Intensely itchy, red rash on scrotum / groin and itchy legs

[a person]

I'm 24 years old.

I have an intensely itchy, red (bright red in places), somewhat scaly rash on my scrotum / groin and itchy legs.  In case it's relevant:

For ~6 months have had throat irritation, constant feeling of need to cough or clear throat.  Cause unknown, less pronounced recently.

~4 months ago constant bloating / burning sensation in lower abdomen started, had 2 weeks of Levsin, no help.  Cause unknown, still experiencing.

My memory about when rash started is fuzzy -- prob. 1 to 1-1/2 months ago.  Assumed jock itch and treated w/ Cruex spray for about a week -- itching probably wasn't completely gone then.  Was using Lotrimin spray at same time for long ignored athletes foot.  Began Cruex again about 3-4 weeks ago.  I'd gently wash groin with just water in the morning and at night, pat dry with towel, blow dry on cool, apply Cruex.  Did that for two weeks, didn't relieve problem.  About 1-1/2 weeks ago began using Lamisil cream.  Used for about 5 days and stopped because it wasn't relieving problem.

Legs have been increasingly itchy, especially in bed at night.  As soon as I get in bed legs are itching like crazy, kind of a tingling itch shooting around the surface of legs.  May have started before groin rash, thought maybe I spread fungus from feet to legs from touching in bed at night.  No obvious rash on legs, perhaps faint, patchy redness, but not blatant like on scrotum.

Past couple days itching has been more in groin folds, less on scrotum, though visible rash most intense on scrotum.  Rash extends to underside of penis some, but not much itching there.    Itching has been intensely uncomfortable, trouble sleeping and concentrating at work.  Taken Benadryl capsules to sleep easier and used Sarna lotion with some success to subdue the itching on my legs.

Bland lotions don't seem helpful, in the case of groin they just seem to add discomfort of a greasy feeling.

I wear cotton boxers, usually only wash groin with water, practice good hygiene, keep my groin clean and dry, work in office, don't sweat much, am not overweight.

Have tendency for dry skin in winter, mostly knuckles and backs of wrists, but it hasn't really caused serious discomfort.

Symptoms definitely not STD related.

Jock itch seems unlikely because 2 diff. treatments didn't work, rash on scrotum, can't see telltale border of infection, wouldn't explain itchy legs (though maybe groin/leg symptoms unrelated).  Hate to say that scabies seems to best fit the profile.  Seems like a possibility because of time frame (symptoms have been at their worst for 1-3 weeks), intense itching, worst on groin, worse at night (legs anyway).  Seems unlikely because symptoms only below waistline, I live alone / haven't been in "high risk" environment recently (except maybe for visit to doctor's office about 2 months ago).

What could be going on here?  What do you recommend I do?  Help please!

P.S. I won't use hydrocortisone.

[Whisperwood61]

A related discussion, Intensely itchy, red rash on scrotum/groin was started.

[Another_Person]

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[symroy]

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[whw]

I had very similar symptoms a few months ago and went to my dermatologist.  He diagnosed it as a yeast infection, treated it with antibiotics and it cleared right up.  Good luck.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Mites can indeed live in bedclthes for up to 24 hours.  Of course bedding should be washed.  My point is only that transmission from bedding is difficult, and not likely to occur from an exam table.

Dr. Rockoff