1. Community
  2. Men's health
  3. Penis Disorders

Penile Rash/Balanitis Not Responding to Treatment

Posted , 170 users are following.

jack05468
jack05468

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

368 Replies

Prev Next
  • j16953
    j16953 jack05468

    Edited

    hey Jack and all. My penis looks the exact same and its wigging me out. For what its worth, I am circumcised and my head looks very similar. starts out red at the pee hole and then like a triangle shape going down. i have no discharge. ive tried multiple creams and it seems to make it worse. i workout a lot and sweat. i didnt change as quick as i should have in the past since i was WFH and just went straight to work after the gym at the house.

    i started hydrocortizone today and it already seems more red. i havent masturbated in over a week bc im wigged. i stopped drinking too for now. im really getting depressed and its taking a mental toll on me. cant focus on work and check my penis a lot during the day.

    i just want to get back to normalcy. ive read the whole thread. does anyone have any updates on theirs?

    thank you.

    • VeeW
      VeeW j16953

      Posted

      Hi!

      I share your thoughts fully as I think most guys in this thread do.

      Though it seems that some people have disappeared and not updated on their progress - have they found help or just forgotten this website?

      As I explained (or tried to) before, I think my best results came with leaving the damn thing alone for several weeks. Just washing twice a day with water and avoiding soap from getting there at any point. No creams (they all seem to make the redness worse), no masturbation, drying the tip after peeing. Also cut down from drinking beer (!). Tried not to think about it at all.

      With these the redness was basically gone after 2-3 weeks and I was happy. The skin on the tip of the glans was still sort of weird, almost like there was a more dry membrane on the surface but not scaling or cracking, just a more firm surface in a way.

      But then as I got tired of being a monk and had sex, masturbated and had sex again, it all went back to red and the problem was/is as it was before.

      I also work out/run a lot so sweat may be a factor. Drinking beer may be a factor. I have had Covid 19 in the fall (2months prior to these penile symptoms) so that may be a factor.

      As the symptoms are so clearly around the urethra opening I am almost certain that it has to do with something that comes out of the peehole. Urine, semen or both and something in those fluids. (quite a sherlock holmes here 😃)

      I am tempted to start a new thread on this as this one is already massive and sort of hard to follow. But probably better stick to this one?

      Lets keep discussing and try to find help for ourselves and each other.

  • bryan41680
    bryan41680 jack05468

    Posted

    ill have to try some fudicin cream, idk how hard it will be to get in the US

  • jo57158
    jo57158 jack05468

    Edited

    Hey i have the same thing. its been 8 months. since september 2021.its crazy when I saw the first post I was like omg im not alone finally. Ive been treated like s**t in the hospital like i was wasting his time. they told me its normal lol. Im trying fucidin at the moment with metronidazole 500g twice a day. if anyone have any informations dont be affraid to say something. thank you, merci.

  • ja10245
    ja10245 jack05468

    Edited

    hey guys. joining in on this as i have been dealing with the same issue since November 2021. Ive been using nystatin cream and seems to help with the redness and itch but would come back again after a week of not using the cream. i was washing it 2 times a day before and feel like that was possibly the cause of it. unfortunately, i still wash it twice a day since i do so before applying the cream. i also have been taking fluconazole once a week. i live in Seattle and makes me wonder if the weather has any cause of this. so desperate for solution. @michael59444 the pics you post is very similar to mine including where mainly the redness is located at.

  • mister75685
    mister75685 jack05468

    Edited

    Same issue after unprotected sex. It has been over 8 months. Doctors say it looks normal and nothing to worry about and mostly stress and anxiety in my head can cause it (I don't believe it, I know the skin has changed and the symptoms I felt leading up to it. Have tried almost everything.

    All STD tests clear (did not test for HPV which I think it might be)

    Have taken the following treatments with no results:

    Fluconazole

    Bactrim

    Ceftin

    Amoxicillin

    Azithromycin

    Doxycycline

    Have used so many different topicals:

    Lotramin (no help)

    Pimecrolimus (didn't help at all)

    Hydrocortisone cream (seems to make it worse as well, more red as well)

    Clobetasol (strong steroid, seemed to make it worse)

    Protopic (maybe makes it only slightly better? but definitely not clearing it)

    Aquaphor

    Also had a cystoscopy because my urine stream started splitting when all these symptoms arose as well. Cystoscopy was all clear and looked normal.

    Ive looked at every single one of these related threads for months, scoured Google, and can't find anything or anyone that has found success in clearing it. Some people say they have it for years.

    Would be helpful if anyone shared anything that has helped or anything they have found out.

  • jo57158
    jo57158 jack05468

    Edited

    hi guys im currently trying fucidin cream(fusidic acid 2% with hydrocortisone 1%) for 3 weeks i started on mars 14. one thing ive noticed is that i was taking alot of coffee before it all started so now im taking 1 cup in the morning . i have an idee . lactose free milk mabe. anyway if you guys want to talk about it let me know in a private message.

    • VeeW
      VeeW jo57158

      Posted

      I think dehydration may be a part of the problem. Drinking coffee, drinking alcohol, doing sports (sweating) etc.

      A while back when I temporarily improved my situation I cut down on beer, also switched more to tea instead of coffee. Maybe should so it again and instead double or triple on drinking water. Won't hurt to test this.

      Still thinking the creams and medications don't work at all for me. All the creams seem to make it either worse or no difference at all. 😦

    • Steves8012
      Steves8012 VeeW

      Posted

      Interestingly one of the doctors seemed to suggest water intake as a solution indicating dehydration was an issue.

  • mister75685
    mister75685 jack05468

    Posted

    Can anyone share anything that has helped alleviate this? Or has anyone had this issue and it went away?

    I've had this issue for 8+ months

  • mister75685
    mister75685 jack05468

    Posted

    Also, does anyone have discomfort in urethra? Or any changes to the urine stream?

    • UnspecificDprob
      UnspecificDprob mister75685

      Posted

      i do, narrowing in urethera, almost as all the pee wont come out, also weaker ejacluation

  • bryan41680
    bryan41680 jack05468

    Posted

    does anyone else have more noticeable tiny red veins on their shaft? the skin physically looks different and doesnt clear with time. one thread a guy stated hes had this for 10 years and his penis is turning blue

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.