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Suggest Treatment For Irritation On Penis And Scrotum

Posted on Thu, 30 Apr 2015

Question: About seven weeks ago I started having some irritation in the crease between where the left side of my penis and scrotum meet my pubic area. It began after I trimmed my pubic hair. It went away, but then I shaved the hair completely off and it came back right away. Now a few weeks later, the hair is growing back, but the irritation started again yesterday. The area is a little red, but there have been no lesions, sores, blisters, etc. The pain is rather deep at times. I imagine this is just from irritation from the smaller hairs rubbing and poking such a nerve-dense area? I definitely WON'T be shaving anymore! Just want to make sure it doesn't sound more serious.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (17 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Upload a few Images; would like to rule out fungal infection

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I have gone through the details of your query and I will try to help you with your concern.

I would like to rule out a possibility of tinea cruris/ fungal infection; groin folds provide an ideal environment for the fungus to grow.

However, I would like you to upload a few digital Images of the affected area so that I am able to help you better.

You may upload Images either at "Reports Section"

Or

You may also mail me the Images at YYYY@YYYY
Kindly mention the subject of this mail as "Attn:Dr. Kakkar".

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (12 minutes later)

Thanks for the response. I've uploaded a few pics. I do have some fungal growth on my thighs. Perhaps it's moved up there and the hairs are irritating it?

The pain is mostly in the crease of my penis.

I imagine with no blisters or anything it's not an STD or anything.

Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Upload Images again

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Unfortunately I have not yet received the Images. Kindly try and upload again and as many as you can.
Make sure you are mailing at the right email ID i.e YYYY@YYYY , the mail should be titled as Attention:Dr. kakkar

Or

You may also upload Images at "Reports Section" using the picture uploader option.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (19 minutes later)

Photos have been uploaded again. Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Fungal infection; topical antifungal and oral antihistamine

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Thank you.

I have reviewed the Images.

I can see that you have fungal infection of groin folds.
There is redness in the convexity of groin fold and i can see that the infection is extending outwards and forms a red margin on upper inner thighs.

This is certainly not an STD.

I suggest you to use a topical antifungal e.g clotrimazole 1% cream, twice daily for 2-4 weeks. It is available OTC.
However, it would be better if you could find a combination cream containing clotrimazole 1% and beclomethasone dipropionate 0.025%.

An OTC oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10 mg once daily in evening will provide you symptomatic relief from itching , irritation.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (3 minutes later)

Thank you doctor. The irritation is mostly on the area in the crease where my penis meets my body/groin area. It's red, so you think the infection has spread there?

I appreciate your input!

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Start topical antifungal creams preferably clotrimazole+beclomethasone

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Yes, the infection visibly involves the crease and adjacent folds. Redness, itching/ irritation are signs & symptoms of an active fungal infection.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (3 minutes later)

Thank you. Is there an over the counter product you can recommend?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Try otc topical antifungals

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Clotrimazole 1% cream and Miconazole nitrate 2% cream are available OTC. You may try either of these.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (2 minutes later)

Thank you. And just to confirm, this could be causing intermittent throbbing pain? Again, it's not so much in the crease on my groin/leg, it's between penis and skin between groin. I imagine it's the trimmed hairs that are poking into it.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Other cause for inguinal pain should be considered

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

I think that the intermittent throbbing/ deep pain that you repeatedly refer to in your query and that seems to localize itself to inguinal region is due to something else rather than due to fungal infection.

It does not seem to be due to trimmed pubic hair either. In pictures pubic hair don't appear that short so as to poke into skin and cause pain.

Other possible causes like "inguinal hernia" can cause pain at the inguinal region and should be considered and ruled out on examination.

-Do you feel pain when you press upon the area?

-Do you feel pain specially when coughing, exercising or when bending over?

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (23 minutes later)

I don't feel anything when I cough. Nor when I press on it.

When I rub on the area, or on the hair, it tends to spark it a little bit. But there are other times when I am just sitting still and I notice it.

If it was something like herpes, there would be obvious blisters there correct?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Genitals herpes presents with blisters or erosions.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Ok fine.

Yes, genital herpes would present either as blisters Or erosions.
Lesions in genital herpes are multiple, grouped, discrete erosions. They may coalesce to form polycyclic erosions.
Diagnosis of genital herpes is very obvious on clinical examination.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (34 minutes later)

Sorry if this is repeated...I'm not seeing my last response show up on the page.

So given your description of herpes, would you feel confident that they are ruled out here? Being that there is pain with no blisters?

And I assume the "pain point" with herpes is at the point of the blisters themselves?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Genital herpes is unlikely

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Also assuming that you never have a past history of blisters Or erosions, genital herpes is an unlikely diagnosis here.
Even if this pain is part of a prodrome of genital herpes, it should have been followed by appearance of herpetic sores.

Yes, pain is usually at the same area where herpetic sores would subsequently form.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 minute later)

And being that it's been on and off three times for about seven weeks probably also rules that out, correct?

Any other guesses?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Genital herpes is not likely

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

I can't think of genital herpes without any history of sores. Though genital herpes can be preceded by a prodrome of pain but that usually follows genital sores.

Genital herpes that is preceded by prodrome of pain is usually a severe / florid eruption rather than an abortive episode of herpes.

Regards

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