Pain in groin fold / Acne on inner hip

[pushpower]

This all started with a good old fashioned case of acne on the inner hip back in January...I live in an exceptionally cold winter climate (temps of 20 to 30 below F are not uncommon) and those first few weeks trying to find clothing that was soft enough to not irritate the acne was a challenge to say the least. Initially I thought it was jock itch and probably put way too much Lamisil (spray + cream) on the area, including the groin fold.

I've seen a doctor twice for this - he prescribed doxycycline to try and clear up the acne - which it has gone away with just a little scarring - but now I am left with painful, sometimes burning skin in the groin fold. It appears very dry, but I am hesitant to apply any sort of moisturizers in that area. There are no blisters, redness, etc...just pain! The skin is slightly white but looks like a similar texture to dry skin on another area of my body like my hands.

Would it be safe to apply a light moisturizer to a sensitive area like the groin fold? I'm getting very tired of the pain sitting down, driving, etc!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Yes, it would be perfectly safe, and a good idea.  You can't damage skin for good with Lamisil spray, by the way.  If the moisture application doesn't help, you should ask a doctor.  A medicated anti-inflammation cream, possibly containing hydrocortisone, may help.  Minimizing friction is also a good idea.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[DizzyDolly]

If you used an anti-acne cream regularly for some period of time and if this is occurring soon after you stopped using the cream, then it may be that the cream has made your skin very very dry, probably made worse by the cold climate. I was prescribed acne cream (can't remember what it was exactly) from my doctor and I found that if I used it every day, after a week my skin would be extremely dry and sore. This may be the same for you and since the groin area can be more sensitive, this may be why it is painful. Using a very good moisturiser should help. Also, you could try to eliminate other factors that can make dry skin worse, such as central heating or lack of mosture in the surrounding air (humidifiers can be helpful). If you use a moisturiser, try to use one that doesn't contain a lot of harsh chemicals. Hope this helps.

[DizzyDolly]

Also if you need to use the cream again in future, it may help just to use it on the spots themselves, rather then all over the affected area.