Evey So Often My Boyfriend Gets What Looks Like A

Evey so often my boyfriend gets what looks like a cut on his penise. Its always in the same spot and always has 5or6 little red bumps beside it. He told me he had syphilis when he was younger. Took a cure for it, it failed so he took it again and he never heard the results of the second treatment. Is it possible it didnt work at all and the STI still shows up at random times after more than 10 years. He also says he has strep b and it could be that. Can STI symptoms suddenly show up even if a person has been abstinent for a while.Can a flare up be caused from unclenliness?