What is this rash?

As you can see, redness persists in the area. Although it doesn't look as bad as photo one, but it doesn't after abstaining from masturbation for a long period of time.

I'm one week into the use of a steroid cream which isn't really making any significant difference. With one week left of this before having to return to the Doctors I'm at my wits end.

I'm still keeping the area clean and dry, avoiding soaps etc.

I'm still unable to kick the thoughts this may be something sinister such as penile cancer.

Any input from anyone on the forums would be massively appreciated.

Same problem here man...have tried everything but am considering CBD oil or balm to see what happens...have used Hydrocortisone, Triamcinilone, anti-fungals, tea tree and other essential oils, nothing resolves it...if you come up with anything I'd be grateful as well.

Thanks for the update. In terms of the steroid cream are you meaning the Canesten HC? I am not quite sure of the relative steroid strength of that but make sure you read the details on the leaflet for that, you may not get any real benefit from it for 2 weeks anyway.

Can I just check, are you currently sexually active and not using condoms?

The next time you see the Doctor / GP you need a clear explanation from them as to why this is not penile cancer as this situation is clearly having a significant psychological impact on you ......

Hi mate,

Yes, Canesten HC. I believe it's Hydrocortisone 1% and Cloritmazole 1%.

I haven't had sex with my girlfriend since before this started, which will be roughly 4.months ago now. (3 months with symptoms, sex was approx 3/4 weeks before this).

I agree, it's not getting any better so I need some verification that it's not something sinister. Some form of test as opposed to just having various creams thrown my way in the hope they clear it.

sorry, also not using condoms, but as mentioned above, I'm not currently sexually active.

If you can do an update after you have seen a medical professional that would be good.

If you live in the UK try a GUM Clinic at your local General Hospital or any Walk-In Sexual Health Service for a different opinion .......

I'm back, with yet another update. As the steroid cream appeared to be doing nothing, I decided to not apply anything at all for a few days to see if maybe the redness was now due to constant application of ointments.

After about 2 days, the glans started itching more and I noticed some new red spots.

Having concluded the only thing I had been applying was antifungals, surely this must be a fungal infection of some sort to worsen after stopping application?

I took a 150mg dose of Flucanozole again, applied the daktarin cream and the next day it seemed a lot less red/rash like but today it's back to the usual red patch, although, the newer spots have now gone....

I will be going to the Dr on Wednesday, I'll ask to be referred to a urologist/dermatologist and in the meantime if it's possible to try a course of oral antifungals along with the creams rather than just the one off dose you can buy in stores.

Thanks for the update. If you are treating and getting some reaction with antifungal cream the question surely has to be what is the source of the infection?

Steroid creams are only as good as the strength they have - if the issue they are actually trying to combat is beyond their capability you may get a response, but nothing approaching a cure.

This is where seeing a Dermatologist that deals with genital skin issues would be most helpful for you. I would suggest contacting or going to a Sexual Health Center and asking how you see a specialist dermatologist who deals with genital skin disorders .....

Update.

I returned to the GP's office and this time I saw the Dr who runs the practice (has been my usual dr since I was a child).

He had a look over the area and asked what I was worried about, to him it looked fine and he only noticed the red areas after essentially shining a spotlight on them.

He recommended I stop worrying, as I had been tested for STIs/STDs and they came back negative there's absolutely no need to abstain from sex.

He told me to apply some general moisturiser to the area. Perhaps E45, but that he see's nothing serious. He did prescribe 50mg of flucanozole daily for one week but said that's just because I questioned it possibly being a difficult to shift case of thrush.

I'm on day 2 of the flucanozole along with just using E45. What I can say already is that my foreskin feels a lot less aggravated just using the E45 as opposed to an antifungal/steroid cream.

I have read elsewhere on the web a lot of women found relief from a difficult case of thrush taking a probiotic so I'm also currently taking a daily dose of Acidophilus.

I'll keep posting as the week goes on with my progress.

but what I'm trying to take the most from all of this is that I've seen 4 doctors and one sexual health nurse regarding the issue. If none of these medical professionals have seemed too concerned perhaps i shouldn't either.

Thanks for the further information.

It would be better if you worked towards having nothing that was chemical based that contacted the head and foreskin of your penis. Essentially, water is the only safe thing to have contact with this sensitive skin - I would suggest this be your goal to work towards, otherwise what you are concerned about in terms of appearance, would likely become a permanent presence.

Thought I'd offer another update now that it's been a few weeks.

So around the week two mark, i had used the diflucan for a week and applied nothing but E45. Honestly, there was maybe a 2 day window where I thought i was finally rid of this, my glans looked normal again.

Maybe another 2 days later I notice an itch by the urethra and then a red spot.

Applied some more E45 which does help suppress the symptoms but, nope, its back, more red spots all over the head and the same persistent large red patch at the base.

Honestly, I'm sick of this.

Josh, thanks for the update. In my experience the more things you apply to penile skin that is damaged the less likely it is to recover. The main complicating factor for any male with symptoms like this is whether they are sexually active or not, as, often the original source of the problem is often either a fungal or bacterial infection they have received via unprotected penetrative sex. The continued risk for infected skin therefore is constant reinfection and a cyclical nature of symptoms coming and going.

So, it really depends on whether you are sexually active or not, whether you always use condoms if you are sexually active, and if not, getting to the bottom of what it is you have going on .....

I've not had sex since before the redness.

Have I masturbated, yes, this aggravates the symptoms.

I appreciate from your experience that applying nothing is the best option. However, when I apply nothing the symptoms get worse. For example the red spots mentioned above.

Yesterday I applied E45 maybe 8 times throughout the day. The red spots have now gone, the general redness is much better.

It's just strange that it fluctuates like this when everything that comes into contact with the area remains consistent.

If you look at it in this way, most of us were born with skin that is natural and normal, other than for nappy rash and things like that we do not need to apply anything to genital skin - this is how our skin should be, you do not get healthy skin by constantly applying something that is little more than a chemical compound.

What you are in is a cyclical situation, for your skin to seem better most people do not need to apply E45 constantly throughout the day - something is radically wrong if this is the case ......

You have what i have and i think it is just irritated glans. But when it becomes chronic it is a nightmare to get away.