scrotum and penis itching, dry, red and sticky oozing in some places

[mgbracing]

hello, i am an 18 year old male. about 1 year ago i went on roaccutane for my acne and weeks after starting i developed dry skin on some areas of my skin including dry scrotum and penis. It got so bad that i developed white ***** spots on my scrotum and base of penis and i went to an out of hours doctor who said that it was due to shaving. He gave me treatment (think just antibiotics) and it cleared up however since that time i have occassionally had periods of dry, red itchy scrotum and penis shaft. i also sometimes get a gluey sticky patch of skin on the base of the shaft of my penis. In recent weeks this has become constant and has never really disappeared. My scrotum seems to become really tight and feels almost like cracked skin and is a little painful, but more irritating than anything. I went to a GP doctor and she was quite sure it to be a staph infection and gave me 2 repeats of cephalexin capsules which i have just about finished, and my problem is still here. the GP said that although she was sure it would clear up, to give her a call to get a referral to a dermatologist if things didnt clear up. However i thought i would try here before that.
I have also had the same partner for the last 2 years. before taking roaccutane everything was fine. could it be related to taking roaccutane or just coincidental? the skin on my penis seems to get irritated even more after sex and gets itchy mainly at the base of my penis.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I think you have eczema, not a staph infection and nothing to do with the Roaccutane (or with sex, for that matter.)  I advise you to see a dermatologist.  A single visit should suffice to help you get the proper diagnosis and treatment.  Meantime, use some hydrocortisone cream if you can get some, plus mild soap and bland moisturizer.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[mgbracing]

as this just came up out of no where... what do you think is causing the eczema? and is it curable?

thanks

[MLWTR]

Eczema is inherited, not contagious. It comes and goes randomly and can appear without warning. You can't cure it permanently, but you can manage it whenever it appears (with topical medication prescribed by a doctor) so that it looks better and bothers you less.

[Memphis.]

im having something like that, on the shaft of my penis and my scrotum has started to get dry skin and itch very badly i dont think its an std sincei havent been with anyone in a few weeks, could i have gotten something from touching an object or person then adjusting my self?