Balanitis ? Candida ? Lichenoid ?
Posted , 4 users are following.
Saw a thread of posts very similar to issues I've had past 3-4 years, thought I'd post with my symptoms to see if anyone else had made progress.
Started a few years ago with dry and peeling skin on penis glans, shiny and red areas left behind after skin had peeled. Also had small, red lumps and some soreness. Was initially given antifungal cream, used this for 2 weeks, some improvement noted. Ever since skin has never really returned to normal. Glans is always dry, exacerbated after sex and masturbation, and will peel and leave red areas of skin behind. Have had some success using E45 wash daily, if I don't use this once or twice it will flare up however and on a few occasions I have had small red bumps that ulcerate. I've had all STI tests, including blood HSV type 1 and type 2 tests, everything came back negative. I have tried to get a swab test however the lesions last at most 24 hours before they go back to red lumps, and have been told this means blood test is more accurate. I didn't have a primary infection. I've only had 3 epsiodes where the lumps ulcerate in the past 3 years, one of which was recently. No other herpes symptoms, no pain or prodromal symptoms, left with red areas again, these linger but aren't raised, however they always are on the left side of my glans (I'm uncircumcised and my foreskin is tighter on this side). Completed another HSV 1 and HSV 2 blood test, again negative. I'm completely at a loss to what to do next, GP has no answers and not able to get dermatologist referral at present.
Has anyone had any luck with getting balanitis like this to improve? Does it sound like balanitis? I don't have any other skin lesions but do get eczema. I have no oral symptoms. I've tried coconut oil as suggested in some posts here, this exacerbated symptoms, also tried e45 cream, vaseline, and a healing cream. I'm very hygienic, dry my glans every time I've been to pee, same after masturbation and sex. Condoms don't exacerbate things, I've not had sexual intercourse for almost a year.
Realise quite a bit of info here but any advice most welcome.
0 likes, 8 replies
Wee_Dugie macn1081
Posted
Balanitis is simply a 'cover all' term for redness and skin irritation on the glans / head, and / or foreskin of the penis.
The essential is finding the cause of what is going on and either eliminate external causes - such as what the skin of your penis is in contact with - or, have it diagnosed that there is a skin or broader health issue causing the symptoms and have the correct treatment put in place.
I have been dealing with a diagnosis and management of a severe and incurable genital skin condition for almost 10 years now, and prior to this my symptoms became particularly noticeable and steadily worse over a period of 3 to 4 years.
As a result of this I learned how not to make my condition worse - that is, how to avoid making the damaged / diseased skin worse by what I expose my genital skin to, and apply to it.
I would suggest you need to get your genital skin back to a base-line that will allow any level of skin repair to begin so that your penile skin can recover to the level that it is capable of, and this of course is dependant upon whether there is a skin, and or general health condition present as to how much your skin can recover and become healthy again.
The essential part of this is not exposing the glans of your penis to anything other than water for hygiene purposes and making sure it is fully dried afterwards. Unfortunately penile skin on the glans / head and foreskin takes a great deal of time for meaningful healing to take place. and as I say, this may be limited in what can be achieved if it is an actual health condition or purely skin condition that is causing the problem.
But first of all, you must eliminate external exposure to anything that the problem skin is in contact with, other than water. AND you must do this for at least 5 to 8 months before you have a real idea of whether the skin can recover on its own or not
I am not sure whether you have already seen a Dermatologist or whether it is purely a GP you have been dealing with?
If you live in the UK? - it may be possible for you to access a specialist Dermatologist by using services other than a GP - such as going to a GUM Clinic at the main regional general hospital in the area in which you live ....
macn1081 Wee_Dugie
Posted
Hi there. Thank you for your response. I haven't seen a dermatologist no but I did manage to have an online consultation with one a few days ago. After I'd sent photographs (unfortunately any ulceration at that time had then gone), he said that he thought it likely dermatitis, and if bloods for HSV 1 and HSV 2 were negative, that it was highly unlikely there was a HSV component (my biggest concern to be honest, and the thing that has caused me most worry and stress). I welcome your advice about the E45 wash and will therefore stop using this and go back to only washing with water. I will keep you posted on progress and will try to update with pictures if and when I get another flare up, that said I may try and post some now to give sort of a starting pic
Wee_Dugie macn1081
Posted
Thanks for the further information - updates most welcome ...
macn1081 Wee_Dugie
Posted
macn1081 Wee_Dugie
Posted
So this is the usual cycle starting here without the use of the E45. Skin is incredibly dry, not massively sore but certainly aware of it. Also some cracks evident too. The red dots here are fairly small and not hugely evident either, but certainly can start to see some of the redness developing. The glans is also very shiny, as a result, I'm assuming of being dry. Skin is somewhat delicate, almost has a papery consistency. Will keep you posted with any other changes, I'm sure they will come over the next few days without the E45. Thanks again for your help and advice
Wee_Dugie macn1081
Posted
If your penile skin has a dependency on e45 (or anything else) then there is a problem causing it - while this situation persists the affected skin will never repair itself in the way it should and will therefore never reach a healthy state.
I would suggest the only way out of this repeating cycle is to get the required medication to achieve this from a Dermatologist otherwise you are simply lengthening the time that your penile skin remains unhealthy
macn1081 Wee_Dugie
Posted
Ok thank you. I will try to arrange an appointment, think it may be difficult going to into lockdown now, but worth a shot. Thanks again
Wee_Dugie macn1081
Posted
The sooner you try the sooner you will get an appointment - if you are in the UK I would be trying the largest GUM Clinic in the region in which you live.
These are often based at General Hospitals where other specialist treatment centres are based for your region. Otherwise, the largest sexual health service provider - approaches like this would likely be quicker than via your own doctor / GP