Extreme Pain from Itching all night

[GG32Idaho]

I just recently woke up one morning to a very itchy crotch.  It seems that once I start to itch, the itch just gets worse.  Honestly, If I was to never itch it, then I would never have a problem.  I would think that I don't have jock itch because in recent years I would go to the doctor with the same problem and they would give me antifungal cream and the problem would never clear up.  Sometimes I can go weeks without scratching, sometimes I just out of habit will slightly itch an area in my crotch and before I know it, the itch intensifies till it itches so bad that the only thing that fixes it is itching intensely until I am bleeding and the skin is raw.  

I am in major pain right now when I get up from my chair or try to walk.  I just took a shower and thoroughly rinsed and washed the area.  Still the pain persists.  The area is constantly moist, like as if the skin is excreting a liquid.  The drainage or moistness looks slightly yellow when I try to dry up the area with a paper towel.  It could be clear, but on the paper it doesn't look clear.

A little background on me, I am 5'10" and weigh around 450pounds.  I am a big guy.  I am not sexually active, have not been for over a year.  I tend to get the same run around with doctors.  They tell me to lose weight and then my issues will go away.  

My question here is, what can I do to help the skin heal?  Because I am overweight, what can I use to keep my crotch dry.  Being moist is when I typically start to itch.  

I also try to keep my nails short as possible because of my tendency to itch.  This recent time, my nails were not short and I am afraid I did some major damage to my crotch on both sides from top to bottom.  My penis never itched.  It is always my crotch, and tends to be more raw the further down you go down the crotch towards my anus.  Just seems to itch more their.  

Hopefully I added enough to get some advice.  I searched around the internet for a solution but most did not describe my issue.  

To make sure you know.  My crotch doesnt ever itch.  It will only start to itch if I scratched it.  Once I scratch it the itch gets relentless, then I scratch till it bleeds and then I suffer for a few days because of the raw state of the skin.  Please help...

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It looks like intertrigo skin and the vicious itch-scratch-itch cycle which is causing these symptoms. keep the area clean and apply some topical antiseptics. Also wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove. Avoid any kind of cosmetics. Topical zinc oxide cream like Sudocrem, Desitin are very helpful(apply with a paper towel and not directly with hands).Application of mild steroid cream like dermacort also helps. For the itching pls take some over the counter antihistaminic like Benadryl or Claritin. In case the symptoms persist then antifungals may be needed. Please consult a dermatologist in that case.

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.

[Caryopteris]

The skin is a protective barrier and the scratching is allowing what is already on the skin to get into little breaks in the skin.  I think you need to keep the area cool and dry and use the antifungal as directed.  The problem is that your large size and thick layer of fat makes you warm and moist, making the skin fragile.  Doctors want you to stop being so hot so your skin isn't overheated like this all the time.  It's a vicious cycle.  Plus you may be eating too much sugar, which causes your yeast colonies to grow more.  So it's all related and you need to find an antifungal medication and stick with the program.  Then keep the area cool and dry.  Lose the weight as the essential preventative.  To do that, change your diet.  No more of the addictive sweets or greasy foods.  No fast foods.  Cook your own fresh vegetables and lean meats/fish/poultry using small amounts of healthy fats like olive oil.  The high-carb, fried, processed, fatty American foods are addictive poison.