Balanitis

Hi - this question is for a dermatology Doc like Dr. Rockoff or another dermatologist.  8 weeks ago, I noticed that I had a bit of pain and two scratch like marks on the penis glan. I put some neosporin which did not help. I am uncircumcised male 45 age. When this developed into a rash, I went to the doctor who diagnosed it as balanitis and balanoposthisis. Checked my for diabetes, which I do not have. Gave me a steroid cream Clotrimazole+bimethadasone. I applied it for 10 days and went back for a check up and he said that it had gotten better but, to keep applying it twice a day for 3 more weeks. I have. At the end of the three more weeks, I notice that while the rash and pain is completely gone - the penis glan top part is still a bit red and shiny. I also take anti-anxiety and antidepressants and a beta blocker for high BP for the past couple of years. My anxiety and stress is so completely off the charts - since I can't understand why the redness and shinyness won't go away. I have spoken to a dermalogist friend of mine who told me to not put the steroid cream because it thins the skin after prolonged use. He also told me after seeing the photographs that there was nothing to worry about. I have cancer phobia and live day and night in panic, depression and anxiety and keep looking after every several hours to see if the redness and shinyness has gone away. Someone please help! Is this penile cancer? I am out of my mind right now...

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Shiny red penis skin is not the symptom of penile cancer but can be due to dermatitis skin which is common after balanitis or due to skin irritation. Your friend is right because at the delicate skin of penis, the topical steroid cream should be used with caution. It can cause skin thinning, skin atrophy or telangiectasia.

Wash the areas with fresh water. Do not use any cosmetic products at the sites. You can apply some calamine lotion at the rash as it will help in soothing the skin. Also wear cotton undergarments and limit the use of steroid cream after consulting your doctor.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[desiman]

Thank you for your posting. After your post I did get two dermatologists to look at it. They keep saying it is non-specific dermatitis post the balanitis. At times, the redness is less and at times the shiny, scaly, dryness, redness is pronounced. For the first 5 weeks I applied the steroid for the balanitis. After that, I have been applying emollients for the past 5-6 weeks. I am uncircumcised. There is no pain, no itchiness, no scratching, no issues in urinating or burning. I am married for 12 years and my wife tested positive for HPV 12 years ago and the problem was taken care of. Regular pap smears ever since have been negative. We have children. I assume that since she has HPV so do I. We are monogamous. Reading about HPV and penile cancer scares me.
My doctors - general physician, dermatologist and homeopath insist that I should not be worried. However, I cannot understand why the redness, scaliness will not go away completely. Last week, my dermatologist asked me to try tacrolimus 0.03% but, that did not help reduce the redness. Today - he asked me to stop it and just use emollients. My homeopath too insisted that I do not use any ointments but, just emollients.
Is this ever going to go away? I do not have any discomfort, itching or pain but, the redness drives my anxiety levels high and now I think i am going into severe depression.

[Ra1234]

Hi !  I'm not a doctor, but I decided to tell you that I had exactly evrything you have. I am also 45 years old. If you want me to give you more information please let me know. Let me just tell you that is nothing serious nor contagious.

[desiman]

Thank you for your post. Would very much appreciate as much information as you can give me. What did you do? How long did it take?
Thank you so very much.

[Ra1234]

Ok. I had the same rash- redness in my glans (glands) and foreskin for 1.5 years. They showed suddenly for no reason. I was so scared they I took all of the STDs test 3 times and they all negative. I went to several MD and 5 urologyst and they all prescribed me fluconazole for yeast infection and steroid creams. My skin started getting thin and shiny for the using of the creams ( do not use it please). Well, nothing worked. The last urologyst I went told me I had balanophostitis ( balano is an infection of the glans (glands) and phostitis is an inflammation of the foreskin) and he suggested me a circumsicion. After thinking so much about it I desided to do it. After the surgery the red spots and rashes desappeared for ever. My circumsicion was done 14 months ago and no signs of balanitis no more. After you stop using the creams your skin will start a process of healing and your glans (glands) won't look shiny and will return to its normal color. I'm not recommending you a circumsicion, because every case is different. Consult an urologyst. Control your anxiety cus you have nothing serious. Try the following home remedies recommended to me by a doctor: Dilute two tablespoos os white vinegar in a glass of water and soak your penis twice a day. Spread plain yoghourt in your glans (glands) daily. Air dry your penis after shower. I hope these help you. Again don't be so depressed, this isn't contagious and  is curable, just go to the right doctor.  Good luck

[desiman]

Thank you for taking the time to write. The redness and shiny ness was reducing for the past two weeks.
Then suddenly yesterday, the raised red spots came back on the left side of the penis glan and there is slight itchiness.
Somebody please please help...