Blotchy red rash/irritated skin on penile head (lasted for over 3 moths now)?
Posted , 410 users are following.
Part of the skin on the head of my penis has become slightly red and is causing some pain/irritation.
It first appeared the day after I used a condom so I think I must have had a reaction to the latex or some other substance in the condom.
The tip of the penis became super sensitive and noticeably hurt whenever it touched my underwear.
The skin was and still is noticeably red close to and directly around the meatus. This redness gets worse and bigger after I've come out the shower or masturbated.
An hour or so after ejaculation, I get a slight burn/irritation at the very end of the urethra when I urinate and this can last for a few days before subsiding. This has put me off from masturbating as much now.
This has lasted for about 3 months now with no signs of improvement.
I saw a doctor and was prescribed timodine/hydrocortisone cream and this didn't have much effect and am slightly worried it may just make things worse so have stopped using it for now.
It almost seems as if the redness comes from within the skin rather than on the surface.
I don't think its balanitis as I haven't had that for over 12 years when I was a kid and that was with the usual smegma discharge etc, whereas this is just redness.
I've attached images to show how it looks straight after showering, which is when the redness is at its worst and the contrast between the normal skin colour and the redness can be clearly seen.
16 likes, 1576 replies
erw43729 Jason1327
Posted
yes a real mess. I would like someone to find a solution. My doctor doesn't know what to do and neither do I. everything is negative nothing alert on something.
roy80577 Jason1327
Posted
Have you ruled out lichen sclerosis? it is an autoimmune skin condition, thought to be caused by constant exposure to urine. It used to be called Balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO). It is a chronic inflammatory process which affects the foreskin but can also extend onto the glans and external urethral meatus.
The skin can get inflamed and crack. The cracks make skin prone to opportunistic infection from skin bacteria and fungi.
Treatment is typically with strong steroid creams for 1 month together with non-soap washing going forward, moisturising, using barrier creams to avoid urine etc.
john70471 Jason1327
Posted
hi,
so .. had the same issue for around 6 months. had unprotected sex at the tail end of last year, started developing a strange sensation in my urethra and a burning sensation on the meatus. after this a red rash appeared. all sti results were clear and have done multiple tests. I tried different antibiotics that I purchased online and many forms of antifungal creams, prescribed by different gp's , none of which worked.
A few weeks ago I decided to jump into a really cold bath for around 20 minutes (recovery after exercise) This has really improved the redness and the small red bumps that appeared with the rash have improved also. I don't know how what or why it has helped it, but it's as if the imflammation benefits of the freezing cold water has triggered some form of response.
I've made sure my foreskin is retracted whilst in the water.
I would definitely recommend trying it, it may help some of you guys. It is uncomfortable for the first few minutes, but you get used to it. Also the cold water has tons of other benefits, so it's worth giving a shot.
good luck all.
Pat0894 john70471
Posted
Wow thank you for this suggestion i never even thought of something like this.
Jojo1989 john70471
Posted
was you on antibiotics at the time when you went in thr ice bath or stopped them a week before?
john70471 Jojo1989
Posted
stopped the antiobiotics ages ago mate
damian12345 Jason1327
Posted
have any of you had unprotected sex after with your partner (female) and did they develop any symptoms after? seeing if this more of a skin disorder that affects uncircumsized men ?
JoeTremain84 damian12345
Posted
Yes. Partner hasnt shown any signs of something similar. Uncircumcised here as well.
Have had the small, blotchy red rash that comes and goes around the hole. been reading the comments on here and finding the doctor going through the same pattern of creams etc. Very frustrating.
josh28807 JoeTremain84
Posted
Assume you've been tested for STIs and all that man?
what creams have you tried so far?
JoeTremain84 josh28807
Edited
Always kept up with the STI testing, but did it again just to be safe and everything is negative. Tried Lamisil (anti-fungal), hydrocortisone, and now trying Fucidin which I think is a mix of hydrocortisone and fusidic acid? Will update if anything works better, but its discouraging to see the number of posts here with no results.
vivek37682 Jason1327
Posted
i have also thr same problem but one of my personal doctor friend suggest me an antisptic cream Canesten....and when i use tht cream all my patches gone ...n m okkk......till now its about 1 year i never face this prblm again .......n while in 2022 i m siffering from thia around of 4 continue months ........
damian12345 vivek37682
Posted
canestan cream worked for you and still has? didnt quite understand your post sorry
Allen86015 Jason1327
Posted
I'm dealing with this as well. my entire penis gets red, glans the reddest, when I take showers and after sex. it's been a year and no answers from a couple urologists. I also have pain around the tip and pelvic floor. I was prescribed Amitriptyline which has helped with pain but not on the redness front.
anyone get over this issue yet?