Itchy Perineum!!

[Navy09]

Hello.  i am 21 and in good health, but for about three years now my perineum and the areas around it (scrotum and anus mainly) have been extremely and constantly itchy.
i see no signs of bumps or pimples, only a rash after i scratch (it looks pale when i havent scratched it).   its at its worst when ive been sweating alot (hot days, working hard) or if ive been sitting down for a long time.  also, after i shower, the skin dries up, and tends to crack and chap, which in turn causes it to itch even more.  it will act up after bowel movements too, after i wipe.
i really try not to scratch, but when i do, its almost hard to stop.  after a scratching "episode", the skin will be moist, almost slimy to the touch.  then it will dry up, and a scab will form. but after an hour or so will crack and pinch, and right back to itching. sometimes though itll be raw and sore.  it might stay like that for a whole day.
i have used many different bar and liquid soaps, and have gone from luffas to washclothes to many other types of cleansing the area, thinking it was a hygeine problem. nothing as changed the outcome of the itch.  i have also used an assortment of creames, from Preperation H to Cortaid, which i am using now.  but that only midly suppresses the itch.  it seems like the skin "soaks up" whatever cream i apply, and it will swell up, then proceed to itch very badly.
i have also changed clothing.  i now wear lose 100% cotton boxers and loose jeans.  but that hasnt cleared the problem up too much.  if anything, the area dries out more!  (although its more "comfortable" then it being moist). when this itch first started i was wearing boxer briefs.
i have not, unfortunetly, seen a docter about the problem.  although apart from being very embarrassing, with me being in the military and so busy all the time, i havent had the time to make appointmets.

what could this be??  any suggestions/treatments known?

Thank you for your help!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Yes, you should certainly see a doctor.  The skin down below is very sensitive, and if you don't find a way to stop your itching episodes, you're going to be awfully uncomfortable.  This kind of itch isn't usually caused by any specific allergy, and it also isn't usually fungal either.  You're most likely going to be advised to use any gentle cleansing techniques, to moisturize often, and to use a mild, prescription-strength cortisone cream when needed.  Get yourself evaluated as soon as you can.  You'll be happier if you do.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[bongosteve]

hey mate

I have the same problem as navy09 however i itch at night, not nice at all, i wake in the morning and would have scratched my balls off, sounds weird but it feels good to relieve myself of the itch and then find it hard to stop at least then i can get some sleep,  it's very annoying. having said that i think i would rather scratch my testicles of than take cortisone, my neighbours dog is on that stuff for his itching and i believe its got steroids in it...sounds nasty! but if it does the trick for you great

The skin is the largest organ in the body if something is itching then your body is trying to tell you something, maybe diet, stress, women (only joking). for me, i want to understand what my body is trying to tell me, whats wrong, what needs to change, not to cover it up with a drug. i have made gradual changes to my diet..slowly slowly, organic veggies, lots of good water, no dairy,no alcohol, no meat, no fun, (joking again) also and here's the big ones for ME , I'm starting to chew my food until it goes to liquid in my mouth because i feel my condition is a digestion thing, maybe, just like yours also when you sleep your body tries to get rid of wast any way it can. I'm finding urine is great, this one is cheaper than cortisone, so pee on it.

please don't think I'm trying to undermine the doctor here but i sometimes they are all to easy to say "OK here you go take this should clear up in a few days" that approach is not for me.
so well that's my side of things anyway

P's the dog still itches

[sobo75]

lichen sclerosus
Sorry I spelled it wrong the in the first response.

[sobo75]

I have the same problem and have been diagnosed by a physician with Lichen Scherosus.  I was prescribed a corticosteroid cream to apply whenever it flares up.  This has worked miracles.  At first I used it every day (just a very tiny amount or the area gets raw) but now, a few years later, maybe just once a week.  Go to a doctor....it's worth it.

[beaujour]

I hope this is not a big deal because I'm scared and I don't know what to do, it's annoying to be itching every night, and not being able to sit for to long, and I'm so amazed on how I'm not the only one with these symptoms, I want this to stop, I don't know if its the type of razor I last used, but I'm so scared to even have sex. Thank you for reading this,

[Adam203]

A related discussion, Does this herbal treatment cure your Lichen Sclerosus (dry itch of the perineum, vaginal opening and anus)? was started.

[Coady]

Bongosteve, you sound like a hippi! I have the same problem, I have been given hydrocortisone cream (a corticosteroid) after about a week the itch starts to fade and after a month goes. Why should we have to change our lifestyles to accomodate a simple echzma when it can be fixed by a (naturally produced) drug! And urine!! The body excretes it for a reason!!! Don't whatever you do start "peeing" on raw/Broken skin!! It will get infected and cause a world of problems!! See your doctor is the best thing!

[Navy09]

thank you bongosteve (and wife) for the  replys.  i agree; i dont want a cream or something that just covers up the problem and soothes the symptoms.  i want the problem gone. peroid.  ive been looking into food allergies or other diet, stress and related problems.  now that i think about it, around the time i started noticing the itch, i was drinking A LOT of soda, and caffiene in general.  also a lot of sugar (candy, cookies, etc.) so maybe its related to that.  ive started to ween myself off these addictions; its hard, and i havent noticed any change yet, but i will keep at it. im starting to eat healthier too; cutting back on the junk food, eating more fruits and veggies and such.   eventually i will reach the source of this itchy problem, and hopefully ill cure it.

p.s. - sorry to hear 'bout the neighbors dog.  :)

[bongosteve]

hello im bongosteve's wife and ive read your posts.  i would strongly suggest avoiding the doctor at all costs, they will only give you cortisone or some "cure" alike that will only strip the skin of all its defences/immunity but thinning it out and you'll will have alot longer journey trying to heal.
you need to look at the problem as a whole.  you could have food intoloerances (everone does) wheat, gluten, dairy, sugar, caffeine, alcohol etc wont help.  urine therapy does help alot to apply topically (google it you'll see). urine is not a waste product of the body it is full of tissue salts, proteins etc.
you probably have psoriasis or a kind of eczema it needs treating from the inside as well as the outside. don't wash the area with any soaps or products you will only weaken the skins natural defensive oils/PH etc.
go see a kinesiologist or naturopath they will treat you wholistically. the body gets ill from a few things going wrong not just one thing.
good luck
if we find out anything more we'll get back to you
google some words and do some research yourself you'll be suprised

[SwanSong]

It could be a reaction to your other rash, a secondary condition called an ID Reaction. It's very itchy and usually surrounds the area where the other rash or skin condition is. It's usually in response to a fungal infection (most common). You can find info on it online. An ID Reaction can be caused by treating the primary skin condition improperly. The ID Reaction is usually symmetrical too. You need to see a knowledgeable primary doctor or a dermatologist.

I have this ID Reaction right now ... no fun ... in response to a fungal infection.

[Kikiyama]

I have spread out, bumpy red spots all over my body and they evenly spread, so it could notbe hives because hives are in clumps, right? It all started one morning my leg was itchy and by the afternoon, my whole body was covered in dots! It is not chicken pox, because i already had the vaccine for it. i hope because the dots aer light red dots.A little is on my face, but it is just bumpy, but not red. Is this hives, scabies, bed bugs, or chicken pox? Please help me, i am begging you! My mom wont let me see the doctor until 5 more days from now but im worried it might be dangerous against my health. please help!