issue with penis

Hello Doctor,

I have the following problem:

- A few months ago I got some irritation on the penis glans (glands). Skin came off on the area and it was sensitive to touch.
- New skin formed in a week or two. I stoped washing my penis with soap thinking it was reaction to soap.
- The glans (glands) and foreskin was more reddish than usual, more dry and sticky (not as easy to retract the foreskin because it's drier than before and stickier).
- The glans (glands) and foreskin are wrinkled and reddish. Especially noticeable after sexual activity.
- Sometimes it's more noticeable and sometimes less.
- Sometimes I notice micro tears on the foreskin and/or penis glans (glands).
- Went to dermatologist - he glansed at it and said that he didn't see anything. Said maybe it was dermatitis.
- But this still has not improved. It was especially noticeable when I was on vacation - possibly because I was spending a lot of time in the water and penis wasn't dry.
- I should mention that shortly before all this happened I was noticing those reddish areas on the foreskin that were wrinkled sometimes but hey disappeared shortly.
- I don't have any irritation, itching, discahrging or anything of that sort.

What could it be? What can I do to get rid of it? Balanitis, dermatitis, yest infection? Maybe try applying monistat? Please help me. I work from home and may have sexual activities during the day after which I wash my penis - maybe it was caused by over keen hygeine? I also had a stresfful summer - maybe that contributed? Please help me to get rid of it.

Thank you so much!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

From your description, I don't think you have anything wrong with you at all.  Perhaps you had some irritation at one point, which left some slight increased redness.  You should ignore this and other unimportant skin changes and just get on with things.  I would avoid medicated creams of any kind, which won't help you and may delay the skin's returning to normal appearance.  If you still have concerns, you can see a doctor again, but if the one you saw didn't see anything, that's pretty strong evidence that there wasn't anything to see.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff