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Intense Itch On Scrotum, Started To Bleed. Can It Spread? Can It Be Eczema?
Question: Hi please assist, I have what started as an intense itch on my scrotum.I would scratch this until it would cause a small cut that would bleed.The next day it would cure, but the skin would be flakey and I would be able to peel it off like sunburn.My main concern here is my wife and I have not had sex because of this and I used her towel she now seems to have the same thing.This is driving me insane and the more I google no Dr seems to have a direct answer.Exczema would not transfer would it
Hi!,
Thank you for posting the query,
You have provided with good information regarding your skin problem and it is a very good description. I appreciate it.
I understood your problem however it would be good if you can answer few of my queries:
1) How long you have been having this?
2) Does it itch only over the scrotum or is it over the sides (groins) as well?
3) Have you tried any medication till now?
4) Does it itch only at night ?
5) Do you have any lesion over the penis as well?
6) Where exactly does your wife has a problem (groins or abdomen)?
7) Do you have itching over the finger web spaces also?
With history what you have submitted ,there seems to be few possibilities.
If it has only involved the scrotum ,then we are dealing with lichen simplex chronicus.
If it is involving the groins ,then it can be a fungal infection ,which can be transmitted to your wife as well.
If it is also involving your penis , abdomen and web spaces of fingers along with the scrotum ,then we are dealing with scabies .Even this can be transmitted to the partner by touch.
If you can please answer my questions and even send me a picture of the lesion then it would help me come to a conclusion.You have a feature to upload the reports / image by yourself at the right side of the query page, please utilize that so that I can answer your queries better.
You are very correct regarding the eczema,it cannot be transmitted.
Awaiting for your reply.
Regards,
Dr.Bharat chawda XXXXXXX specialist, Dermatology.
Thank you for posting the query,
You have provided with good information regarding your skin problem and it is a very good description. I appreciate it.
I understood your problem however it would be good if you can answer few of my queries:
1) How long you have been having this?
2) Does it itch only over the scrotum or is it over the sides (groins) as well?
3) Have you tried any medication till now?
4) Does it itch only at night ?
5) Do you have any lesion over the penis as well?
6) Where exactly does your wife has a problem (groins or abdomen)?
7) Do you have itching over the finger web spaces also?
With history what you have submitted ,there seems to be few possibilities.
If it has only involved the scrotum ,then we are dealing with lichen simplex chronicus.
If it is involving the groins ,then it can be a fungal infection ,which can be transmitted to your wife as well.
If it is also involving your penis , abdomen and web spaces of fingers along with the scrotum ,then we are dealing with scabies .Even this can be transmitted to the partner by touch.
If you can please answer my questions and even send me a picture of the lesion then it would help me come to a conclusion.You have a feature to upload the reports / image by yourself at the right side of the query page, please utilize that so that I can answer your queries better.
You are very correct regarding the eczema,it cannot be transmitted.
Awaiting for your reply.
Regards,
Dr.Bharat chawda XXXXXXX specialist, Dermatology.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
1)I would say 6 months
2)It itches only on the left and right hand side of my scrotum just where the two testicles sit
3)The dermatologist I saw gave me a steroid cream and said it was eczema
4)at night it itches mainly , I forgot to mention once I have scratched and I shower it stings but I am assuming it is because it is raw.
5)I have no lesions on my penis
6)funnily enough my wife seems to have it also in a similar spot
7)i have no itching or markings anywhere on my fingers.
8)It seems many people on the internet have this issue and none have a resolve.
9)I wanted to send a pic but it looks normal at the moment.
the thing is i can be fine for a day or two then it comes back intensely
2)It itches only on the left and right hand side of my scrotum just where the two testicles sit
3)The dermatologist I saw gave me a steroid cream and said it was eczema
4)at night it itches mainly , I forgot to mention once I have scratched and I shower it stings but I am assuming it is because it is raw.
5)I have no lesions on my penis
6)funnily enough my wife seems to have it also in a similar spot
7)i have no itching or markings anywhere on my fingers.
8)It seems many people on the internet have this issue and none have a resolve.
9)I wanted to send a pic but it looks normal at the moment.
the thing is i can be fine for a day or two then it comes back intensely
Hi!,
Thank you for the reply,
According to the description it seems to be a fungal infection known as Tinea Cruris.
Steroid cream which you are using would give you a temporary relief in this .In fact after stopping the steroid cream you would experience that this problem comes back again.
In such a situation what I would advise you is a oral anti-fungal tablet like fluconazole for about four weeks (weekly dose).Along with this you can also use a topical anti fungal cream once a day.
If this doesn't give you a response in 4 weeks then it would mean that it is not fungal infection , but rather a neurodermatitis of scrotum(lichen simplex chronicus) and would require a long term steroid cream application.
These are very common problem which we see regularly in our OPD .It becomes important to differentiate between neurodermatitis and fungal infection .If you follow the above advise I am sure this would help you.
A fungal infection can get transmitted to the partner ,but a neurodermatitis never gets transmitted .
Hope I've answered your query.
Should you have additional concern regarding the same ,I would be happy to address it.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Regards,
Dr.Bharat chawda XXXXXXX specialist, Dermatology.
Thank you for the reply,
According to the description it seems to be a fungal infection known as Tinea Cruris.
Steroid cream which you are using would give you a temporary relief in this .In fact after stopping the steroid cream you would experience that this problem comes back again.
In such a situation what I would advise you is a oral anti-fungal tablet like fluconazole for about four weeks (weekly dose).Along with this you can also use a topical anti fungal cream once a day.
If this doesn't give you a response in 4 weeks then it would mean that it is not fungal infection , but rather a neurodermatitis of scrotum(lichen simplex chronicus) and would require a long term steroid cream application.
These are very common problem which we see regularly in our OPD .It becomes important to differentiate between neurodermatitis and fungal infection .If you follow the above advise I am sure this would help you.
A fungal infection can get transmitted to the partner ,but a neurodermatitis never gets transmitted .
Hope I've answered your query.
Should you have additional concern regarding the same ,I would be happy to address it.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Regards,
Dr.Bharat chawda XXXXXXX specialist, Dermatology.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
sorry you mentioned the tablets but you did not mention the name of a cream.I read that this can spred to the anus and occasionaly I do get dry skin so hopefully know this is the correct diagnosis
Hi!,
Thank you for writing back,
You can use any anti-fungal cream available in the market like clotrimazole cream or ketoconazole cream.This can be used once daily.
I would like to mention that these are my opinions and in no way do I claim to be totally right.According to the history mentioned this seems to be the closest possibility to me.
Yes it can spread to the anus as well.
I would advise you to consult a dermatologist personally at your place for confirmation.
Hope I've answered your query.
Should you have additional concern regarding the same ,I would be happy to address it.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Regards,
Dr.Bharat chawda XXXXXXX specialist, Dermatology.
Thank you for writing back,
You can use any anti-fungal cream available in the market like clotrimazole cream or ketoconazole cream.This can be used once daily.
I would like to mention that these are my opinions and in no way do I claim to be totally right.According to the history mentioned this seems to be the closest possibility to me.
Yes it can spread to the anus as well.
I would advise you to consult a dermatologist personally at your place for confirmation.
Hope I've answered your query.
Should you have additional concern regarding the same ,I would be happy to address it.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Regards,
Dr.Bharat chawda XXXXXXX specialist, Dermatology.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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