Question: Hi Doctors, Im 32 years old, Male. I seem to have some skin problem around groin area. Not sure what the cause is. Once in 2 or 3 months, I get one large bump/blister/boil. It grows slowly over a week and then takes pinkish shape. It is painful when touched or contacted during activities like sitting and walking depending upon the location where it appears. Later it opens up and heals slowly in a week. Currently is on my scrotum and previously it had appeared on both thighs near groin area and once on the penis surface and once between scrotum and anus. Whenever it happens, the whole even starts and ends in 2 weeks time. In total, I would have had about 8 to 10 such times for as long as i can remember. I am able to recall how many years before it started. Also, I have a persistent itching sensation around groin area. It aggravates in the evening. Not sure if this itching sensation is related to the blister i was talking about. I am bit worried as it could be something like herpes as i had different partners in the past and not sure about their conditions. Please help.

Hi Doctor, First of all thank you very much for your detailed and quick response. I would be really greatful for this. Below are the details that you have asked for. Before answering doctor, May I ask you to explain me little bit more on my queries below? 1) Before getting this blister on scrotum, I got similar one on top of my penis surface (in middle shaft). But there are no hairs on shaft, so I am wondering how it can be classified as Folliculitis. This might be a silly question but still wanted to get it clarified from you. 2) May I also know how this blister is ruled out to be herpes? I am asking because as I wrote in my initial query, I had an sexual encounter once in the past (with condom). But to be XXXXXXX I am not sure if I started to get these blisters after that incident or even much before that. But this problem is there for me for few years but just that I got 2 incidentes in matter of last months whereas before there used to be a long gap. Your answers would put me at ease. 3) Is our conversation private doctor or this whole conversation would be publicized in the website for others to see? I am bit worried and request this to remain private. 1. Do you apply any kind of oil or use any kind of moisturizing cream on body surface. Answer: I do not use any cream at this point in time. But I was Vaseline and Nivya body lotion for 2 years between 2011 and 2012 as I was not in India and working in Europe. I needed it to keep my skin good during cold seasons. Also, I have stopped using coconut oil for my hair in 2007 (I was using on the basis of a dermatologist as I went to him for a scalp itching and sever dandruff problem which he examined and concluded by saying that the dandruff like thing was actually due to a fungal infection. He suggested me not use oil hereafter and also take shampoo bath on a daily basis which I have been following ever since. That problem did not surface again. 2. Any other skin problems or any recent history of any illness. Answer: I always believed that my skin is very sensitive for a very long time, because when i was in my teen age, I had lot of pimples on my face that left many scars and also similar pimples on my shoulder. Now I dont have pimples but scars remain on my face. I had chickenpox when i was 15 years old. But the Important problem that I faced in recent days is, From March-2013 till November-2013 for about 8 months, I had a very sever itchy skin mostly during evening and especially after returning from office and remove my cloths, it used to keep me sleepless. There were no rashes or any sort of visibile issues on my skin. The itch used to appear on random places but mostly on thighs and hip. During this episode, I was outside india and could not get tested in foriegn country due to language problem. But I did visit india for a week during the episode and consulted the dermatologist near my office. Though he did not tell me the exact reason for my problem, he said it is a common allergic condition and then prescribed me 2 tablets that he asked me to take when problem occurs. The tablet names are "Dazet" and "Mebryl". These tables used to make feel very drowsy but helped me stay away from this itch for just 1 week (after taking these 2 tablets only once). When the itch returns after a week, I used to take another dose. This continued till November 2013. By this time I would have used these tablets about 10 times in total. But the surprising thing was, after i returned from foreign country to India, I did not get the sever itching problem like before, meaning getting itchiness after removing cloths at home. I did not have to take those tablets also. I checked the doctor again to explain this change, he said it could be due to some allergic reaction to the food that i was taking over there and suggested me to take a complete food allergy test (I attached the report here). The report showed that I had allergic to YEAST. It made sense to me because I had bread for breakfast almost every day and also drank beer with friends more often which I dont do in India. After I returned to India, automatically, my food habit got changed to Indian diet like Idly/Dosa for breakfast, rice for lunch etc. Also, I did not take alcohol or beer since November 2013. Just to highlight, though I did not get that sort of an Itch, I have been having the Itch around my groin area (mostly) and on my hands, chest occasionally in last 10 days. Only change in my diet was that I included lot of fruits as I wanted to exercise daily and keep myself fit (I started jogging from 1st january 4 times a week and started eating fruites and mostly veg food since then on daily basis). The Blister in my scrotum surfaced during this itchy episode. 3. Exposure to heat and humidity in last few months or your job profile. Answer: I stay in southindia since november 2013 where the weather is bit cold and I can notice my skin especially by fingers very dry. But I did not take any creame for that. 4. Any previous history of taking some medications especially antibiotics in last 6 months. Answer: Apart from Dazet and Mebryl that I mentioned above, I did not take any medicines. Couple of times I would have taken calpol for headache in last 6 months. 5. Any history of some systemic disease like diabetes in family or have you gone for your sugar check. Answer: My dad is a sugar patient and takes medicines for that. He developed it at the age of 53. I did takeup a health checkup package in December 2013 after returning to india as I had a palpitation once during November. The doctors said it was due to a stress (I was in a panicked situation at that time of palpitation due to work related issue). As part of that they did basic cardio checkup and serum lipid testing. Cardiologist said the reports look normal, sugar levels were also normal, but my cholesterol was at borderline (Total - 215, HDL-48, LDL-159), For this they did not prescribe any medicines and asked me to include fruits in food and do regular workout (as highlighted above) 6. Any stressful event in last 6 months. Answer: As mentioned above, I have gone thru a big stressful period for couple of months due to work related issue and then started to worry about the palpitation a lot as I thought it could be a serious issue. During my health checkup last month, doctors also told me that I am very anxious about my health that increases my anxiety level quite frequently. I agree to that because, since that palpitation incident i started worry a lot about my health and get panicked for every small symptom. As you would have guessed, seeing this recurrent blister got me panicked again. Because as I explained in my original post, I had an sexual exposure (protected) in the past and I got worried now thinking that this blisters could be herpes.

I cannot thank you enough doctor! You have really made me understand very clearly and I feel much better now. I can also sleep well with peace of mind. Thanks for your help once again doctor. I will do the testing for scabies as you suggested and will get it treated with the way you explained. Good night doctor (I believe you are in india and it's too late in the night !). Thank you again, cheers!