HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Is Discoloration On The Foreskin A Side Effect Of Lotrisone?

Posted on Tue, 13 Sep 2016

Question: Hello Dr.
I was prescribed to apply Lotrisone (Clotrimazole and Betamethasone 1%-0.0.5%) ointment for acquired phimosis. I used it for 17 days as advised by my doctor.
When I used to apply the medicine I used to feel a mild burning sensation after application (only after 1 week of application this feeling started) . BTW I applied liberally on glans, inside & outside the foreskin. Sometimes the medicine might over the penis opening too.
Now even after stopping the medicine for 3 days, I started to feel more warmth, pain & higher burning (not itching) feeling in the shaft & glans and also in the rectum area. Also the tip of the foreskin is discolored & glans look more purple (BTW I'm not forcefully pulling the foreskin back)

My concerns are :
Could these be side-effect of the medicine ?
Or could the burning/pain be due to another infection since the steroid compromises the immunity ?
Thanks

Answered by Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Could be doside effects of Lotrisone

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for query.
You have developed acquired Phimosis and was prescribed combination of topical anti fungal and steroid ointment (Lotrisone) and has developed burning of the genitals ,pain over glans penis .

This is most likely to be due to side effect of the drugs in addition to primary infection of the foreskin and glans penis ( Ballano Posthatitis) which could be the primary cause for Phimosis .

Ideally you need to use systemic antibiotic and topical antibiotic to eradicate infection .

You need to take broad spectrum antibiotic like Cefotaxime along with anti inflammatory drug like Diclofenac twice daily along with topical antibiotic ointment like Neosporin twice daily.

Ensure to wash your genitals with warm water twice daily.

Consult qualified General surgeon for assessment .You may need to get circumcised .
This is a simple surgery done under local anaesthesia as a out patient procedure and offers permanent cure .

Hope I have answered your query ,please feel free to ask if you have more questions , I shall be happy to help you .
Thanks and Regards.
Dr.Patil.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (7 hours later)

Thanks Dr. XXXXXXX I have a few follow-up questions.

Q1. Would the side effects of lotrisone diminish over time ?
Q2. Are there any tests for balanoposthitis ?
Q3. Is it safe to get circumcised as an adult ?
Q4. Would you recommend partial or full circumcision ?

Just curious could all this be due to stress/anxiety (too much body heat). Before all this started I had been working for a month every night (until 2am 3/am) & again up for work around 8am, lot of Travel & eating untimely/outside foods. I started to have acidity too.

Before that I never such issues over my 44 years.
Thanks again for your time.

Answered by Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Steroid does cause flare up of infection .

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for follow up .

Using topical steroid does cause flare up of infection .Answers to your queries are

1) This side effect will go away over period of time .

2)There are no tests for Ballano Posthatitis,

3) There is no harm in getting circumcised at this age .

4)Better to get complete circumcision done .

Thanks and Regards.
Dr.Patil.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (3 days later)

Thanks Dr. XXXXXXX Since my adverse sensations are already getting better & milder on its own. I think it's mostly side effect of the steroid medication. Will wait for another 2 weeks. If it is fine by then, I don't I need any medication.

Also regarding the foreskin tightness, with some mild stretching, I do see some improvements. I think that might take more time to resolve completely. Will try some mild stretches twice daily for another 6 weeks. If I see progress happening, I'll try to avoid circumcision.

Thanks again for your time.

Answered by Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Long term effects of stretching of foreskin are not encouraging .

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for follow up .
The stretching of foreskin does not help in adults and long term effects are not encouraging .

There is no harm in trying it and take a call for Circumcision if required after few weeks of trial .

Thanks and Regards.
Dr.Patil.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (49 minutes later)

Dr XXXXXXX

Reason I'm confused about circumcision is that, I see that there are varying options.
- low/mid/high cut & (sometimes terms like tight or loose is used) ? which is good while flaccid & erect ?
- how much of inner & outer foreskin should be cut ?
- frenulum cut or uncut ?
- non dissolving sutures or dissolving sutures ?
- will the scar been seen for ever ?
- types of cut - all around or at 12'0clock or 6 'oclock etc.

Rgds, XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
There is nothing to be get confused about circumcision .

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for follow up .
The long term results of circumcision are similar irrespective of whether it is mid ,high or low and the level of foreskin excised .

In a standard circumcision Frenulum is not excised

Now a days no surgeon uses non absorbing suture material in circumcision .An absorbable suture Vicryl is used which gets dissolved within 2-3 weeks .

No scar is seen after a month or two when wound gets healed up completely .

The term circumcision denotes around the circumference .

Thanks and Regards.
Dr.Patil.

Note: Consult a Urologist online for consultation about prostate and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, impotence and erectile dysfunction - Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar