Penis foreskin cracks during sex, peeling skin, dots and spots [documented]
Posted , 306 users are following.
Hi,
First of all thank you for your time and sorry for the long post,
I'm a healthy 29y old male and in the past 8 months I've been having some problems when having sex. Around February I've noticed some cracks on my foreskin 
, at the time i didn't thought much of it, and it eventually healed up, after that, every time i had my foreskin would always crack in the same spots with the same pattern, and it started to appear even more cracks 
, when they happen during sex, i can clearly feel them and it stings a little, but after the act, i would clean it with lukewarm water and i would only feel an occasional sting or 2, and, along with the cracks, i also feel the area where the cracks are very very raw and sensitive to the touch, the rest of the penis is fine. In the healing process, after 1 or 2 days, my skin would feel very dry, accompanied by some peeling skin where the cracks where 
, that area of the skin, eventually they would heal up, but the skin in that area looks a bit darker than the rest 
, the dryness i would fight it with some moisturizer.
In all this months I've tried some approaches to tackle this without success, i used a cleaning solution with neutral PH and no fragrances, anti candida fungal ointment, topical steroid cream, fusidic acid and also elidel, already went to 2 different dermatologists, and the problem still persists, with a down side, that now, it seems to be getting worse as some dots started to appear on the glad 
and also on the foreskin area 
. Along with all of the this, the redder area of the skin sometimes when is dryer it also looks shinier. I'm posting here in hope of some advice of someone who has gone through the same thing. Before all of this, i had a normal sex life with no problems whatsoever.
Best regards, Thank you,
11 likes, 536 replies
Jayo33 J0P1315
Posted
picture of what happens everytime after sex...
and i'm circumcised.
i hate this.
b51041 J0P1315
Posted
TO ALL
NOT A CURE BUT A DAMN SAVOUR FOR MANAGING THE PROBLEM
To be blunt:
SUDACREM - Use after tearing, speeds up recovery, stays on and fights/prevents any potential infection as its oil based(so to wash off use a moisturiser in the shower), helps moisturise.
After continuous use of this (you dont need a lot) for a few months now, I actually had sex without tears (no condoms or lube). I now, at the most get a very small cut the odd time, however im sure if i started increasing frequency of sex a lot it would get worse. Previously the whole circumference would split and this is the only thing ive consistently used which seems to be helping.
Like a few in this group im in the process of exploring diagnosis with the NHS. I managed to get my GP to refer me to both a specialist dermatologist and a urologist. Reason being his call was a urologist and he agreed they often reccommend circumcision which i stated from this group doesnt seem to fix the problem so he offered to refer me to another specialist to try fight it on both angles.
Yet to see my urologist.
Specialist dermatologist has never seen it before (surprise surprise) and recommended steroid and moisturiser while he researches and investigates it further. For fear of skin thinning I wont be using the steroid but will upgrade to his perscription moisturiser.
Very interested to hear the results of the biopsy!!
My dermatologist said without the problem being there (which it wasnt thanks to Sudacrem) theres no point in a biopsy.
To be clear, Sudacrem seems to help calm this problem. It doesn't cure it and we still do not know what it is.
The search continues!
joe98093 J0P1315
Posted
Hey JoP1315, is there any update on this? Did you end up getting the circumcision and did it solve the issue? I have the exact same issue and am considering the surgery. Would really like to hear what post-surgery is like and if it has solved the problem.
andrew28840 joe98093
Posted
I'm starting to think that circumcision may be a viable option if they are able to remove the affected tissue. If that doesn't resolve the issue post-op, I would just continue the investigation and search for a cure. I think that being uncircumcised may exacerbate the skin condition, as I would say the vast majority of us here are uncircumcised. I think my condition started after I had sex on vacation and couldn't shower for a couple of days. Perhaps the bacteria/yeast/fungus took hold in a small tear, and just continued getting worse from there.
mario83435 J0P1315
Posted
Yes, I had the same problem but could not figure out the cause. Finally, I tried some Schederma Cream, used it for 10 days on the skin of the penis, and problem was solved. I am not sure if it was hand saniter or disposable gloves that I used on my hands that caused the cracks and dryness on the penis, but no matter how bad I have to urinate, I now always wash my hands first before i hold my penis. Havent had the problem since.
robertrod mario83435
Posted
Where can Schederma Cream be available in the USA? Did you have same cuts abrations during sex?
.
.
Im having the same situation as @J0P1315 Its frustrating. Already has gone to urologist but he never seen something like it. He keeps telling me is friction during sex and I keep telling him is not . He advised me to use more lube which I have done and helps but the same results at the end, painful cuts that gets worst. Please lets keep this thread going and lets try to find a cure.
donut_man J0P1315
Posted
I have the same issue. Does any one here sleep on their stomach?
Jayo33 J0P1315
Posted
Just went to a specialist, and they refused to take a biopsy..."There is no skin to take it from". I don't know what to do. If I can just confirm diagnosis, for example if it is lichen sclerosus, then there is a new way to cure it in USA. But since the doctors doesn't want to collaborate with me in establishing diagnosis, I'm not sure what to do next...
andrew28840 Jayo33
Posted
That's s weird because Joe86200 seems to have been able to get a biopsy and it appears he is still waiting for the results. Hopefully his results may shed some light for all of us.
joe62800 J0P1315
Edited
BIOPSY RESULTS - VERY IMPORTANT - EVERYONE PLEASE READ - COULD SAVE LIVES
I just had a call from the dermatologist with the results from my biopsy.
It came as a bit of a shock, but also great relief. My issue looks exactly like the original posters pictures, I've seen other pictures uploaded here which don't look like the same issue but this is important to read nonetheless.
What they found as a result of the biopsy is the HPV-16 virus (part of the genital warts family, although the issue doesn't look like warts as you'd imagine them).
It has led to pre-cancerous cells, known as penile intraepithelial neoplasia. She said not to panic, and that it was good to catch whilst it's still pre-cancerous, for obvious reasons. For this reason I really have to implore everyone here to get a biopsy performed as it could save your life or at least save you from potentially having penile cancer.
I'm being referred to a urologist, who my dermatologist informed me would likely prescribe a specific cream to treat the issue (I don't know the name of it yet).
I have to stress that getting a biopsy to check whether it is pre-cancerous for everyone's individual issue is so so important. It really wasn't painful and has healed completely with no scar already and the information / peace of mind it has given me knowing that it's a curable virus is invaluable. If you have had a chronic issue with this please bring it up with your doctor.
Some of the misdiagnosis of this particular penile pre-cancer are balanitis, candidiasis, dermatitis, and psoriasis. All things that I know I've been told it could be at one point or another by my GP, as I'm sure many of you have.
Please see this leaflet for more information on penile intraepithelial neoplasia - https://dermnetnz.org/topics/penile-intraepithelial-neoplasia/
I've been a smoker from the age of 14 (now 28) which is a potential cause, so to any smokers out there I'd say ditch the cigarettes too.
I'll update everyone again once I've seen the urologist.
I had to force my particular doctor to get me in for a biopsy and I'm so glad i did now. Please please please do the same, for the sake of a tiny piece of skin being taken, it's worth your life.
Cheers, Joe
(I don't know why it hasn't broken everything into spaced paragraphs, sorry)
andrew28840 joe62800
Edited
Awesome! I'm so glad that you not only insisted on the biopsy, but that you also shared your results with us. I will absolutely be insisting on a biopsy at my next appointment. I would be very interested to know what your urologist prescribes you. We wish you well on your next step to recovery, we are all in this together! Thanks again
donut_man joe62800
Edited
Thank you so much for sharing Joe62800. that diagnosis is a bit scary but glad you now at least know what you're dealing with. after 10 years I'm sure that is some relief.
I'm sure many guys here reading this may get worried seeing that word cancer. Would you be comfortable sharing a picture of the affected area so the people here could do a first pass comparison to their own situations?
joe62800 donut_man
Edited
My case is identical to the pictures from the original poster, and Jay033
It's important to note that it's pre-cancerous, I was reassured by the dermatologist that there was nothing to panic or be too worried about and that it is completely treatable.
k801 joe62800
Posted
Thanks for posting. I have the problem with dots on glans and foreskin that come and go and dryness. Also skin is sometimes shiny.
anti fungal doesnt do much for me.
Are hpv 16 lesions more permanent in nature or do you think it might be what i have?
andrew28840 k801
Posted
This sounds much more like contact dermatitis or balantis caused from the soap you're using rather than the issues being experienced in this thread.
k801 andrew28840
Posted
ok I suspect and hope that too. I would assume marks, dots and cuts caused by hpv stays longer time period in the same place like genital warts do? but I havent read and confirmed that anywhere.
I have sometimes minor cuts also but from having tight frenulum I think.
I have gone 6 months with good hygiene and no soap. Tried perfume free oil and anti fungal and avoided hydrocortisone so far but no success. But I guess i have to try that too and maybe antibiotics before doing a biopsy.
joe62800 k801
Posted
For me, the fissures would/ do usually take anywhere between one nights sleep to 2 days to heal up again. From what I've learnt online about this it's the same virus that women get a smear test for in the UK when they turn 25 to check for cervical issues.
It's worth checking the link I posted before for some more info on what the biopsy turned out!
k801 joe62800
Posted
Yes I read the link, 10-30% of PIN developing into cancer doesnt sound good.
Nice to hear that you found your diagnosis and can treat it!
Generally it says HPV clears within 1-2 years in most cases. I wonder if that is true for this type. Maybe I can hope for my immune system.
1-2 days sounds exactly like my case. But i rarely have fissures, more often small red areas. Then it looks good for a few days and then back to depressing square one.
I Dont know what to do.
Try a steroid creme or will that make things worse? The doctors here seem to have that for standard solution.
joe62800 k801
Posted
Hi mate, I think the issue isn't necessarily the HPV, it's the penile intraepithelial neoplasia, it's just that in my specific case they found HPV as well (which is linked, but from the leaflet it doesn't look like it always has to be present at the same time).
I'm no expert on this so I wouldn't feel comfortable suggesting a treatment, I think it's worth asking your doctor if they can test for penile intraepithelial neoplasia without a biopsy perhaps?
I completely understand and empathise with what you're going through mate, as much as we all might feel like we've been a little let down by medical professionals in their struggle to diagnose us, they're still the only people who can give proper advice on what to use/ how to use it.
Keep us updated on your situation, we're all in this together!
k801 joe62800
Posted
Thanks mate, I will post here if i come up with something. I think biopsy is the only way to diagnose but I don't know,
Internet is good cause you can find alot of people with same problems. The problem is internet is full of people who come up with their own fantasies and theories hehe.
Of course doctors should be first.
From studies I found HPV seems extremely common in PIN and penile cancer but maybe not the cause.
But far from all HPV infections lead to cancer of course.
Some suggest Gardasil vaccination might be a treatment for penile HPV but there are no studies yet. In prevention it works. Maybe worth a shot (no pun intended).
Anyway good luck
b51041 joe62800
Posted
Did your dermatologist require that the biopsy be done when lesions were present?
Two reasons for asking:
joe62800 b51041
Posted
Hi, sorry for the late reply, I haven't checked back here in a while.
The dermatologist said the exact same thing to me, my argument was that how can they take a sample of skin from a legion, an open wound?
I have two quite visible (to me anyway) lines where scarification has occurred due to the amount of splitting. I pointed one of them out and they took a sample of skin from the affected area.
yan07572 joe62800
Posted
Hello Joe!
I must add that P.I.N is often due to HPV16 among other strains, as well as other viral illnesses or fungal infections over a long period of time. Such a lichen schlerosus by example as mentionned by another patient.
Did you meant dysplasia instead of neoplasia? Neoplasia usually already have a potential toward actively growing into cancers (not always, but if caused by HPV it has a tendency to).
This said, just as with women, the those HPVs lead to cellular changes. Usually warts or any HPV16 infection is considered a dysplasia as it can cause cellular changes in the tissues. Thats why women have pap smear, yet for men there is no accurate way to diagnose other than said biopsy it seems. Most wait and watch as many dysplasias go away on their own. While neoplasia are already an active process that evolves.
When it comes to this issues. I was having it as a teenager. It just started to come back about a month or two ago and it stays. The skins stopped ripping open, even if I pull. But the skin is red and feels thick. Itching sometimes. Dry skin. I have been doing that antigungal therapy. But I reallyt think I am about to go straight up to Urology. Me and HPV have a long hate story. Might it be that again?
yan07572 k801
Posted
10-30% PINs seem like a lot. Any HPV16 or other oncogenic type is considered a PIN once in the tissue normally.
And those types are very common. Think of women undergoing pap tests. That is the main reason. Yet most HPVs go away on their own. Yes, in the case of Joe that has been a smoker since a young age and carrying this for a long time can encourage the virus to sits longer and cause trouble. Yet, 10-30% is still a lot. Maybe it was taken into account as an overview, HPV and other conditions regrouped, including the Bowen disease, lichens and etc. So please do not panic. The statistic might be general and not applicable to you.
HPV dysplasias take a long time to turn into cancers. If your issue is recent, you have plenty of time to address it, take care of your health and to manage any outcome.
For Joe, to keep the best results, I strongly advise that you boost your immunity, sleep well and what not.