Stubborn persistent condition

Ive had a condition for the last 3 years that was (eventually) diagnosed as just a normal form of dermatitis but it is proving very resistent to the advised treatment. So either it isn't dermatitis, what I have been using isn't working or I have been using it wrong.

The condition is mainly on my scrotum and around my anus and both areas are red with an occasional burning-itching sensation. I also had an infected area along the crease of my thighs at my hip that at one stage had several small open wounds.

I used topical steroids for quite a while initially as it was suspected it was a fungal infection. In fact I over used them and have some STRIAE DISTENSAE scarring on my thighs as a result. After seeing a specialist I was advised to use Sudocream (it's a barrier cream, it might be called something else in other countries) and Dermol 500 Lotion (says an antimicrobial emollient on the pack).

I wasn't given any sort of care regime so I just assumed the idea was to use the cream 24/7 and the Dermol for washing. Naturally the cream soaked into my clothes, rubbed off onto my legs and bedsheets and my suspicion was it wasn't staying on my scrotum long enough to do any good. In the evenings I'd expose the affected areas but those few hours would be the only time the cream was on for any length of time. The cream did stay on along my inner thighs and though the lesions never recurred it's never completely cleared up either.

After a few months of getting nowhere and my scrotum looking redder and angrier at the end of every day I decided to do things diferently. I'd only use Sudocream in the evenings and just use a medicated talc (Lanacane) the rest of the time. That did actually seem to have helped to a degree, the creases of my thighs seem to have cleared up to a degree, but my scrotum and anus still seem as red as ever.

I'm now trying it without using sudocream at all on my scrotum or inner thigh s. I'm using the Dermol every few hours as a substitute for the Sudocream on my scrotum, but massaging it in till its absorbed instead of just leaving it on. I am keeping sudocream permamently around my anus though as this seems to get the best results.

So right now I'm not sure what to do. I can change my working arrangements so I work from home and could keep sudocream on for most of the day and evening as a result. But I dont know if Sudocream is what my condition needs. Or I just carry on using Dermol and medicated talc.

Sorry to go into so much detail, there just isnt an easy way to explain it all. If youve read this far and have any advice or suggestions I would be more than grateful. I do intend to see a specialist again but its either a 3 month wait or alternatively a very expensive private consultation. So any useful advice now would certainly save me a lot of stress.

[Zonker]

Yes, I have the same thing around my anus!  it seemed to start about 6 months ago and has been stubborn ever since.  At times it's just a discoloration of the skin around the anus outward to where the skin from both buttocks touches.. other times its irritated and quite red and once in a while it's itchy, but not always.  My dermatoligist gave me pramasone recently and I tried a small amount of sample and it seemed to stop the itching some.  So I got that prescription filled 3 days ago, started using it regularly .and now the skin is flaming red!  It's obviously not working.  The only thing I can think that I've been doing differently is that I've stopped filtering my drinking and cooking water and have been using plain tap water instead.  I can't imagine it would be that.  HELP!      

[thripston]

I'm focused on sorting my scrotum out atm, Im just keeping my anus sudocreamed as much as possible and ill get to that next. Not sure what pramasone is but if it isnt a thick cream then it probably isnt going to help, look for whatever thick barrier creams are available, ideally in the infants section of the pharmacy (Sudocream is usually used for nappy rash). Might be worth you investing in a rubber ring or finding some way of sitting that gets air to that area too. (i'm considering getting one, £20 is a small price to pay) If your buttocks are touching its your skin touching skin thats probably the main cause of irritation, related to body heat I guess. Ive been trying to sit on the edge of my chair and its damn hard trying to keep both my genitals and my anus from not touching anything. 5 minutes and my leg goes numb.

[scared_half_to_death]

I had a similar issue. Did you ever determine what the problem was?