26 year old patient walked in today, mentioned he had something "down there" that hurt very much for 3 days, and wanted me to take a peek. As a rule, I never refuse to look at genital lesions and simply re-schedule, even in urgent care, no one wants to miss a new case of HSV that can quickly response to antiviral treatment.... and no poor soul wants to wait even 12 more hours before at least a presumptive diagnosis and routine STD testing is offered. Apologetically, this patient lowered his drawers, while explaining "I put some tape where it hurts so it wouldn't rub on my shorts...."
Low and behold... in all its glory, silver duct tape wrapped from pubis through perineum.... I truly thought this guy would demonstrate a self-Brazilian just short of castration during removal of the 10 inch strip of duct tape stuck to his nether regions....
Due to application of super-sticky-duct-tape.... any previous appearance of the painful "area" was now obsured by a hyperpigmented slightly greenish color that left this NP dumbfounded. A consult with friendly physician later, and we were both stumped... threw some septra and clotrimazole at the offending "lesion" and I kindly offered up some telfa pads and paper tape for any further "chafing" needs...
final diagnosis TBD.... (threw in routine STD screening for kicks).
Moral of the story; just because it duct tape is good for most things doesn't mean it's good for EVERYTHING.... no, really!
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