Penile skin problem

[jazzybike]

I have been having a problem with the skin on my penis. Specifically on the shaft on the more sensitive side (side closest to the testicles when flacid). The skin gets very red and sometimes I notice cracks in the skin that sometime bleed slightly. In this condition it is also somewhat painful (slight stinging). This has been going on for approximately two months. I have been married for 12 years (no other sex partners). I am 49 years old. I masturbate maybe 2-3 times a week. I have used in the past various hand lotions and sexual lubricants for this purpose. When this problem arose I stopped using the lotions and only used sexual lubricants. I have also slowed the frequency of masturbation and intercourse dramatically since this issue arose. I have tried treating the skin with Aquaphor but that seems to help for a day or so and then the redness seems to increase. In the past couple of weeks I have stopped applying anything to the skin. Now I notice that occasionally the skin all around the shaft has very dry looking areas with some flaking skin. Some days it appears like the skin is returning to normal but then the redness, cracking and occasional bleeding will re-appear. I have also noticed the skin on my testicles becoming very itchy at times. Very occasionally I also notice reddish areas around the bottom of the head of the penis. Do you have any idea what this might be and what type of medications/lotions I might use to treat it? Also, what sort of doctor would I go to to have this checked out - a dermatologist or urologist?

Thank You.

[bluecasper]

A related discussion, medical issues was started.

[magic28]

I notice small little rash like bumps on my penis after sex sometimes with girlfriend.What could be the issue.

[spotted dick]

I have just discovered 3 or 4 spots similar in appearance to freckles on the head of my penis.  They range in diameter from 1 mm to 3mm, and are painless.  I do not believe that they were there yesterday.  I had intercourse with my wife some 6 hours before discovery.  Is anyone familiar with this phenomenon?

[DaveyD]

I have the same issue but has been ongoing for much, much longer.  I sought out medical help and was told it was a yeast infection.  I also am marred, 14 year and no other partners.  A year ago I went to a dermatologist and was given a cream with a steroid and hydrcoro...This worked the best and seemed to clear it up, however when all appeared clear the issue came back.
I returned to the derm and was then thought to be an allergy to latex, so we ran the allergy patch tests, all negative, given an rx for the same cream, clears up, stop using the cream and it comes back again.
After giving it some serious thought as to what was going on when it happened I recall that when this first appeared I had come down with epiditmitas (sp?) and of course being in the Navy at the time took them forever to decide that it was that and not a different more serious problem.
I still use the cream, but the issue is still present.  Now what?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I think you may have eczema of the penis.  This looks and feels like dry skin, but doesn't go away when moisturized.  Friction, sexual or otherwise, aggravates but doesn't cause it.  I advise you to try some over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone twice a day and visit a dermatologist for definitive diagnosis and other therapy, if needed.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff