Sincerely,
Sleeplessly worried

Dear Sleeplessly Worried,

There are a number of conditions, viruses, and bacteria that could cause small lesions and skin shedding, so it's not possible to give a diagnosis over the screen. The best thing to do would be to visit a health care provider who can see your condition, learn about your medical history, and provide you with a specific diagnosis. That said, here are some common conditions that might result in an itchy, red, and/or bumpy shaft:

• Genital herpes, a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), can appear as sores or lesions on the genitals. Classic genital herpes lesions resemble small pimples or blisters that eventually crust over and finally scab like a small cut. These lesions often appear within the first two weeks the virus is transmitted (although they can take longer to appear) and can take between two to four weeks to heal.
• Your symptoms could indicate a ringworm infection, which is a fungal infection. Ringworm causes either a red, circular skin rash inflamed around the edges but healthy-looking in the middle, or a round, flat patch of itchy skin.
• Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is another possible cause of the lesions. MCV is a generally benign skin infection that causes small lesions or bumps.
• Genital warts, caused by the human papiloma virus (HPV), could also be the cause of the bumps.
• Scabies, which can present as lesions or pimple-like irritations that itch persistently, usually becoming worse at night, is another possibility.
• Finally, primary phase syphilis can cause lesions on the genitals, but can be cured if treated promptly with antibiotics.

All the conditions above can be transmitted through sexual contact, so until you figure out what you have, you may want to be extra careful about protecting your partner from direct contact with the lesions or from genital to genital contact.

Again, there are many STIs as well as other skin conditions that can cause red lesions. Fortunately, many are curable and all are treatable. It is best to schedule an appointment with your health care provider to figure out what is causing your symptoms. If you're a Columbia student, you can schedule an appointment with Primary Care Medical Services through Open Communicator. While bumps that appear on the genitals can certainly be distressing, it's likely that you will be able to get a solid diagnosis and good treatment by visiting a health care provider. Take care,

Alice

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