Blotchy red rash/irritated skin on penile head (lasted for over 3 moths now)?

Before I say this, I will clarify that it is always possible some of us are suffering from something different, but in my case, the symptoms are so alike as to what most on here describe, that I believe most are suffering from the same condition I had. The primary red area on my foreskin, along with small red dots on the meatus that clear up and reappear during a flare up.

I think some of you are stretching for answers in regards to HPV. If your doctor tells you that this is indeed your problem, that is one thing, but if he is telling you it is unlikely, then he is probably correct. I did not test positive for HPV or any other STD, and I had this problem for over two years. I finally cured it, but it took a long time. Most importantly, it was not HPV.

I am circumcised, and I see posts on here from guys that are and guys that aren't so whether or not you are circumcised has no real bearing. It is possible it makes it harder to cure if uncircumcised I guess, but circumcision or non-circumcision is not the root cause of the issue and it's not HPV in most cases as some of you are convincing yourself. At one time, any kind of friction brought pain and a flare up, but that no longer occurs. I'm not going to rehash it all again, but you can search my previous posts and just read it, as how I cured it is already posted here.

The issue was a combination of problems stemming from the prostrate. I had an infection, which is hard to cure in that area, along with a version of a fungal infection that was resistant to most all of the usual fungal medications, so using any of the non prescription fungal creams was a complete waste of time. The Dr. was not sure if the fungus caused the infection, or if the infection was a side effect of the fungus, but once we found the root issue, I was finally able to resolve it.

Has anyone noticed (in addition to the redness on the tip) your entire penis turning a slightly darker skin tone and almost shiny...same issue no STDs doctors say it's fine.

Also, my the skin on my face has darkened and I have flare ups as on face as well.

I posted this on another health forum. Since no links are allowed, I have copied my whole post here.

After 1 year of misery, I have cured myself.

The solution/cure that worked for myself: Fucidin ointment 2%, applied on the glans and foreskin once a day for two weeks.

For those that are interested, here is my story:

It all started after I used my fleshlight the second time. I didn't clean it after the first time and left it overnight (including my penis). Gross, I know. I was punished for a year after that and it's a lesson I'll never forget.

The next day, the skin on my glans and foreskin started peeling. The peels were very thin and it itched like crazy. I left it alone and just hoped it would go away with time. The next day it got worse, it became very dry, very sensitive, and I started to have small splits in the skin and still itched. This is when I got real worried.

After some quick browsing on google, I convinced myself I had a yeast infection. I started with home remedies like coconut oil, and natural yogurt. It only helped a tiny bit and eventually the irritation came back after a few days. I also tried a coconut oil and tea tree oil mix. Same thing, not much help. I got so desperate, I put straight tea tree oil on my penis. Worst idea. Made it worse. Stung like hell.

Next, miconazole 2% topical treatment. Simple over the counter stuff for jock itch/yeast infections. Little did I know, what i had was from far from simple. Symptoms were reduced for about 4-5 days. Then the miconazole became less and less effective. Symptoms started to come back.

2 months had passed before i saw a doctor (managing with coconut oil and miconazole a few weeks before my appointment). After an inspection the doctor confirmed it was balanitis and did a swab test to find out the cause. Also did STI screening, all negative. The doctor did mention that I will most likely be negative for fungals or yeast because I have been treating with miconazole. True enough, swab test came back negative for fungals and yeast, no unusual bacteria either. I was prescribed hydrozole 1% (corticosteroid) to be applied twice a day for 7 days, then 1% clotrimazole 2-3 times a day for 14 days.

I thought the treatment was goign well. There was still a little itching but for the most part it got my penis looking and feeling nearly back to normal. However, once I stopped the clotrimazole, all the symptoms started coming back. So, I continued to use clotrimazole, and after a week, it became ineffective. Symptoms came back again.

So I tried again. I went to the pharmacy and asked for advice. They suggested Nystatin (another antifungal) to be applied twice a day until symptoms disappear and continue for another 14 days. Same thing, symptoms nearly cleared up but not all. I decided after a few days that it was the best that the cream could do, continued for 14 days, stopped. Then same thing, symptoms came back. Sigh.

Next step, back to the doctor, explained what had happened. Doc prescribed one dose of fluconazole 150mg, and advantan fatty ointment (corticosteroid - methylprednisolone aceponate) to be applied once a day for up to two weeks. I left with high hopes. Doc was certain this would beat whatever was wrong with my penis. The first few days, it was getting better. Then from the third day onwards, my foreskin and glans became more and more sensitive. Even an erection would feel like the skin was stretching and boy did it hurt. After a few more days, I couldn't take it anymore, so I started to use the hydrozole and clotrimazole again. Things became better, but i knew it was just managing my symptoms. It wasn't going to completely solve the problem.

Back to the doctor. Doc suggested i apply hydrozole twice a day for two weeks. If symptoms still persist, I could be referred to a dermatologist. I noticed after I stopped the hydrozole, my penis would become extremely sensitive, very red, even would feel like burning sometimes.

So, the dermatologist. He said what I had was very common for people my age (24 years old) and it was nothing to worry about too much. Prescribed me advantan cream (similar to the ointment but a cream version). To be applied once a day until symptoms subside. Doc also suggested I wash my penis with QV wash (soap free wash). So I followed the treatment and it got better, but the same thing happened again. When I stopped the cream, the symptoms came back.

I went to see another doctor and we did the whole STI screening. Everything came back negative. This doc was quite certain what I had was a yeast problem, and it wasn't going away because I wasn't thorough with hygiene. But I was though. So I didn't understand. The doc just told me to attend my follow up appointment with the dermatologist.

So I visit the dermatologist again. He tells me that this is probably something I'm going to have to live with. It's not a major problem, just use the cream to manage it.

But i couldn't just leave it at that. I just felt like I had to fix it. Even though at this point it was 9 months in and all hope seemed to be lost. I could not give up. This is my dick we're talking about. I wanted it to get back to how it was before. Masturbating definitely didn't feel the same, not to mention trying to find a partner with this condition. The constant thought of having this hanging over me was enough to drive me into a bit of a depression. But I did not give up.

I poured hours and hours, searching through forums, scrolling through thread after thread after thread trying to learn about anything that could cure me. Meanwhile I was alternating between the hydrozole, clotrimazole and advantan. I still would have itches and my glans became really shiny. After an erection went away, I would be left with dry skin that flaked off my glans. I went through times when I would stop all treatment, and it would get worse (really dry, skin splitting). Then I thought back to the doctor that was certain it was yeast. I also had another one time dose for the fluconazole 150mg left on my original script. So I decided to try it again. For the first three days, my penis started to look and feel normal again. But forth day onwards, same thing, symptoms came back.

Then after 3 months, I found the solution. Fucidin Ointment (topical antibiotic). You need a script for it, but a friend had some left over and gave it to me. I applied it once a day for 14 days in the mornings. During the night I would wash my penis in salt water. It was only after a few days, the shininess went away, the itching gradually got less and less. I did have a bit of skin come off when I was washing with the salt water. It's sort of like a tacky substance that came off the foreskin and glans when I ran my fingers over it (probably tacky because of the ointment). Also after an erection, my glans skin would be quite finely wrinkled.

Anyway, I can happily say, it has now been a month since I applied any creams or treatments on my dick. I wouldn't say its gone back to 100%, but its damn close. The skin coming off while washing has gradually reduced and its not even noticeable anymore. Wrinkling after an erection has also decreased a lot. Masturbation is feeling back to normal and I've even found myself a partner. I feel so much happier and thought I have to post my experience as it might help someone that's going through a similar problem.

Some final thoughts:

• Corticosteroids were initially good at treating the problem. However, reliance on it was dangerous. Completely stopping corticosteroid creams and ointments made the symptoms worse. I had to slowly ween myself off them. I wish i never used them in the first place.
• Considering I responded to the antifungals but did not completely recover, leaves me to believe that I had more than a fungal infection. and considering that the fucidin antibiotic did the trick, I most likely had something bacterial as well.
• I will always wash my fleshlight and my dick after every single use. I'm actually kinda paranoid and use a condom with my fleshlight now. but I still wash both thoroughly.
• If you are suffering from similar problems, do not give up. Even if doctors tell you there isn't a solution. You just gotta keep trying until something works for you. I know it's easier said than done, especially when the depression hits. But I'm here to tell you, not to give up, just keep trying. Thats how I cured myself.

hey there, i found a study that possibly links chronic balanitis to HPV virus.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/8031918/

alot of people here have tried every cream under the sun, i hope this helps. i also suffer the same fate, there is also no test to find HPV in men, could be why no one here has had a diagnoses