Scared and Confused

Hello,

Two months ago I noticed that my groin area and the area b/t my testicles and my anus was very itchy.  I began to apply Medicated Gold Bond.  I figured that it was itchy from my bike riding.  Then I noticed on my inner right thigh a brownish circle that was really itchy.  And then I noticed that my bottom of my testicles (outline of each testicle) had lost all of their skin pigementation and were white.  The area seemed to be a perfect outline of each testicle and the hair growing out was even white.  So, I thought that I had ringworm.  I went and bought a tube of CVS anti-fungal cream.  After a few days that itching is gone and the brown circle isn't as pronounced.  However, there is a small patch of skin that is white at the bottom of the circle.  And the area b/t my testicles and my anus has a couple of small white spots of skin as well.  It seems that my groin area has a brown color with these white skin pigmentation problems.  What in the world is going on? What can I do?  If you have further questions, please email them to me and I will answer them.  Thanks!  

Scared and Confused.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I'm confused, but not scared.


Skin can lose its pigment, which is called vitiligo and has no significance other than the way it looks.  This can also sometimes result in white hair growing out of it.  But pigment doesn't come back, and it seems that you're saying that now there's only a small white spot.

In any case, you're going to have to see a doctor to sort this out.  I will tell you, though, that almost certainly you're dealing at most with fungus, eczema, or perhaps a pigment problem--nothing serious, contagious, or sexually-transmitted.

See a doctor--that's what we're for!

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[cvinodani]

A related discussion, etreytrytu was started.