[Question #3133] Tingly feeling head of penis and different colour.

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91 months ago
Hello doctor.... I have this tingly feeling on the head of the penis close to the opening whr I pee from. My foreskin doesn’t cover all of the head of the penis and the skin that is not covered is a different colour more darker than the skin that is covered. I am very stressed out. I have gotten tested for everything and it has came negative. What do you think it could be. 
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91 months ago
Also doctor I went to a massage parlour on nov 28th used protection and had pubic hair not sure if that matters.. also I was very cautions  not to rub my body against her too much . Then on dec 1st I was really drunk ended up getting a hotel with my ex gf we had unprotected sex she also rimmed me and then have me oral. 
I did not get up to clean my groin area. 
Did not end up cleaning it until 2pm the next day. 
Then on dec 3rd I decided to trim my groin area but did it really quickly. On dec. 4th I started having a really bad itchy tingly  feeling around my groin area and on the head of my penis. Got tests done 2 times after that all of them came back negative. Doctor gave me glaxal to apply around the groin that has worked. For the itch groin . Visited 7 different doctors all said I am fine and it’s all in my head. Do you think it is herpes ? 
No sores at all. 
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
91 months ago
Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your confidence in our services.

You really needn't worry about any STD. There are no STDs that cause "tingling" as the main or only symptom. As for your exposure, it sounds like a zero risk event. You don't say whether you had vaginal sex, but your comment that you "used protection"n (condom?) suggests it. However, condoms are highly reliable. Oral sex is low risk, even with a condom, and hand-genital contact enitrely risk free. That your partner has not shaved her pubic hair makes no difference; shaving is not done for the purpose of STD prevention; it's purely for cosmetic reasons. The unprotected vaginal sex event with your ex partner is the highest risk of the exposures you mention, but unless you have reason to believe she has been infected since your relationship eneded, it probably also was not especially risky. Rimming, like unprotected oral sex, also is low risk.

You don't say exactly what STD tests you had, but all standard STD tests are highly reliable, so you can be confident you don't have any of those. And as I said above, no STD causes symptoms like yours. And the opinioins of 7 doctors have to be assumed to be correct. (seven?? really??!!) For sure herpes isn't a possible cause of something like this. I can't say whether your symptoms are "in your head", but it is clear you are very anxious about these events, and sexual anxiety and regret certainly can greatly magnify trivial symptoms or normal body sensations that you would normally ignore or not even be aware of.

My final comment concerns herpes, since it's obviously on your mind. You probably have seen lists of herpes symptoms that include "tingling". However, the tingling of herpes is never continuous for days or weeks on end and does not occur all around the genital area or in the groin. Sometimes tingling occurs for a day or two in the area where a visible outbreak is about to occur, but it then goes away as the sores appear. Without genital area blisters or sores, herpes is not a possible cause of these symptoms.

So do your best to stop worrying. I'm sure all is well. If you remain concerned, pick one of your doctors (only one!) and continue to work with him or her about possible causes and treatment. But no STD worries.

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

HHH, MD
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91 months ago
Thank you doctor for getting back to me and with such detail really do appreciate it. Puts my mind at easy 
I got tested for HIV Chlamydia gonorrhoea 
All negative. My ex partner is clean for sure doc. 
Also if I may , one last question pls 
The skin whr my foreskin does not cover is a darker colour than the rest of the penis head. Why is that ? 
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
91 months ago
This sounds entirely normal. All skin tends to be darker or lighter in relation to exposure to light. Just look at the difference between your outer and inner forearms. And it doesn't require a lot of sun exposure, happens even in gloomy climates. Also, skin exposed to air is drier and becomes more cornified, i.e. thicker outer layer of skin, which also contributes to increased pigment.
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91 months ago
Thank you for answering my questions doctor. I really do think it’s just my anxiety getting the best of me and me focusing on small things like you said. 
Hope you have a great New Years. 
Happy holidays 
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
91 months ago
Thanks for the thanks. I'm glad to have helped. Have a happy and relaxing holiday weekend.

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