were small red slightly raised spots.

Few days later I saw couple of open cracks/cuts on my foreskin, seemed slightly deep. Location is at the edge of the foreskin when I see penis from the top, so it’s at the location where foreskin starts on the shaft when pulled back.  It stung a lot when urine got on it, but otherwise didn’t seem to hurt much. Now I see dark colored skin forming there and they are on way to get healed in 2-3 days. Today I saw a small open wound which also stings a lot after urination. This looks less like a cut and maybe an open sore? Since it’s almost round in shape. 

I am also having trouble in pulling back foreskin, this open wound hurts and also I feel maybe my foreskin is tighter or the glans is swollen? I am facing split stream while urinating which is really worse at times and sometimes manageable.  

Please help me if this could be hsv? I have previously tested positive for HSV1 by blood test. I have not had any new sexual partner other than my wife since last 6 years. I am also facing infection in my right eye since last 3-4 days for which GP has prescribed tobramycin and ciflox drops. I am getting sticky fluid discharge from eyes once in a while. 

For past 2-3 weeks I have been dealing with cold/cough and have taken 1 week of cefixime followed by 3 days of augmentin. I have had sores on upper roof of my mouth which have headed. This was followed by issues with penis head, then I had eye infection of right eye and now these cuts/wounds/sores on the foreskin. Please help me.

I've reviewed your most recent discussions with Terri, and also briefly scanned your several questions 6 years ago. It seems clear you are unnecessarily obsessed with genital symptoms that you seem to think might suggest herpes. But they are not at all typical of herpes and it is certain that isn't the problem -- which Terri also has advised. As she said on at least one occasion, people with prior oral HSV1 (or positive HSV1 blood tests) are at least highly resistant and probably immune to new genital HSV1 infections. Almost nobody gets second infections with the HSV type they already have.

In addition, looking through all your posts, your symptoms always were much more consistent with balanitis -- i.e. penile inflammation of the sort that occurs in uncircumcised men. Like many cases, yours probably is caused by a yeast infection -- at least this time around if not in the past. "Red spots" of the head of the penis is typical of balanitis, not herpes; and yeast infections can be triggerd and worsened by antibiotics, so yeast balanitis fits nicely with worsening of the problem -- glans swelling, split urine stream, superfiical "cuts", and tightened foreskin. (All these are "textbook" symptoms of balanitis that could be used to teach medical students.) Further, that your foreskin has considerably tightened suggests you have phimosis -- i.e. an abnormally tight foreskin made worse by balanitis.

What to do now? First, you need a professional diagnsosis. See your doctor in the next couple of days -- or an urgent care center if necessary. Or, if you have any doubt about your doctor's expertise with genital infections etc, a dermatologist or urologist if you can get an appointment in the next couple of days. Most likely their evaluation will confirm balantiis, likely due to yeast, and likely worse because of your antibiotic treatment (which you don't say above you mentioned in your now-deleted question three days ago). As your doctor almost certainly will agree, the main immediate treatment need is for yeast infection, at least with an anti-yeast cream or ointment, and perhaps fluconazole by mouth. Also, if at all possible, stop taking the antibiotic. (I'm unclear why you're taking it anyway. Your deleted thread mentioned having a cold, but colds never respond to antibiotics. Probalby something to also discuss with your doctor.

I think those comments cover all your concerns, including the numbered questions in your "lost" question. With one exception: Don't worry about your child or anyone else getting infected by contact with you or your clothing. That would be the case even if you had genital herpes, but you definitely do not. Put genital herpes out of your mind for now and all time!

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

I really want to move forward, I have a kid now and a pretty hectic job and don’t want these concerns to occupy my mind and time unnecessarily.

I am traveling right now for business and don’t have access to doctors for 3-4 days. 

In my country, it’s common for doctors to prescribe antibiotics even for “viral” infections to cover their bases I guess. I have stopped all antibiotics for 3 days now. 

 I applied some coconut oil to the “cuts” on the foreskin and couple of them had gotten better, but today I was traveling since morning and again see maybe same cuts and also new ones on the foreskin, with some bumps again becoming notecable on penis head.

Few cuts are red and wet, maybe with some fluid and few are more superficial, not red but wet again.

I had tried to get in contact with online dermatologist and they suggested using over the counter hydrocortisone cream(at that point of time I had couple of superficial cuts only so haven’t shared latest pictures with them) 

1. Does this still sound like non infectious balanitis?

2. Will applying steroid to open cuts may them worse? I can’t see a doctor in person but was able to get a fungal cream (1% canesten) -and a fungal+steroid cream (canesten s)

3. My eye infection is also still not resolved. I am seeing white discharge accumulate from time to time. I have been applying tobramycin and ciplox dexamethasone antibiotic drops to the eye for 3 days. Redness has reduced in white area on the eye but corner is still inflamed with white fluid. I recently had an oral HSV breakout. I am worried if this is related to that eye hsv breakout?

Next few days are very hectic days and am worried and don’t want to miss the training.

1. I said nothing about non-infectious balanitis. I strongly suspect it IS an infection, i.e. caused by a yeast, likely Candida albicans (or a similar kind of yeast).

2. Used by itself, a steroid cream like hydrocortisone often increases growth of yeasts and makes symptoms worse. However, the Canestin you are starting likely will help; the combination of steroid plus anti-fungal treatment often is highly effective. That said, it still would be a good idea to see a dermatologist in person; or if that isn't practical, follow up with the online dermatologist, especially if your symptoms don't start to improve within 2-3 days of Canestin. And even if it improves, you still should see a urologist about the possible phimosis problem.

3. Sorry, but I can't say much about your eye problem. This forum is limited to STIs -- or sometimes to genital infections if an STI was a possibility. My best guess is that your eye problem more likely is allergic and not due to an infection. Almost certainly it isn't herpes; eye infections with HSV are far more painful; and even without treatment, would not last this long. (You need to stop worrying about herpes! There is no evidence it's a significant health issue for you.)

FYI, doctors everywhere -- no matter what country -- know that viral infections are not helped by antibiotics.