Dermatitis/Atrophy left untreated? Please Doctors Answer This!

[buckeye2010]

Shortly after using Lotrisone on skin at my penis opening(meatus) as directed by a urologist I developed irriation and redness, which later seemed to become a purple-ish discolorment with a very small papule also. I used the L-O-T-R-I-S-O-N-E which is a strong or potent steroid cream and anti-fungal combination ointment for 5 days (2x a day) before I noticed this. Anyways, I went to another urologist and he said it looked "normal" and acted as though I needed no further treatment and said it would go away. So I let it go for several months and just used various mosturizing creams, vasoline, aquaphor, etc. for about 9 months with very minimal improvement. It seems as though the skin is still loose right at the opening and gets easily and often dis-aligned, and it still also has a purple discolorment to the skin yet the original papule has decreased some. So I finally went to a dermatologist who thinks it is dermatitis and that five days of a potent steroid cream wouldn't have caused atrophy. So I am currently using EpiCeram (skin barrier cream) along with Man 1 Man Oil (penis health cream) and Emu Oil to assist with healing and thickening of the skin. I still question whether atrophy has occured though; since I did use the Lotrisone very liberally, in the sense that when I applied it I put plenty on(more than sparingly) and didn't really rub it it that much to avoid getting it down in my urethra. I am still not convinced that it is dermatitis and am worried that I have permanent atrophy of my meatus skin by appying to much Lotrisone at a time! I want to know what a doctor on here thinks as to whether there is any possibility that it is atrophied skin that I am dealing with, and if so, is there a treatment now? Also, if it really is dermatitis, then is there chance that it has caused permanent effects on my skin since I left it untreated for so long(about 9-10 months)? Are there complications like this to untreated dematitis or even atrophy!?

[Steroidsparanoia]

Believe me you cannot get atrophy on glans (penile head including uthera)  at all!! Because the skin there is different, but the damage you can possibliy get is changes in skin color, senstivity or loss of sensrtivity, swelling, redness can be caused by steroid or infection, if by steroids then it should gradually go away.

If your meteaus looks odd (after urination) particularly, then its very normal and you just never noticed it!! Yes, it happens to me and 90% of males if noy all!!

Even some slight redness around it is normal.

Infact I got paranoid about it once, and seen a docotor and he unfortunately like any doctor prescribed me crotisone thinking its fungal when it was nothing at all, it disappeard once I stopped thinking about it hahahha.

Mate do not get paranoid if u have been likr this for 9months u likely have nothing at all except unoticeable changes or normative ones.

You only become worried if it causes major pain not paranormal pain that it goes away once you socialising with friends!!

[buckeye2010]

I know man but what concerns me is that ever since I used the steroid cream on my meatus(skin at penis opening), it seems to be thinner like and always gets dis-aligned and sticks that way even from the slightest contact. It has gotten a little better since I've been using Man 1 Man Oil (penis health cream), EpiCeram(skin barrier cream) and Emu Oil, however I waited a long time(9-10 months) before trying anything other than moisturizers and enoillments to treat it! Anyways, what about the fact that I used a POTENT steroid and may have applied it MORE LIBERALLY when I did then I should have, would this cause atrophy at all? All I'm saying is the skin was never like this before using the Lotrisone, despite what the doctors think!!

[Steroidsparanoia]

Steroids atrophy WILL NEVER BE CAUSED THROGUH 5 DAYS USE OF STEROIDS CREAM!!  stio being paranoid, get over it mate!!

If you havr steroid atrophy it will appear the skin will be extremely thinn, redness or change of color could mean other condition such as, dermatitsis, excezma, irratation or friction combained with funal infection.

[buckeye2010]

Okay, the dermatologist I saw said it is DERMATITIS and I know I can use EPICERAM! That does NOT answer the questions I asked at all! I want to know if dermatitis left untreated for a peroid of 9 months or so could cause any permanent effects to the skin or doesn't it matter when it is first treated? Also, is it possible that what I'm dealing with is actually steroid induced atrophy since I used LOTRISONE liberally on my meatal skin for 5 days (2x daily) and right after that is when it all began, and what can be done about that!?
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[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
As I have replied earlier, you can use epiceram on the meatal skin. Also lichen planus needs to be ruled out. Lichen planus is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and the oral mucosa, and presents itself in the form of papules(flat spots) or rashes.Treatment is available only on prescription and consists mainly of steroids,retinoids,hydroquinone and phototherapy.

It is an itchy papular eruption characterized by its violaceous color.

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.