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Hydrocortisone 1% cream used on Penis glans. Now side effects. Will it heal ?

Hello all  ,

I posted about this before but have decided to do a new, more condensed post and add to it in a more concise , matter of fact way. Anyway. Here's the brief details.  

I had a red mark behind my glans.  Went the clinic as I didn't want to lose my girlfriend. They said it's nothing. Use aqueous cream . I did . Got contact dermatitis. Went Dr.  They prescribed hydrocortisone 1% with daktacourt micanozole 1 % or 2% . Used the cream all over glans for a week as instructed.  Problem sorted. However, over the year I used it again any time there was any marks. Didn't use it often but got through a 15 gramme tube.

No real problems but noticed some redness developing. I guess this was slightly thinned skin.  Wanted to keep my gf so went Dr again. This was Jan 2016. I'd used the other cream not very often from about April 2015. Anyway. I think Dr thought the redness was swelling. It wasn't.  He gave me the dreaded hydrocortisone 1% cream with micanozole 2% . Separately . Miscommunication meant I thought he wanted me to use all of the hydrocortisone  1% or both.

I used the cream for 5 days firstly.  All fine. Had sex.  No worries.  Used it again for 7-10 days. Had sex.  Glans went red all over. I guess skin was thinning. Blood near the surface.  I should of stopped using right there and then. Used a few more times I guess. Then stopped for a week. Masturbated and three quarters of the glans went red. Then again later in the week I masturbated a few more times. The skin cracked and bled in one spot.

I may of used hydrocortisone again for one week after this. Like an idiot .  But then stopped again for a week or so. Finally I decided to use the cream in one spot where I saw transparent , plastic bag style skin. This made the area extremely red and sore looking and the foreskin began to stick to the glans. I used it twice more after this a few days later and apart. Stopped on the Sunday.  Used Tuesday and Friday.  Then she to my senses. I had been panicking due to splitting from my gf and she kept coming back to see if I was 'fixed'. I wasn't,  and to boot lost what I thought was the love of my life.

Anyway. All in all , I guess I used this cream for about 28 days on and off with breaks in between. Maybe 5 weeks. But not much more. Maybe less. Anyway. 1 weeks have passed. I've experienced mental and physical problems and lost my gf too lol.

At first I had severe redness at the base of the glans from 5 days of concentrating on that area like an idiot.  Also when I began to masturbate the skin would crinkle like a plastic bag. Also very dry skin burnt looking skin. Also red spots under the skin. Also reduction in size of the glans and discolouration.  

As time went on I was prescribed micanozle.  Then clotrimazole 1% for fungal infection with e45 for the dry areas. This was stepped up to 2% clotrimazole. Also, when I masturbated I have used water based lube to stop further damage from friction. I also noticed the skin rehealing especially when no fully erect. I would see the plastic  bag effect all over head but then disappear when fully erect.

That seems room have passed thankfully but I still get capillaries round the Base of the head and what seems to be fungal infections due to the thinned skin.
20 Responses
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Avatar universal
Why would your girlfriend leave you over a cosmetic issue like this? That seems incredibly shallow
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Some people.are like that.
Avatar universal
Hi Splodge13,

Since you seem to be the only one who continuously posts about the issue, what do you think about this post I wrote in caiorocha's thread?

"Hi,
I used Advantan - Methylpredinisolone aceponate 0.1% for 8 days, twice a day, in a period of 12 days - and now I'm feeling a burning sensation that gets very painful after masturbating and the skin of my penis looks much more reddish than before using it. I stopped using it almost 2 months ago. I was googling for some possible solution and found this link:

https://www.researchgate.net/post/If_you_are_a_dermatologist_is_there_a_proven_method_to_reverse_skin-thinning_due_to_long_use_of_topical_steroid

One of the repplies said that PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) could be used for skin thinning.

Now, I'm not sure if my skin has thinned, or to what extent, but has anyone tried that? I've been reading some articles and it seems possible, since PRP can induce fibroblast and keratinocyte growth.

Other reasonable alternatives in that post was tracolimus and ammonium lactate, although the former seems more risky since it might be related to cancer."

Also, thanks for the journal! I'm not sure if it made me feel better or worse, since I used a more potent cream than you did, even if I used for a shorter period of time.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
87 weeks later or whatever it is. Still having some issues. Mainly fine to the naked eye but under flash can see some capillaries although they've faded somewhat. Also get wrinkles from soft to erect. Also some dry skin. Much improved but be good to hear from others who genuinely made this mistake.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey mate, to give you some more encouragement i took a look today and things are definately improving after nearly 4 weeks off the cream.

Stay strong brother
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Tom, you can also follow splodge's updates via the "Recent Activity" sidebar on the right side of this page, or any page in the Dermatology Community.  Here's a direct link to the journal: http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/2015945/Thinned-skin-from-overuse-of-hydrocortisone-1-on-Penis-glans-updates-
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes. Click on my name.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Where is the journal, is it on this site?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok.  I've been told by medhelp moderators that I have to keep my updates in a journal. Not on a post. So if you wish to follow my hopefully 100 % recovery please do follow my personal journal or mail me. Thanks.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Me personally I feel urine etc is reinfecting4my thinned skin. I've been prescribed thrush cream. It seems to keep the foreskin from sticking to the glans.  That's a big plus for me atm.  I've also seen the skin rethicken and bind together. Early days. 3 months in. I don't know the future but this cream can't cause permanent damage. Maybe a side effect here send there but it can't cause permanent damage apparently. And I hope not either. Yes it does seem people post their panic then don't follow it up. Let's hope this is the case. I've only been to two professionals. Ow didn't seem to care.  The other assured me it would get better and back to normal.  

I hope so but we'll  see. It's gunna  take time and abstinence from sex.  Use lube when masturbating and try to be a little easier on the area. Hold foreskin back.  Lube the area. The professionals told me clotrimazole doesn't can't damage me. Max 6 months usage at a time. Also. I wash it off if I am going to masturbate.  Then apply lube for masturbation.  

Sex  isn't wash option for me right now. Also I don't get erections  as much as I did due to an accident. I use viagra but if I do I have the Lube ready and if I masturbate without viagra I again apply Lube.  Trying to cut down a little can help too I reckon .

Finally. My main post will continue every 4 weeks. And you're welcome.  If my post help anybody . Or even 1 person I am delighted. I feel it could take up to 2 years but u have to be positive and plough on. Venue when and if I make a full recovery I will continue to post about the issue and how things are etc.  


Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just took the time to read through your post. Big respect for taking the time to write all this out. Given me some re assurance. I think alot of people post their initial panic and then don't give updates when there is improvements.

Right now i have pretty severe redness, thinning of the skin and alot of the things you are talking about. Getting an erection specifically seems to massively irritate the skin.

It seems as though you have been to alot of professionals andthey are all suggesting it will heal but takes a lot of time and not cause further damage.

concerned myself about the thrush coming back so i might go to the doctor to get some thrush only cream.

did the doctors confirm that the antifungal cream can be used and doesnt have the same thinning effects or any bad side effects from continued use?

I have eucerin moisturiser not sure if i should use it or not. I spoke to a web doctor on justanswers.com and he basically said stop all creams it will get better by itself but i feel like the moisturizer stops additional friction however concerned it will lead to thrush, which thrives in moisture right?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi mate, going through a similar situation to you and you seem to have alot of experience on it. Want to add me on skype so we can discuss further
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Avatar universal
And with the hydro  I did mix it with the antifungal I was given for probably 2 or 3 of those weeks. Maybe more. That was the problem for myself.  Those 4 to 5 weeks. Broke my skin down and gave me all this grief. I'll keep using the lube . Abstain from sex and let it rethicken and hopefully return it as quickly as possible to normal. I want the thickness back. I can live with a few wrinkles or some visible capillaries I guess.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sorry the 8 to 9 months I used micanozole I think . The daktacourt mixed with hydrocortisone 1%  but didn't have any issues as I hardly used it.
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Avatar universal
Have another appointment soon. Will update then. Please excuse typos.  Please feel free to add your experiences.  How long you used this cream. Where you used it . How much you used and how have you recovered over the months or years. I used about 14 grammes of the stuff for about 8 to 9 months but with big gaps in between using it for one application after initial 7 day use to fix contact dermatitis.  So I don't really count those applications.  Then I used about 14 grammes of hydrocortisone 1% on its own for about 4 or 5 weeks on and off in a period of about a ten week period. I guess I used it for about 25-35 days and sometimes only once a day. And for 7 days once a day in one area only.
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Avatar universal
You use think positive. Skin that only let's hydrocortisone penetrate 1% can take months to heal. The genitals absorb 30% so that by the law of averages can take a fair bit longer to fully heal. I aim for gradual improvements and have seen this already. I expect to be a lot better after 6 months  . Even better after a year. And the skin a lot thicker by a year or 2 years. Maybe 6 months. In 3 months I have seen skin binding and forming over the glans. Regaining it's thickness. Skin heals. It just takes time. One thing I do I use lube when masturbating.  Keeps the skin together so far and prevents further damage. It seems that way anyway.  So. I've seen the first layer return and bind. Confirmed by a nurse also. I hope this continues to be the case.

The penis glwns6and genital area seems to be different skin to the rest of the body but I'm not sure. But I think the same principals apply . Epidermis regenerates every 27 days. Which is what I've seen when not fully erect.  So at least it's there and trying to reform. The other part of skin is the layer deeper down called the dermis.  This takes a little longer to regenerate but it does. Thankfully.  
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Avatar universal
Ok so I tried masturbating yesterday without lube. I noticed the skin become dry and a little psoriasis.  I held the foreskin back to stop further damage. When fully erect this skin would stretch and the psoriasis type rough skin would disappear as the skin was more filled with the erection.  However I reverted back to the water based lube I am using as I didn't want to be back at square one with my issue. Lube definitely seems to help with the healing process. Let's hope it heals and I hope it does for you too.
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Avatar universal
Also
For anybody who isn't coping with the side effects too well. You must be strong , and let the area heal. I've been assured by a few professionals , and read many positive comments on various posts. Also I've read that hydrocortisone 1% can't cause permanent damage , nor does it permeate lipids (skin cells) very well. Be strong. Be brave. Be patient.
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Avatar universal
11 weeks in. Using clotrimazole 2% cream applied twice daily to stop thrush like symptoms reoccurring.  Things have improved a lot but I still have the above issues. Depression in glans.  Wrinkles and cracked skin at base.  And loose and fragile skin. I use lube when masturbating and have abstained from sex.  My advice is never use steroid cream on your genitals.  Never. The severe redness I had at the Base of the glans is only noticeable to me. I have another post from when this started. Feel free to look. But things are getting better but slowly. I will have to wait the full 6 months and assess the situation then before visiting a Dr or seeing a specialist again. Next update next week. I also get visible capillaries around the rim of my glans.
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Avatar universal
Ok.  So that's the facts. As condensed as I can be. It's not only gave me physical problems . But also has affected me mentally as you can well imagine. Anyway. I will give brief weekly updates starting today.  
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Avatar universal
Ok,  so you have an idea what happened.  I used the cream too long and applied it all over the top of my glans head. Developed the side effects and am now trying to heal . It's 11 weeks since I last used this cream. I have seen improvements. The skin has got thicker but still has a way to go. I keep getting thrush type symptoms and the foreskin can stick a little to the glans.  All this is much better than it was 11 weeks ago. The professionals have told me it will all return to normal and have suggested seeing  kin specialist if matters don't improve.  I have also read online from other posts that the skin does recover but the stretchmarks are permanent.  The wrinkles or loose skin. I can also see these wrinkles and loose skin. Also. I can daily see the depressions in my glans from the ring of the foreskin.  The skin is also more delicate but as I say much improved. I've also been told this will all be fine in 6 months and will return to normal.
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