vitiligo In penis - Hypothyroidism

I had total thyroidectomy on 12/2008 after diagnosed with thyroid cancer. on 03/2009 I had my RAI. The very same day of the radiation my foreskin turned red (burned) since the first pee. I was told that the radioisotope is discharged in the urine so I thought it was normal. I remained burning for about 3 months, painful and uncomfortable. I am uninsured so I could continue with my treatment and had relied on ER visits to increase my synthroid doses due to hypothyroidism. Few months later I started to see some small white patches where the skin plied. It started to get a bit bigger and so my concern. Obviously I looked in the internet and I freaked out about skin cancer, thinking in metastasis.

I visited a dermatologist and told me not to  worry that it was vitiligo probable for the hypothyroid condition. But after weeks using Desonide Cream 0.05% the discoloration still the same and the skin remains very tight which makes erections very unpleasant and penetration painful.

Should I request a biopsy to confirm vitiligo? Just because I couldn't  follow up on cancer treatment to see if it was successfully eliminated I think about skin cancer.
I'm thinking about circumcision to remove the area affected and the tightness.

I really appreciate any suggestions

[z726]

Could the tight skin possibly be caused by the desonide? It is a corticosteroid, so a side effect could be thinning of the skin. If you have no skin condition that requires this medication, you might stop using it and see if things return to normal. But definitely get the biopsy if you're concerned you might have something - even if only to rule out cancer and put your mind at ease.

To loosen the skin, you may need to start stretching it out a bit. Others have posted here about tight foreskins - if you do a search of the forums on "phimosis", you can probably find descriptions of various techniques useful in getting the foreskin loose enough to retract behind the glans (glands). Circumcision can create an entirely different problem of tight skin, which takes a lot more stretching to fix, plus the sensitivity of the penis can eventually decrease.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From what you have described, it can be due to adhesions and phimosis. This white ring and dryness can be due to phimosis. Other possibilities is of lichen sclerosus and balanitis xerotica. My sincere advice is to get it evaluated from a dermatologist and get evaluated by getting a biopsy skin done.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.