What Causes Penis Shaft Soreness With Flaking And Scabbing?

I just found out I have herpes when it first happened my husband had a sore on the top of his penis shaft that when healed looked like dry white flakes. He says it was from rubbing and chafing but I had std tests 4 months ago and was clean does that sound like herpes? If he forced the penis could chafing cause the flaky white scabs?