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is this balanitis?

Posted , 3 users are following.

j2018
j2018

I noticed these inflamed spots on my penis, and have never noticed them before. After fearing the worst and doing some research, I cannot tell if this is balanitis or potentially something worse, but to me it does not look like typical genital herpes. If anyone has had experience with balanitis/genital herpes could help me identify this that would be amazing, I plan on getting tested as soon as I can but right now I am having a huge amount of anxiety over this and I'm looking for some leads.

Thanks!

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0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • j2018
    j2018

    Posted

    I can take clearer pictures if that would help as well, but the spots are only on the head of my penis, and I have not showered in a few days to be honest.

  • Wee_Dugie
    Wee_Dugie j2018

    Edited

    In your case Balanitis is a means of describing the symptoms only, it is NOT a specific condition in your case, but it can be, which is the confusing thing. You need to consider what has caused this. So a medical person would ask if you have been sexually active recently? Particularly if you were not using a condom.

    "Irritation" and bumps (Balanitis) that appear in this region of skin can be made worse by any chemical such as the regular use of soap and suchlike to wash the penis, then these are things like lube - particularly oil based ones, such as baby oil or skin creme - can all intensify problems caused to the skin.

    Have you taken no condom risks with a new partner recently?

    • j2018
      j2018 Wee_Dugie

      Posted

      i did receive a bj with no condom on saturday night, but me and the person i was with discussed our sexual health before that. other than that, the last time i took an unprotected risk was receiving a bj in september, and have never noticed this before

    • Wee_Dugie
      Wee_Dugie j2018

      Posted

      In your case then the most like issue you have is the regular application of a particular, or a combination of chemicals applied to the penis on a regular basis. I will post my Penile Hygiene guide, the wording is not aimed at you, but the general principles are. Read through it carefully and if you have any further questions get back to me .......

      .

      Penile Hygiene Regime to Combat Specific Problems

      .

      The best approach is not to use ANY SOAP on the Glans / Head of your penis - wash with water only EVERY time you have urinated, after sexual arousal, and ejaculation. If you are not circumcised, protect the Glans of your penis every time you take a shower by drawing the foreskin as far forward as you can, then wash everywhere else, thoroughly rinse off all the gels / shampoo and suchlike, then expose your glans wash it with the water only using the inside of your hand, then each time you have washed it you must make sure to 100% pat dry immediately afterwards with a clean towel.

      .

      After you have put this in place and you still have the situation going on you need to look at what else your penis is coming into contact with on a fairly regular basis.  The likely suspects are:-

      • any chemical compounds such as skin cream / lotions, baby oil, oil based lubes, chemicals inside condoms (e.g. easy-on and spermicides) you need to exclude these one by one to discover the culprit, the easiest approach is to exclude everything to start with, then once things are on the mend, introduce each individual item to discover what has caused this in the first place.
      • if non of these make any difference you need to look to things such as washing powder in which you wash your clothes, and underwear in, in particular.  The simple alternative to washing powder is Liquid Soap Flakes, most sizeable supermarkets stock this in their own brand names - and you use this in your washing machine instead of powders or ANY fabric conditioner type additives.

        If all this produces no resolution to what you have, or your condition dramatically worsens, seek medical advice from your regular Doctor - but please note, many do not fully understand the differences between the potential skin conditions you may potentially have.  Therefore, the better course of action may be to see a Dermatologist, or alternatively, go to a Specialist Sexual Health Service and ask to see the duty Urologist.

    • j2018
      j2018 Wee_Dugie

      Edited

      thank you so so much!! i appreciate your help so much, i've been more careful about my cleaning and already its making a difference, we all appreciate you! let me know if you have a venmo or anything because this was incredible!

    • j2018
      j2018 Wee_Dugie

      Posted

      Hey there, I actually did think of a question, what time frame should I be looking at to see if this works or if i should see a specialist?

    • Wee_Dugie
      Wee_Dugie j2018

      Posted

      Thanks for the replies. I was not aware of what venmo was. I am regularly on here simply in the hope that some of the things I have experienced with regard to my penis health issues may be of help to other people. While I am unable to work due to my overall health condition, being active on here keeps my brain active and a real motivation at the same time. So thanks for the offer!

      Essentially in terms of time frame you have two: what you see in front of you will take anything upwards of 3 to 4 months before you see any noticeable difference (perhaps looking at the photos you have posted here in 4 - 5 months will be helpful!).

      The other time frame you have is because of what you say here: - " I plan on getting tested as soon as I can but right now I am having a huge amount of anxiety over this " - and what you need to achieve with regard to this is peace of mind, particularly if you are fearing you have some form of STI / STD. So if you need to seek assurance on this front, the sooner the better.

      In terms of a Specialist for the symptoms you have - I would certainly say after 6 months and your skin is not almost back to normal then go see a Dermatologist - and in particular, if you can see one that specialises in Genital Skin disorders that would be the best option. You can either do an internet search for one in your area, or if you went along to a Sexual Health Specialist Service, ask for the contact details of Genital Skin disorders specialist.

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