I have a rash which began in my groin area as an itchy, scaly patch that looks like a ring in some areas. I then bought a hair clipper to trim the hair in that area and use OTC Lotrimin Ultra (butenafine HCL 1%) The rash then spread quickly to my buttocks, penis, inner thighs, and hips. I would shower, use the cream on the areas, spray miconazole spray, then spray anti-perspirant over the areas BID. After 1 1/2 weeks with no improvement, I saw a dermatology APRN (the MD's were too booked). She prescribed Naftin cream bid with a follow up in two weeks. She didn't see any fungus on the scraping. After a week, I feel the rash is getting slightly worse. It itches from time to time, but otherwise doesn't bother me. My wife feels sex is out of the question. Could it be something else? What can I do in the meantime? The rash on my hips and buttocks looks like a bunch of large isolated pimples, not really in patches. What else could it be? How long will it last? Can my wife get this from contact?
People often get inflamed pimples in the groin. This is termed follicultis. Although staph germs are involved, the pimples usually take care of themselves. I usually advise people to ignore them. However, at times they become too large and painful to ignore, which appears to be ypur situation. In that case oral antibiotics are needed.
Preventing recurrence is difficult. Stragtegies worth considering are daily cleansing with an antibacteial cleanser like hexachlorophene, and application of an antibacterial ointment like Bactroban, both to the pimples and to the nostrils (because that's where staph germs often colonize and hang out, impervious even to oral antibiotics.)
Perhaps you should talk with your doctor, or a consultant, about such measures.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff