Penile Rash/Balanitis Not Responding to Treatment
Posted , 170 users are following.
This all began when it started to burn while I urinated. I went to the doctors because I thought it was a UTI, but the test came back negative. Got tested for STD's, the tests also came back negative.
Ok no big deal, I thought. Maybe this will go away on its own. I then started developing a rash on the tip of the penis and along the base that burned post urination and during ejaculation.
I did some research online and thought it was probably a yeast infection. Bought some Canesten and tried applying it twice a day for a week. I also took the pill (Fluconazole). This resulted in no change in the symptoms.
Went back to the doc, who then prescribed Fucidin H cream (Hydrocortisone 1% Fusidic Acid 2%). I rubbed it on twice a day for a week, no change.
Went to a Urologist who did an examination (but no further tests) and told me I could get circumcised, but apart from that offered no further solutions. Told me it could be prostatitis.
I then went to a Dermatologist, who looked at it and prescribed me Loprox anti-fungal cream with hydrocortisone (1%) told me to use it twice daily on the area for one month. I then switched to just Loprox because it appeared as though hydrocortisone was making the irritation worse. The Dermatologist told me to go see the urologist again if symptons don't improve.
I'm still applying Loprox two weeks into treatment, and the changes are minimal if any. The rash goes down at the tip and expands at the base, almost triangular in shape. There are small scales (or maybe cracks) in the skin, and the area is red, almost as if inflamed. I have no discharge from the penis. Any kind of friction (i.e. masturbation) makes the redness and burning much, much worse. I have been abstaining from that for now and only washing the area with warm water. I have thrown out all my heavily scented soaps.
I am in the process of attempting to get an appointment with another urologist in order to get a second opinion. Topical creams don't seem to be doing much, but I am going to keep putting Loprox on it for now. I feel like the Docs have been kind of brushing me off/don't want or don't know how to deal with balanitis. Nothing I am really doing is working, so I'm wondering if anyone else has any solutions.
The following links I will attach contain some photos of the condition I'm experiencing:
Moderator comment:I have deleted the links to the images as they went to a site unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. Users can upload images directly to this site by using the image icon at the top of reply boxes.
9 likes, 368 replies
jack05468
Posted
some images attached
antho jack05468
Posted
It could be a serious case of yeast infections. You should consider taking oral fluconazole (Diflucan) combined with using a hydrocortisone cream or Fugacil cream, which may take one to two weeks for healing. Avoid having sex until the infection is fully healed. Practice good hygiene. Always keep your penis and genitals clean and dry. Eat natural yogurt or consume probiotic supplements for relief.
jack05468 antho
Posted
I already took oral Fluconazole, and combined that with Canesten cream twice a day for a week, did nothing. I also applied Loprox for almost 4 weeks, and that did nothing. I have been trying to stay as clean as possible, bathing at least once a day.
Wee_Dugie jack05468
Posted
Hi, have I not responded to you on this issue that you have posted elsewhere on this site?
The term Balanitis is a generic term for redness and irritation at the end of the penis. From your experience with Doctors it sounds like you are wasting your time going back to them. Your best hope is that Urology will find the solution for you. You could have one of several things actually causing this - keep to washing the head of your penis with water only. When taking a shower draw your foreskin as far forward as you can to protect the head / glans of penis, then when you have fully rinsed everything off, expose the head of your penis and rub with the inside of your hand. Washing is the first part - you must then 100% dry your entire penis immediately after washing it - always do this first, then elsewhere on your body after a shower. Do not apply anything such as a Lube, Skin Cream / Lotion - in short, anything that is chemical based.
The Loprox is an antifungal - you may need to move to a Steroidal ointment, such as Clobetasol, at least until you start getting positive results .... you need to work with a urologist until you find a solution to what you have
jack05468 Wee_Dugie
Posted
This is my first time posting on this site, but it looks like there are many men that are dealing with this issue and not able to find any solutions.
I have an appointment with another Urologist in February. The first one I went to was useless and offered no solutions. He didn't really know what was going on.
I have tried hydrocortisone steroid creams, and they only seemed to aggravate things further. I am currently applying Loprox but I am going to stop because it's been almost four weeks and there has been next to no change and it burns on application.
So right now I am just going to put nothing on it, and wash it with warm water in the shower daily and make sure its dry, see if that helps.
JennyTan jack05468
Posted
HI .. i am interested in this as a male friend has similar looking. Forget abt the creams (esp cortisone) as (in his case at least) any type of cream causes instant irritaion etc. May i ask - does it "get better" if left to dry and does the redness and inflammation settle down if there is no activity?
Approx how long this going on and was there any previous history of hydrocortisone / antifungal or topical anti viral or anti bacterial as suspicion these "trigger the inflammation" Jenny
Wee_Dugie JennyTan
Posted
Hi Jenny, of course any masturbation or sexual activity will not help with inflammation, particularly anything of a prolonged nature. It is usually the friction part - particularly if he is uncircumcised.
In terms of will it get better - that is all dependent on the underlying cause, a Urologist or an Dermatologist may be useful in getting to the bottom of what is going on. One simple thing he can do is to avoid applying anything at all to the penis .... here is some advice I have just posted for someone else - if you can get him to do ALL of this, hopefully that will produce a positive reaction and a lessening of symptoms. BE AWARE, if he is not treating the cause the symptoms will always return .......
GENERAL ADVICE
In the mean time abstain from applying anything at all to your penis - wash the head / glans with water only, dry 100% immediately afterwards, draw your foreskin as far forward as you can each time you shower to protect the head, once you have thoroughly rinsed everything off, expose the head of your penis and rub with the inside of your hand only. Don't apply any Lubes, Baby Oil, Moisturiser or Skin Creams / Lotions to it. If you are sexually active, or Masturbate, clear away any fluids from the entire surface of the head of your penis as soon as you can. If you use condoms regularly try doing without the need to use them for a few weeks.
By doing all these things hopefully you will get a positive reaction. If you use any of the things I have listed to avoid, on a regular basis at the moment, you can reintroduce them one at a time and see if symptoms return to discover what the potential cause was ... As ever, if it worsens considerably seek Professional Medical advice .....
jack05468 JennyTan
Posted
Hello Jenny,
It seemed like hydrocortisone creams for me caused further irritation, so I stopped using them. The redness does seem to go down if there's no activity or friction but it always seems to be there in some form or another.
This has been going on for 3 months now, it started in August and it is now November.
I wasn't using any anti-biotics, but I was using an anti-fungal for jock itch in the groin area on occasion. I have been applied two different anti fungal creams to the gland but they haven't done anything so I am going to stop.
lee46799 jack05468
Posted
hi. i have the same problem too. ive been to the men specialist several times and prescribed me with antibiotics and cream. i went urologist too. urologist mentioned that my penis skin is too thick and need to cut the skin. i refused it. any idea what is it? men specialist said yeast infections but the urologist said its due of too long penis skin.
*Jack. how is yours doing? any good progress?
jack05468 lee46799
Posted
Hi Lee,
Not much progress to report on my end. I've been using an anti-fungal cream for almost 4 weeks on the area and it hasn't helped much so I'm stopping that. I went to a Urologist and he said there was basically nothing he could do for me. I have another appointment with a different urologist in a few months.
Right now I am just going to leave it alone and wash it with warm water, make sure its dry afterwards. The creams I've been prescribed haven't helped much at all.
jason95929 jack05468
Posted
Try Vagisil cream (purple tube). Can be purchased from amazon or walmart. Should help. Even if there is no itching the formulas used will help with the redness/rash. Should be able to see a difference within 3 days. Reply on this forum with an update. So far it has helped with another person will similar images.
jack05468 jason95929
Posted
Haven't tried Vagisil Cream but i have tried calamine and neosporin, those are the two things that seem to provide symptom relief for me
jack05468
Edited
bumping this up, 5 weeks later its still here...
william76426 jack05468
Edited
im dealing with similar issues. went to my doctor and he gave me ketoconazole ointment. did not help. Then i went to a urologist who said it didnt seem like anything to be worried about. i have tried coconut oil, cortizone, vitamin e. dermatologist i saw advised aquaphor. it is still red and a little discolored. wish we could all finally get to the bottom of this and get some peace of mind!
jack05468 william76426
Posted
I hear you. Does it burn or sting when you ejaculate or urinate by any chance?
michael59444 jack05468
Edited
hello. the same thing happen to me after i had sex. it just happen out of nowhere, but for me it has just been about 3 weeks or so. so with all this time that you have had it, have you thought about the circumcision that you said your first doctor told you when you first made the post? because today i have an appointment with the doctor to have an std test done just in case its something else. but if everything comes out negative, i might be really inclined to get a circumcision, because its really uncomfortable when masturbating or having sex and i really dont want to have it for life. also im doing kinda like an expirement of having my foreskin retracted all the time just to see there is an improvement and also to prepare for the worst which is circumcision.ï˜
jack05468 michael59444
Posted
Hi Michael,
That looks very similar to what I have going on. I've brought up circumcision with a couple of doctors, they didn't seem onboard. If I were you, I'd explore other routes before jumping to surgery like more testing. May I ask if you experience burning as well while urinating or ejaculating, or is it just this redness shown in the pictures you've shared? Any other symptoms?
michael59444 jack05468
Edited
sorry for the late reply. i got my std test done everything was negative and didnt find anything, and the doctor told me he was going to prescribe me some steroid cream for the redness and said that it was a fungus. im a little skeptical about it with everything that ive read from the thread, im going to try it and see if there is any difference. as for the urinating and ejaculating, at first it did burn when urinating and ejaculating but it became less and less. when i first noticed the redness, it like burned and itched while masturbating and after ejaculating, but then as time went on it was less and less. i still have the sensation of a mixture of itchy and burning from time to time, but not like the first time. the only thing that keeps getting redder is the pee hole and thats where i feel like its hoter then it used to be.
this is a picture after masturbating and you can see the reddish. its not every time when i masturbate that it looks like that. also when i masturbate the whole head of the penis is more red than before i found the reddish patch.
this is a picture after masturnating, didnt feel burn or itchyness but its still red. but i do feel something like its hotter but not burning. like a sensation of something.
this after a couple minutes after masturbation. the pee hole seemed to be red.
i also orded a couple creams that promotes healing. im guessing if there is no stds it has to be with healing of the nerve. but thats my guess.
michael59444 jack05468
Posted
also, have you by any chance put by accident Alcohol or sanitizer on your penis. i did once before i got the reddish patch now that i remember. it was by accident, with the pandemic and everything i usually put hand sanitizer on my hands. that one time i grabbed the penis head not thing and i still had hand sanitizer and it burned like hell. so now that i think about it could be some nerve damage or burn that need time to heal. but anyway ill talk about that with the next doctor that i see.
e54791 jack05468
Posted
did you figure this out? i have the same problem ive been dealing with for 6 months
john6789 e54791
Posted
did you figure this out? i'am dealing with the same Problem for a long time.
e54791 john6789
Edited
no sir. im not even sure what to try anymore. it really sucks tbh. weird how no doctor even knows wtf it is yet it seems like so many people on here have the same problem. dm me on here ill let you know if anything works
william61566 jack05468
Edited
oh man.... i have the same problem. are there any updates or something new to say?
abc6689 michael59444
Edited
hey man, i have a similar issue. does it get red and scab up ever has that ever happened?
abc6689 jack05468
Edited
does it scab up ever around the foreskin?
GENO-FENO michael59444
Posted
i have the same issue i have been applying t-bect as a anti bacterial cream but my peahole is red nd i also have some red bumps near it but its not like the buring is for ever it fades away slowy and slowy gradually with time but its really irritating...if someone is thinking bout circumcision this wont help u incase of the burning sensation we gotta learn to live wid it and slowy slowy it will fade away
GENO-FENO e54791
Posted
How are you doing now did the burning sensation faded away ? my one's is still burning 💀
Jojo1989 GENO-FENO
Posted
i read people who had it like 5 years