glans penis dry/sensitive skin issue

[adam.g.r]

I am a 22 yr. old male living abroad and have been having problems with the skin of the glans penis for approximately one year.  Here is the relevent information:

Basically, there is nothing physically wrong with my penis to begin with (confirmed by a visit to a urologist about another issue - since cured). there is some redness aroud the urethral opening, but besides that appearances are normal.  It does, however, hurt quite a lot to have anything come into contact with it - I have taken to wearing briefs instead of boxers since the latter feels like I'm putting the poor fellow through a cheese grater.  After masturbation, skin appears white and dry.  An itching sensation comes and goes throughout the day.  Am currently attempting to deal with the problem with moisturizers (for the first time, though an obvious possible solution), which seem to help somewhat. Have previously tried hydrocortisone (sp?) by itself, which dried out the skin even more and increased discomfort.

Relevent Medical History:
have had problems with eczema on my inner elbows for years.  have (expired) .05% desonide ointment from previous dermatologist visit.  could this possibly help?
aforementioned urological problem was a prostate infection

thanks for your help

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Try the desonide for a couple of days.  If it makes little difference, as I suspect it will, then just use bland moisturizers and mild soaps and leave the penis alone as much as possible, ignoring the redness and whiteness, which almost certainly mean nothing important.  If you wish, you can see a skin doctor at some point, just for confirmation.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[adam.g.r]

oh, i should also add that recent urine and blood analyses came back negative for everything.  have absolutely no history of STDs and have been tested.

[Klunder]

hi,
im 14 and im having a problem just like that-very irrating. about 1.5weeks ago my groin area became very itchy...thought it was normal so just itched it and then went ot sleep. when i woke up the next day, my left testical was wet, dry, itchy, red and a bit swollen and my penis had some red marks bellow it. the wetness was not semen, but it was kinda sticky. so i thouguht a shower would wash it off. it didnt go away. so i put some neosporein on it. wehn i checked on it again later that day. it was still wet with the substance and the neosporein kinda mixed with it, leaving my pubic hair full of dryed up stuff-white in color. so taht night i put lotion on it, to see if it worked better....it didnt had same effects as the neosporein. i keept using the neosporein cause it helped heal it a lil bit. but after a week my scrotal skin is very dry- seems like its peeling- and the redness has spread to the other testical. also the wet stuff is worse. im going to tell my father about it when he gets back and go see a doctor.

[Klunder]

i also have had no skin issues prior to this other than dry skin and acne

[lbell662]

I just happened across your post while looking for something else, and I am wondering if maybe you have something like a yeast infection.  My husband had similar symptoms a while back.  I had some OTC Monistat cream left over from a previous yeast infection, so he tried it for several days. The itching, irritation, redness and dryness were gone withing a week. Just be aware that the yeast infection cream may sting when first applied.

We still don't know what caused the problem, but I do know for a fact that MEN, as well as women, can get yeast infections.

Good luck and God Bless!