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What Causes Red Rash On Groin Area And Scrotum?
Question: Hello. I am staying in a camp working right now. The first few nights i slept in the nude and noticed a red rash on my groin and scrotum, it lasted couple days? I should mention I do shave my pubic area. Since then ive been sleeping with cloths on, I did shave one more time after that but noticed some pimple like skin colored bumps varying in size from pin head to ball point pen size! Since then ive stopped shaving I thought maybe I irritated something and made it spread! They are mostly at the bottom of penis shaft top of scrotum area but some on the shaft about 5 or 6, the bigger ones stay and some fade in and out! My scrotum area seems red, it is a bit itchy but was thinking the itchyness was probably from the pubic hair growing back! The head and shaft of my penis seems to a bit dry too, kind of wrinkley looking! Havent had sex in over a yr and a half and before that was with the same girl for two and a half years, so u'd think that would rule out std? My right tecticle seems to be a bit tender also! Been a couple wks now with this problem , not sure what it is or what to do since im working in camp and wont get to a doc for a few wks!! No discharge or pain urinating! Hard to get any pictures, dosent really show up very well! Been putting hydrocortizone cream on them but hasnt really changed!
Brief Answer:
Stop using steroid cream
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I understand your concern regarding your skin problem and I hope I am able to help you in the same.
It would have been really helpful if you could click some close up pictures of the affected area and upload them here on this page . But since you are unable to do so ,I would try to help you as much as I can .
From the description you have provided,it looks like you have developed a fungal infection over the groin region .
Itching ,dryness and redness might all point towards a fungal infection of the area called tinea .
I would suggest that since hydrocortisone cream has not been of much help to you ,you should surely stop its application.
Keep the affected area clean and dry.
Wash the affected area with lukewarm saline water twice daily.
You need to start application of a topical anti fungal cream over the affected area twice daily .I usually recommend clotrimazole containing creams to my patients with such an infection .
It has to be continuously used over the affected areas for atleast three weeks .
Do not apply any other cream or oil over the affected area.
Some patients also need to be treated with oral anti fungal agents as well .
Wear cotton undergarments so as to decrease sweating and prevent further infection.
You might have to see a doctor if the infection still persists inspite of the above measures .
Dr Geetika Paul
Stop using steroid cream
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I understand your concern regarding your skin problem and I hope I am able to help you in the same.
It would have been really helpful if you could click some close up pictures of the affected area and upload them here on this page . But since you are unable to do so ,I would try to help you as much as I can .
From the description you have provided,it looks like you have developed a fungal infection over the groin region .
Itching ,dryness and redness might all point towards a fungal infection of the area called tinea .
I would suggest that since hydrocortisone cream has not been of much help to you ,you should surely stop its application.
Keep the affected area clean and dry.
Wash the affected area with lukewarm saline water twice daily.
You need to start application of a topical anti fungal cream over the affected area twice daily .I usually recommend clotrimazole containing creams to my patients with such an infection .
It has to be continuously used over the affected areas for atleast three weeks .
Do not apply any other cream or oil over the affected area.
Some patients also need to be treated with oral anti fungal agents as well .
Wear cotton undergarments so as to decrease sweating and prevent further infection.
You might have to see a doctor if the infection still persists inspite of the above measures .
Dr Geetika Paul
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thanks for your quick reply doctor! I did manage to take a couple pics for you, i guess it kinda does show up and shows the red and dryness!Hope this helps you! So i should stop using the steriod cream? I'm also taking a bunch of vitamins and immune booster to help my immune system deal with this! As I said I am in a camp job with limited supplies , so your saline solution how would i make that up, water a table salt mixture or no? I have stopped using soap in this area incase that was irritaing it more!?
Brief Answer:
Stop steroid cream
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
I have seen the attached pictures.
You seem to have developed steroid induced thinning and atrophy of skin.
Also I do see a focus is tinea infection .
Stop application of cortisone cream completely.
Mix a teaspoon of salt in a bowl of XXXXXXX warm water and wash the affected area twice daily . You can continue to use a soap while taking bath for cleaning the area. Avoid using dettol.
Dry the area and apply a topical anti fungal cream as told, twice daily.
You can ,in addition, apply some mild moisturizer over the area once or twice daily.
I am sure this will help you .
Dr Geetika Paul
Stop steroid cream
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
I have seen the attached pictures.
You seem to have developed steroid induced thinning and atrophy of skin.
Also I do see a focus is tinea infection .
Stop application of cortisone cream completely.
Mix a teaspoon of salt in a bowl of XXXXXXX warm water and wash the affected area twice daily . You can continue to use a soap while taking bath for cleaning the area. Avoid using dettol.
Dry the area and apply a topical anti fungal cream as told, twice daily.
You can ,in addition, apply some mild moisturizer over the area once or twice daily.
I am sure this will help you .
Dr Geetika Paul
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Ok thx! The clotrimazole cream is it a persciption cream, what do I look for in the drug store? Can i wait till next wk(7 days from now) when i get out of campor should i get it right away?Do i apply it to the whole penis and scrotom or just the skin spots on the penis? What is the skin thinning look like that you see, is there anything for that?
Brief Answer:
Clotrimazole OTC
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
clotrimazole is an over the counter medicine and and is available as Canestan cream .
It is better to start treatment right away but you can wait for a week if there is no access to health facilities at present.
Apply it all over the penile and scrotal area but just apply a little amount .
Thinning of skin can occur due to long term steroid usage .
So stopping the application of steroids and application of a moisturizer can slowly help in reverting the skin back to normal .
Dr Geetika Paul
Clotrimazole OTC
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
clotrimazole is an over the counter medicine and and is available as Canestan cream .
It is better to start treatment right away but you can wait for a week if there is no access to health facilities at present.
Apply it all over the penile and scrotal area but just apply a little amount .
Thinning of skin can occur due to long term steroid usage .
So stopping the application of steroids and application of a moisturizer can slowly help in reverting the skin back to normal .
Dr Geetika Paul
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
So the bumps in the pic i resent are from the Tinea? My mind still kind of worries that the bumps in the pic that i have circled are an std(warts) As i said i have not had sex in over a yr n a half and it was with a girl that i was in a almost three yr relationship with before that! Can you sent my mind at ease? Also when i wash with the saline solution do i do it at the end of my shower after soaping the area?
Brief Answer:
Don't worry, no evidence of STD
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
I have seen the attached pictures.
Although the picture quality is not that great but from what I can make out from the pictures, I do not see any evidence of warts or any std over the area.
So just be relaxed, don't worry.
You can follow the treatment as advised.
You can however, take an appointment and meet a dermatologist whenever possible so that a direct examination of the area can be done to be doubly sure.
After taking bath, clean the area as advised and apply the medicine.
Dr Geetika Paul
Don't worry, no evidence of STD
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
I have seen the attached pictures.
Although the picture quality is not that great but from what I can make out from the pictures, I do not see any evidence of warts or any std over the area.
So just be relaxed, don't worry.
You can follow the treatment as advised.
You can however, take an appointment and meet a dermatologist whenever possible so that a direct examination of the area can be done to be doubly sure.
After taking bath, clean the area as advised and apply the medicine.
Dr Geetika Paul
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. Ashwin Bhandari
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