Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Redness On Genitals After Having Unprotected Sex?
Question: I recently went to a dermatologist after having red marks on my genitals after un protected sex. I took blood tests that showed I only have hsv 1 not 2. The doctor tested it as an hsv 1 infection. I also recently had a cold sore on my mouth that went away. He prescribed Zovirax creme and valtrex. I used the creme for a week. It looked as if everything healed but now it looks dry and as if I have burn marks on my genitals. I am concerned because it says on the directions to only use on the mouth. Is this redness going to go away. Did I do damage to the skin? What can I use now to make the marks go away ?
Brief Answer:
Kindly send pictures of the affected area.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the redness over the affected area after use of the cream.
In view to help you best I request you to kindly upload few good resolution pictures of the affected area. For that you have a feature on the right side of the page. Or else you can send your pictures at
YYYY@YYYY
With attention " Dr Sanjay Kanodia "
Hope to hear soon from your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases.
Kindly send pictures of the affected area.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the redness over the affected area after use of the cream.
In view to help you best I request you to kindly upload few good resolution pictures of the affected area. For that you have a feature on the right side of the page. Or else you can send your pictures at
YYYY@YYYY
With attention " Dr Sanjay Kanodia "
Hope to hear soon from your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I can't do that right now. It's dry red and flaky in spots. I just want to know if using that Zovirax creme could damage the skin on my genital area. The directions said not to use it there but I did not see it until after I used it for a week. This is what my doctor prescribed. Please advise me on this and what I could do to make it heal. Is there any creme that would make it not so red and look like its a scar?
Brief Answer:
Redness and flaking over genital area: various suggestions and guidance.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcoem back and thanks for sending the details. Though a picture could had been more helpful in diagnosing the exact grade of redness and flaking but even then your details are quite helpful.
In general Zovirax cream (containing Acyclovir) can be applied over the genital area too but not directly on the inner surface. If applied on inner surface then caution must be taken that it should be applied very thinly so that the cream should not be visible go naked eye.
I reassure you that your skin surface will become normal and there is no long term harm of applying directly on the genital area. We prescribe this cream on genital area too but with all the precautions of application in a very thin layer.
Anyhow I suggest you to now stop the cream and follow the suggestions below:
- Clean your genital area with warm water for two times. If you are uncircumcised male then clean the genital area 2 times thoroughly and gently by retracting your prepuce completely backwards.
- Wear cotton clothes and cotton undergarments. Change these for two times.
- Do not wear any synthetic or tight garments.
- Avoid sexual intercourse and masturbation for few days.
- I personally suggest you to use protection in form of condoms during every intercourse.
- It is quite very important to check for infection in your partner too. Check if your partner has white discharge then it is the most common cause of redness over the genital area. So get your partner treated for the same and use a protection in form of condoms.
- In my patients I suggest them to apply plane anti-bacterial creams such as "mupirocin"(T bact cream) in a very thin layer. Apply it in a such a thin layer that it should not be visible to the naked eye. A rule of thumb is to apply pea size amount for palm size area. So for your penile area a quarter of pea size amount is sufficient.
If you have any irritation then can take tablet Des-loratadine (Claritin) for 2 times.
Maintain good hygiene and follow the suggestion above. Don't worry you will be alright soon.
I hope these informations will calm down all your anxieties. I will be glad to answer any further queries.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases.
Redness and flaking over genital area: various suggestions and guidance.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcoem back and thanks for sending the details. Though a picture could had been more helpful in diagnosing the exact grade of redness and flaking but even then your details are quite helpful.
In general Zovirax cream (containing Acyclovir) can be applied over the genital area too but not directly on the inner surface. If applied on inner surface then caution must be taken that it should be applied very thinly so that the cream should not be visible go naked eye.
I reassure you that your skin surface will become normal and there is no long term harm of applying directly on the genital area. We prescribe this cream on genital area too but with all the precautions of application in a very thin layer.
Anyhow I suggest you to now stop the cream and follow the suggestions below:
- Clean your genital area with warm water for two times. If you are uncircumcised male then clean the genital area 2 times thoroughly and gently by retracting your prepuce completely backwards.
- Wear cotton clothes and cotton undergarments. Change these for two times.
- Do not wear any synthetic or tight garments.
- Avoid sexual intercourse and masturbation for few days.
- I personally suggest you to use protection in form of condoms during every intercourse.
- It is quite very important to check for infection in your partner too. Check if your partner has white discharge then it is the most common cause of redness over the genital area. So get your partner treated for the same and use a protection in form of condoms.
- In my patients I suggest them to apply plane anti-bacterial creams such as "mupirocin"(T bact cream) in a very thin layer. Apply it in a such a thin layer that it should not be visible to the naked eye. A rule of thumb is to apply pea size amount for palm size area. So for your penile area a quarter of pea size amount is sufficient.
If you have any irritation then can take tablet Des-loratadine (Claritin) for 2 times.
Maintain good hygiene and follow the suggestion above. Don't worry you will be alright soon.
I hope these informations will calm down all your anxieties. I will be glad to answer any further queries.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response. I finally heard from my doctor and he said not to worry about using the creme I used. He wants me to use hydro cortisone and I noticed it is less red. My girlfriend did have bacterial vaginosis and was using medication to treat it. I don't know the name of it. Could this have caused the red marks initially as I noticed it right after I had un protected sex with her? She never told me this but I noticed the tube in her bathroom.
Brief Answer:
I reassure you that you will be alright in couple of days.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir,
Welcome back and thanks a lot for your further follow up.
I happy to know that your condition is better now and your doctor has prescribed you hydrocortisone cream. This is one of the mildest of steroid cram which reduces the redness.
I further suggest you to use this cream in very thin layer as guided before. To guide you again apply it in such a thin layer that it should not be visible to the naked eye. For your penile area a quarter of pea size amount is sufficient.
Do not apply beyond 5-7 days and if you feel that the redness has reduced in 3 days then should slowly taper off to use once and then stop within 7 days.
For the concern regarding your girlfriend’s part: Many a times the redness can be present due to unprotected sex itslef. During unprotected sexual activity there can be friction and resultant redness cna occur in males.
Vaginal creams as such do not cause much of irritation or kind of flaking you mentioned. But if the cream is used in over and excess amount with more friction during the sex then can cause your kind of problem.
I suggest you to abstain from sex for few days or till the time you feel totally comfortable. Use a protection in form of condoms to avoid any such issues. Be very gentle or atleast avoid lot of friction during sex. Wash your penile area with plane water after every sexual intercourse even if you have used a condom.
I reassure you that you will be alright in couple of days.
I hope these informations will calm down all your anxieties. I will be glad to answer any further queries or if not then can close the discussion and give reviews to the same.
"With good health wishes"
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases.
I reassure you that you will be alright in couple of days.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir,
Welcome back and thanks a lot for your further follow up.
I happy to know that your condition is better now and your doctor has prescribed you hydrocortisone cream. This is one of the mildest of steroid cram which reduces the redness.
I further suggest you to use this cream in very thin layer as guided before. To guide you again apply it in such a thin layer that it should not be visible to the naked eye. For your penile area a quarter of pea size amount is sufficient.
Do not apply beyond 5-7 days and if you feel that the redness has reduced in 3 days then should slowly taper off to use once and then stop within 7 days.
For the concern regarding your girlfriend’s part: Many a times the redness can be present due to unprotected sex itslef. During unprotected sexual activity there can be friction and resultant redness cna occur in males.
Vaginal creams as such do not cause much of irritation or kind of flaking you mentioned. But if the cream is used in over and excess amount with more friction during the sex then can cause your kind of problem.
I suggest you to abstain from sex for few days or till the time you feel totally comfortable. Use a protection in form of condoms to avoid any such issues. Be very gentle or atleast avoid lot of friction during sex. Wash your penile area with plane water after every sexual intercourse even if you have used a condom.
I reassure you that you will be alright in couple of days.
I hope these informations will calm down all your anxieties. I will be glad to answer any further queries or if not then can close the discussion and give reviews to the same.
"With good health wishes"
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
