Genital eczema from irritation from Chigger bites and Candida?

[Miette]

Hello,

Almost 2 months ago I got a lot of chigger bites - mostly on the pubes area int the frontal part of my genitals, under the hair, but also some on my stomach and along my bra line. Anyway, my doctor diagnosed that yes they were a whole lotta chigger bites and game me antibiotic ointment to put on them to prevent infection (since I was scratching them terribly).  She also had me put scabies medicine on it "just in case" since she was not too familiar with chiggers.
Anyway - I got a yeast infection as a result (I think from the antibiotic ointment I was smothering on every night) and made the mistake of BICYCLING 30 miles in spandex pants with a maxipad on (I was having my period) which led to horrible chafing (it was pretty much a diaper rash) all over my buttocks and genitals in the shape of my bicycle seat. I know, this was stupid, and it hurt the whole way but I was training for a long charity bicycle ride (which I probably won't do now due to irritation).
In the meantime, the chigger bites are NOT healing well, they are itching like crazy and I think I have developed EZCEMA. The groin area in front that's covered by hair (the same area where I had the maybe 20 chigger bites concentrated) is pruritic, irritated, red with scaly, patchy scab-like skin growing over the red spots in small lumps that are easily scratched off (yes I still find myself scratching at night, I'm sorry but benadryl makes me too sleepy to function at work and my doctor told me not to use any corticosteroidal cream, said it would weaken the immune system down there).
Does this sound like ezcema? Also, the rest of my genitals (the parts that got the chafing rash), while they healed up and got better, continue to get irritated when I ride my bicycle (which is my main mode of transportation). I bought a new bicycle seat, the "easy seat", that you "sit on" and doesn't have a horn that goes between the legs, and it's BETTER but still some irritation. I get skin bumps on my buttocks and genitals from the bicycle riding (completely different issue from what happened with the chigger bites), these bumps go away within a few days and are soothed by Desitin diaper rash ointment.
I had treated the yeast infection with 3-day gyne-lotrimin right after that dumb bike ride, but with all the irritation, is it possible that I still have a yeast infection lurking? the Gyne-lotrimin was HEAVEN in decreasing the initial irritation after the bike ride. I used to get yeast infections very very frequently until I learned dietary methods to prevent them (avoid antibiotics; don't drink a lot of sugary drinks; eat yogurt). Should I ask my doctor for Diflucan?
Should I see that same doctor (a general practice family physician) or go to a dermatologist? I've been in "genital hell" for almost 2 months and I really want to get this resolved. I've never had ezcema or sensitive skin before, and I'm looking online and found that ezcema can't be cured? that's horrible? will I have this forever? It seems like it won't get better! I'll stop scratching, I'll take the benadryl, tell me what do I have wrong with me and what should I do about it?
Th doc said it's definitely not an STD and I was checked recently for all of them.

can you help me?

[sandybeaach]

I am a 60 yr. old female and at times when I cough  or sneeze I tend to dripple and this causes an irritation on my genitals,  Now I have what seems to be bites on the upper part of my genitals.  I think these are insect bites because I have then in my arm pitts also.  Someone told me it was an antifungal infections so I used an antifungal cream and that seem yo help with the irritation but I still have the big bumps like bites.  I know its not a std haven't be sexually active in 10 years.  Can anyone help,  Burns and itches to high heaven.

[willy851]

Good to hear
I have finally found that the medication the doctor gave me was causing the problem.
Contact dermatitis. The more it irritated me the more I applied the medication.
The Vaseline helped to get the skin back to normal. Apparently the skin is sensitive in more ways than I thought. I always use powder on long rides. I am going to try the 200 mile tour this spring.

[Miette]

Finally cured!

After 5 months of this skin condition not getting better (and often getting worse, and then spreading to my armpits) I finally went to a dermatologist.

diagnosis - impetigo bacterial infection, probably cause by staphylococcus.

treatment - I took oral antibiotics and used topical antibiotics (muciprocin).

evaluation - after 10 days of antibiotics I returned to the dermatologist who said it's healing well and that if I continue to keep the area clean and use the topical antibiotic ointment, it should heal fully in a week or two.

My armpits are already fully healed and my skin in the groin area is so much better, not fully healed but pretty close. I am so happy!

Funny, I look at my last post, and I complained about how my primary care doctor kept pushing for me to use antibiotic oinment while I loudly complained that "I don't have an infection!".

LOL, I DID have an infection! I was just confused since I didn't have any pain or swelling or heat or redness really, mostly just itching and "skin scabs". Well I looked online and apparently, itching is common with impetigo as are "honey-colored skin crusts" which were what I was calling "skin scabs" and which I confused with symptoms of other skin conditions like psoriasis.

A doctor friend of mine told me "you have partial knowledge of medical subjects which is more dangerous than no knowledge"

That'll teach me to scratch at bug bites just because they itch real bad. I'll never touch them again! I won't scratch!!!!
gross that I scratched my chigger bites in my groin area with unclean hands (I guess that's what happened?)

Thanks for the reply posts, BTW. It was nice to know that someone was trying to help me on this website. I hope your skin condition also gets better.

[willy851]

Just type chronic red scrotum into google. Yes Vaseline is incredibly goopy. But most products that I have tried make it worse. That makes it better. When I apply it after shower it gets absorbed then I change in the morning and it seems to work. I haven't had much itching. When I did, I squeezed an icepack for a little bit and it went away pretty quick. The worse part for me is emotional. I was a 43 year old running 5K in 22 minuets. I never had any problems with my skin and now this for over a year.
I wouldn't worry about flakes. Acid might make it worse. The one thing I know for sure is no matter what you try, use it in a very small area, even if the doctor gives it to you. You can bet that antibiotics will not help.
I was using a product for six months, before I finally got to a real dermatologist who told me you can never use that product on the skin down under. I was told by a dermatologist to use it, when I told him it wasn't working he said to use more of it.

[Miette]

Thanks. I am somewhat skeptical with MDs in that I think sometimes they just don't know what's wrong, but I go to them to make sure it's not something serious.
It hasn't gotten better and it's now been 2 whole months. My doctor that saw me originally keeps pushing for me to to smother antibiotic ointment on it, but it's NOT an infection, and I really think that the initial use of antibiotic ointment caused more irritation.
I'm so miserable with the 2 separate conditions down there (itching flaking dead-skin scabs in front, and bicycling-induced chafing in the back). The bike race day approaches and I will probably skip it. I am avoiding my bicycle and all sexual relations, my partner is being nice about it but pushing for me to go to the doctor again (as well as to stop scratching which I agree I need to stop doing, but it itches so much in the evenings!). I will go to my gynecologist tomorrow just to make sure it's not something gynecology-related but it really just seems like SOME sort of dermatitis, just don't know what one, or what to do about it.
What do you think of salicyclic acid or lactic acid topical lotions for the front area that's itchy with dead-seeming flaky skin accumulating? I also tried talcum powder for the chafing in back (doesn't help really though it keeps me drier) and a chafing-relief powder-gel (didn't really help either). Vaseline sounds messy. Do you put it on during the day too? Doesn't it feel all goopy when you walk around? I couldn't find your post for Chronic Red Scrotum. I have been avoiding using cortisone cream for the reason you have stated - it seems that you need more and more of it, and I read that it can cause your skin to thin.
Am I supposed to keep the skin moisturized, protected, dry, or medicated?
Thanks for the reply! I am sorry about your problem too. It IS anguishing, and I feel like the doctor doesn't really know what's wrong with me (I strongly feel that antibiotic ointment is not the cure for what's wrong).
-Miette

[willy851]

Dermatologists are supposed to be specialists. But most are totally worthless. They are interested in cosmetic dermatology. Its all about money. They will tell you it's eczema no matter what. They are not the slightest bit interested in your anguish.  You can use cortisone down stairs but the problem is the more you use the more you need. You can't use the potent steroids because it will make the things worse.
There are some anti itch medications that don't cause drowsiness.
What you have is probably eczema. All the chemicals used in the area contributed to it. I would just use thick coats of Vaseline just after shower. This will actually help. I have a similar problem.
look up chronic red scrotum.