Red, burning groin

[adviceneeded]

Ok, I'm a 25 year old male. I have a lot of redness on the right, left, and bottom of my scrotum. It's also started to move up my penis a bit and close to my anus I think. Also, there are spots of redness (looks like the top layer of skin has peeled away) and some bumps on the inside of my thighs as well. Now my scrotum has been red for years but it never used to bother me so I ignored it. Two months ago it started burning and I figured it was jock itch. Over the counter jock itch stuff wasn't working (I even tried Vagisil) so I went to a clinic and they gave me something called Nystatin and Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream. This didn't do anything so I went to a Derm who gave me me pramazone and oxistat cream. Now the pramazone usually temporarily relieved itching but it always came back and there was no progress in redness. At this point I also tried desitin, and Gold Bond, but nothing happening. Only temporary relief and then the burning would come back. If anything the redness and spots got worse so I tried to go back to the Derm. He was booked for over a month so I went to the ER. A nurse practitioner gave me bactroban thinking it was a bacterial infection. This was only a couple days ago but I don't see much progress. Though maybe the bumps are going down. Is this that red scrotum problem people talk about? How worried should I be about this? Any solutions? I really am not even concerned about the color except for the fact that it looks wierd, but I haven't been to the gym in forever and I get sick of the constant itching/burning. I just want to have a normal lifestyle without constantly having the deal with this itching/burning. If you need any other information let me know. Thanks for your help.

[Gizmo12]

I would consider erythrasma, which is a (largely harmless) bacterial infection found in the folds of the skin. Common causes can be excessive sweating, obesity, poor hygiene, or use of oral steroids.

Solution is to wash every day with antibacterial soap. This can clear mild cases. A derm can also prescribe erythromycin, an antibiotic, for 10 days.

Did any of your doctors use a Wood's light (purple lamp) on you? Erythrasma will glow under the light, distinguishing it from jock itch.

[karlg]

This has been happenning to me over the last 3 weeks. Redness, itchiness and the flaking skin. I believe it may be the result of me ignorantly spraying deodorant around my groin area over a period of time. Initially it only itched but over the last week I have experienced redness and burning, PLUS there are dry crater like spots on my inner thigh. I believe it is a reaction to allergens in the spray. I am currently soothing it with Amo-lin baby cream. Is my connection to deodorant (Rexona) correct? If so is there a reccomendation on how to ease the discomfort / cure the problem?

[scott1]

I don't know where you guys are from but im from upstate Ny and my Derm. hsa never seen this before. Maybe we could brainstorm this and get some kind of cure.

[muslguy]

You are not alone.  I am having the same problem.  My penis and balls are red, itchy and burning.  If I apply any friction to my penis, it burns and itches even more and dry skin seems to peel off usually just above the foreskin.  I was doing some reading and they say to put some cortizone on it but it doesn't seem to help.

[scott1]

I have had the same problem for a few years. I too have been to the Derm.and tried creams, ointments but nothing seems to work. I even went to a allergy Dr.I am open to all sugestions. Thanks, Scott

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Redness of the scrotum is not necessarily the sign of any disease, especially of you say your scrotum has always looked red.  Even people with fungal involvement in the groin (jock itch) don't complain of as much debilitating burning and itching as you say you have.  I more than suspect that a good deal of your suffering is psychological, since physical disease doesn't account for it.  (The ER nurse who said it was bacterial was almost certainly wrong.)

My advice: see the dermatologist.  Explain the degree to which your life is being affected (inability to go to the gym, etc.)  Get a definitive diagnosis (or non-diagnosis.)  Then, if you learn that you're basically OK, consider counseling to help you deal with your symptoms.

There is, it seems to me, no reason at all that you shouldn't be able to have a normal lifestyle.  Please get the help you need.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff