White layer of skin when foreskin retracted / redness and red dots

Yes, sexually active but use protection and I can go without sex for weeks but symptoms do not subside

Sorry, I forgot to add, you can also access the necessary skin specialist by going to a Sexual Health Service and asking them to refer you to such a Specialist in the Region of the Country in which you live. Alternatively, if you live in the UK for example, you can also go to a GUM Clinic at your local General Hospital and ask to be referred to a Genital Skin Specialist ...

NEVER entertain the suggestion that your get circumcised to 'cure' this, as circumcised men also suffer from this - you should always give something like a correct Steroidal Regime at least 8 to 10 months before even considering circumcision, as circumcision can present major side-effects that you never thought you would end up dealing with, AND you are likely to still have the skin disorder anyway ...... !

Wee_Dugie

I have been to 3 urologists, 2 dermatologist and I've seen 2 consultants in the GUM clinic. One consultant in the GUM clinic said it could be seborrheic dermatitis but he was just guessing. The other consultant said "sorry I don't not know and that is something I will have to learn to live with". I asked for a biopsy but they refused to do it saying that the scar would cause more trouble than the current condition. I have used 2% steroid creams, but never used it for longer than 2 weeks as the side effects are well known.

As well as my head, my foreskin is also impacted. It is red and the whole penile skin feels inflammated, if I touch it, it is always from warm to hot. Strangely enough, it seems to have spread to my scrotum too. It has become red and sometimes sticky after the shower.

What condition do you have and how do you manage it? Do you also get occasional rash in a form of small spots?

What I suggest you most likely have is Lichen Sclerosus (LS). Like me a sample of skin can be taken from your foreskin and within a couple of months you would not be able to see where the sample was taken from = no problem at all. You currently have severe symptoms and no Medical Professional worth their salt should suggest the possibility that 'this is something you should learn to deal with for the rest of your life'! To me, that is very unprofessional ....

So, go back to the Specialist you feel you can either trust most, or establish a working relationship with - some Medical Professionals still refer to LS to as the Male specific version of Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans. The most widely recognised treatment from international Dermatology research is Clobetasol - yes this is a Steriod and you should at least try the Ointment version of it for 3 to 5 months. Clobetasol is most known by Brand names of Dermovate and ClobaDerm, I prefer the Dermovate version as it is easier and more effective to apply.

You should not let scare stories, either from people who have used Steroid Ointments, and often, or from Medical Professionals either from stopping you from using these at least on a trial basis. By the way, the Steroid strength of Clobetasol is 0.05% - I have used it consistently for almost 8 years and have never suffered from any deleterious side-effects through the correct use of it.

Once you get the Clobetasol prescribed I can guide you further in getting the best out of it and what else you need to put in place to help your penile skin to be as healthy as possible .....

I've searched the internet about LS and discovered that LS can cause some urinary problems. Do you know if LS is the cause of urinary problems or is the urinary problem a potential cause of LS??? I am suffering from weak flow and after dribble and doctors treat me for prostate related issues, but I feel that it could actually be related to the penis condition and frankly speaking, I am too young for prostate problems.

Also, LS is described as having white patches of skin which thicken over time. Is this the advanced stage of LS? Is the early stage just the penile redness, dry skin and some soreness/irritation feeling?

For natural ointments/ moisturisers, what do you use to deal with dry skin?

It is likely that your urinary problem is something separate. The photos show that the symptoms you have are not in the early stage, something, or a range of things have been completely wrong for sometime now, and potentially for years!

When you say " I've been battling my condition for years now " - so it is time for you to get a diagnosis of what you actually have - you need to do this with a Specialist, and the initial one to see is a Dermatologist, if you can find one in your region where you live that deals with Genital Skin Disorders that would be particularly helpful. They should diagnose and put the correct treatment in place that is right for the severity of the condition that you currently have, and a one that suits your skin the best.

I am not even going to mention any other ointments or moisturisers that help with dry skin - it is essential that you get the prescribed treatment regime in place first and that this has proven to be effective for you for at least 3 or 4 months .....

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