Dry Skin

Hello -

I have noticed, on and off, for a few months, a small patch of dry skin on the fleshy part right below the penis head.  There are lots of groves and areas that can trap dirt and if you squeeze different parts of the area sometimes u can get a little schmegma.  I am circumsized, but my circumcision doesn't seem the neatest job, but I was a baby when it happened.  The way I healed after the circumsition seems to have created some little folds of skin that can trap dirt, etc.

I wash the area well, but it just seems to be an area that collects schmegma, oil, dirt, etc.  Perhaps the antibacterial soap I use causes some drying.  I get a little bit of dry skin on this one tiny part.  Its not red or anything.  I can pick it off.  If I lotion the area i can prevent it, but I don't think I should have too.  Plus putting lotion in this area just promotes schmegma (sorry for the continued misspelling).


Any thoughts ...

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Either this is dry skin or else it's trapped oily material (like the smegma) that can collect in the nooks and crannies you describe.  My advice is to leave the area alone (as in no picking) and show your doctor the situation, so you can find out for sure what it is.  I doubt you'll want to do anything about it.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[medhelpuser]

I did some research, what I have are a few skin tunnels from the stitches, that never closed up, so they easily collect dirt.  The outer layer of one such tunnel gets dry frequently.  Any advice?  Thanks