Penis Pain: Fixed Drug Eruption or STI?

When a man experiences some penis pain and then discovers a sore on his manhood, he may become anxious for his penis health. After all, doesn’t that situation seem like it could be describing an STI? Certainly, it must be some health issue, but it could be due to a different cause, such as a fixed drug eruption. Learning the characteristics of certain penis health issues can help ease a man’s worries until he can visit a doctor and get an informed and definitive answer.

What is a fixed drug eruption?

Essentially, a fixed drug eruption is a way of describing a specific allergic reaction to a particular drug. When a person takes a medication to which they are allergic, it may cause a reaction in one of several ways (itching, hives, sneezing, etc). With a fixed drug eruption, it means that a round or oval shaped lesion will appear. Typically, it is reddish in color although it may shade into brown or purple. The lesion will usually turn into an ulcer, which is tender to the touch.

When the fixed drug eruption appears on the manhood, it usually is accompanied by some penis pain, itching or burning; the burning sensation is more likely to occur during urination.

Although many fixed drug eruptions occur within a day or two of taking a drug, in some cases it may be up to two weeks before lesions appear. Ceasing the drug that causes the eruption may cause the sore to go away; in other cases, steroids may be recommended.

STI?

That description sounds an awful lot like an STI, at least on the surface. And because it is crucial to correctly identify causes of penis health issues, it’s important that a physician be consulted to verify exactly why this lesion has occurred. However, that said, there are some reasons why this description indicates a fixed drug eruption rather than certain STIs.

- Syphilis. Take syphilis, for example. One of the most-feared social diseases, syphilis causes about 100,000 deaths worldwide each year - and newly infects about 6,000,000 people annually. One of the most common clinical characteristics of syphilis is a lesion on the penis. However, that lesion is typically much "harder" than the one involved in a fixed drug eruption. Additionally, penis pain is not a common characteristic with syphilis.

- Herpes. Genital herpes are also characterized with lesions; however, with herpes, the sores tend to be smaller and more numerous. They also tend to cluster, whereas fixed drug eruption lesions (when they are multiple) may not appear in an obvious grouping. The herpes lesions are also not pigmented in the same way. There is, however, a similar tendency to penis pain and itching.

- Chancroid. Chancroid is a penis health concern not just for itself but because it can also make a person more vulnerable to HIV infection. With chancroid, the ulcer can be more painful than with a fixed drug eruption. The coloration is much different, typically yellowish-gray, and turning to black when tissue cell destruction is complete. In addition, swelling of lymph nodes can create a swollen and sore area in the midsection.

- Gonorrhea. Gonorrhea often presents with no symptoms; however, when it does, ulcers are not among its common symptoms.

Once a physician has determined the cause of the sore, proper treatment can be initiated.

Whether caused by a fixed drug eruption or other causes, penis pain is not something most men look forward to. Keeping the member healthy through the daily use of a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can help with normal penis pain situations. A crème with soothing moisturizing abilities is especially desirable, so select one with both a high-end emollient (think Shea butter) and a natural hydrator (vitamin E is good). In addition, it pays to find a crème with vitamin D, the so-called miracle vitamin, which is beneficial for fighting diseases and improving cellular function.

A Penis Rash May Develop Due to Fixed Drug Eruption

Many men begin their daily penis examination during their morning shower, and one of the last things they want to discover as the water cascades across them is a penis rash that wasn’t there when they went to bed. Kudos are certainly due to these men for making penis health the priority it deserves to be; now they need to figure out what might be causing this unwelcome penis rash. That’s why it’s good to know about a fixed drug eruption and its relationship to a penis rash.

Fixed drug eruption
 
A fixed drug eruption is an allergic reaction to a particular medication or medications. If a person is allergic to multiple drugs and is taking them at the same time, multiple fixed drug eruptions may occur. The term "eruption" refers to the fact that the allergic reaction shows up on the skin in the form of lesions - or "erupts" onto the skin.

Most often, these lesions are round or oval patches of swollen skin, typically reddish in color at the start but often changing to brown or purple. There may be a blister accompanying the lesion, typically staying within the area of the lesion.

Why is it called a "fixed" drug eruption? The fixed refers to the fact that the lesion tends to show up in the same general area whenever the drug is taken. However, it should be noted that, with repeated use, the lesions may also start showing up on other parts of the body. So if a fixed drug eruption is first noticed on the penis, it may continue to recur there, but it may also show up on the lips, the hands, the feet, etc.

The lesions
 
In most cases, lesions will appear between 30 minutes to 8 hours after administration of the drug. Often one lone lesion will appear at first. With repeated doses of the drug, it may either grow larger or more lesions may appear. Over time, especially after cessation of the drug, the lesions will "scab over." In most cases, they will disappear altogether at some point after the drug is no longer taken.
When the lesions are in a group, it may give the appearance of a penis rash. If solitary, it may seem more like a blister or blemish. In either case, it tends to be unattractive. More importantly, it gives the appearance of something contagious and possibly infectious.

In fact, penis rash from a fixed drug eruption is neither contagious nor infectious. However, because it looks as if it could be, it can be off-putting to partners, who may wish to avoid touching the penis until the rash is gone.

Discomfort
 
The lesions can also cause some discomfort for the man on whose penis they reside. They can be itchy in some cases. For some, they make the skin feel tender, which may decrease a man’s desire for or enjoyment of sex (whether with a partner or by himself).

Causes
 
There are many, many drugs that have been implicated in the appearance of a fixed drug eruption. These include many forms of aspirin, many antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, sedatives and quinine.

If a penis rash (or rash elsewhere on the body) results from a fixed drug eruption, a doctor should be consulted to determine if an alternative medication may be used that might not have this side effect.
As a fixed drug eruption heals and the penis rash goes away, the skin may be in need of repair. Once any blistering has disappeared, using a first class penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) may help. The skin may need to be rehydrated so that it regains elasticity and suppleness. Using a crème with a combination of a natural moisturizer (such as vitamin E) and a high-end emollient (like Shea butter) will produce better results. Also important: Be sure the crème includes vitamin C, due to the role it plays in proper collagen production.