What Does A Red Patch Below Penis Head Indicate?

Brief Answer:
Candidial balanoposthitis/ ? Condom allergy

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to healthcare magic.

I understand from your query that you are having a red patch on your penis.

I saw the clinical pictures attached by you.

With your history and clinical appearance, the possibilities I would consider include Candidial balanoposthitis and Contact dermatitis to condom ( Latex).

Candidial balanoposthitis is an inflammation of the foreskin and glans ( could occur together or on either foreskin or on glans alone). The most common cause for this is the fungus candida. It grows well under moist conditions and favors areas like the groin and the genitalia.

You could apply a cream containing 1 % Clotrimazole ( available over the counter) twice a day for 2- 3 weeks.
Avoid scratching the area. You could take an antihistamine like Benadryl at bedtime for about 10 days to avoid rubbing/ scratching.
Keep the area as dry as possible. Wash it once during bath and may be once later if required. Do not wash more than 2 times a day as moisture could promote fungal growth. Dry it as soon as you wash.
You could also take oral Fluconazole tablet 150 mg as a single dose. This may have to prescribed by you GP.

The 2 nd possibility I would consider is Contact dermatitis to Condom. This is an allergy to the latex or rubber component of the condom. This is not as common as candidial balanoposthitis. However, I am considering this because of your history that it flares up every time you use a condom. But since you have mentioned that it flares up every time you masturbate ( where I presume you are not using a a condom), I am considering this as a 2 nd possibility.

This needs to be treated with 1 % hydrocortisone cream twice a day for 5- 10 days.
The mainstay of treatment will be to avoid latex. You may have to look for Latex free condoms ( there are quite a few available).

I would suggest that you initially try treating it as Candidial balanoposthitis. If it does not respond, you could try the 2 nd treatment which I mentioned and change your condoms to Latex free ones.

Hope this helps you.

If you have any more queries, I will be glad to assist.

Take care.

Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko

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Brief Answer:
Unlikely to be sexually transmitted disease

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Greetings!

I have seen the additional clinical pictures.

I would still consider the same possibilities as I have mentioned earlier.

You could follow the same lines of treatment. I would advise you to try latex free condoms as crusting is usually seen in case of an allergic condition.

It does not seem to be a sexually transmitted disease.

Hope this helps you.

Wishing you good health,
Dr. Johny Chacko

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