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Dear JohnnyNew
I went through your answers very carefully. According to the description, it doesn't seem to be a fungal infection. I still feel the possibility of it being LSC (lichen simplex chronicus). LSC doesn't involve groins at any time, but always the scrotum.
As the name "chronicus" implies ,the condition is chronic but treatable. You need to understand that the more you scratch the more it itches. There is a cycle called "scratch-itch " cycle which comes in to play and one has to break this cycle to be completely free from the problem. Also when one is not busy, that is the time when one feels the itch and urge to scratch the most. Usually such itching starts when one comes back home after work or at night while sleeping. So you need to see that you don't scratch the area at all.
Zole-F is a combination cream (steroid plus anti fungal ). I would advise you to use a steroid only cream for at least a month and see the response. You may not need medicines lifelong but you have to take extra effort not to scratch the area. Along with this you can also take a oral anti-histaminic tablet like cetrizine for a month after consulting a physician .
I hope you found my response helpful and informative. If you have any additional concerns I would be happy to address them.
Best Regards,
Dr. Bharat Chawda
Hello Doctor,
I have provided answers for your questions. Could you please let me know your opinion on my condition?
Thanks,
JS
Corrective Text:
The images shown seem similar to my condition, but the texture on MY patches are smooth, but are raised slightly similar to those shown in the pictures. But they are NOT as large as it is shown.
Hello Doctor,
Here are the answers to your questions.
1) Do you have itching on the sides of thighs also or just on the scrotum?
No Doctor. Nothing on the groin. It is only observe on the scrotum skin. Especially on the dark regions.
2) At what time do you have maximum itching (is it at night)?
I work in an AC room. So 3-4 times a day I get mild itching but I avoid to itch more or else it never ends.
3) Do you see any change in the texture of the skin over scrotum?
Like I said, I see dark patches (little raised and smooth and shining with a diameter around 1 cm). The texture is little rough when the skin is expanded.
When it is too cold/when the scrotum skin shrinks I feel that the itching increases a bit.
Similar is the case with the OTHER 2 white patches which I had mentioned which are on the upper left of the scrotum, and the hair on those patches turned white.
AND, the texture of the skin just below scrotum (where the balls rest) is little rough.
4) Are you suffering from any diagnosed medical conditions (like diabetes) ?
My sugar levels are normal. In fact, I have completely cut down sugar, bread, cakes, beverages, pastas, pizzas and all junk food since last 18 months.
I have applied Zole-F cream over alast 3 days (stopped today morning since I felt a slight irritation), and the patches have greatly reduced in size. Now I see few patches around (4-5 patches with 0.3 mm approx diameter).
I have applied coconut oil to smoothen the condition today.
I have checked about the LSC which you had decribed here; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001875/
The images shown seem similar to my condition, but the texture on the patches are smooth, but are raised slightly similar to those shown in the pictures. But they are as large as it is shown.
Is this LSC chronic, is it curable or should I continue to undergo medication for life?
Dear JohnnyNew,
Thank you for posting the query.
You have provided good information regarding your health concern. I appreciate it.
I think the problem lies in the medicines which you have been using till now. The creams which you have been using are a mixture of antifungal & steroid base. If your condition has been diagnosed as a fungal infection (especially by a dermatologist) then you should never use a steroid based cream. Steroids would aggravate your fungal infection.
But before I am convinced that you have a fungal infection, I would like to ask you a few questions:
1) Do you have itching on the sides of thighs also or just on the scrotum?
2) At what time do you have maximum itching (is it at night)?
3) Do you see any change in the texture of the skin over scrotum?
4) Are you suffering from any diagnosed medical conditions (like diabetes) ?
There are really two possibilities as far as what you might be experiencing. One is a fungal infection (as you have been told by your doctor) & the other is Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC) . Usually it is LSC which is seen over the scrotum, but if the sides are also involved then we should also consider the possibility of a fungal infection.
Since the mixture of tea tree oil + clove bud oil + cinnamon Oil + coconut oil helped you, you might be having LSC. This mixture is not an anti fungal mixture. It’s just a moisturizer and that's what one needs in LSC.
If you have a fungal infection I am sure you can be cured of it permanently and soon. But if you have LSC then it may take a longer time to go.
Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon.
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Best Regards,
Dr.Bharat chawda