Aa
Itchy and Dry
Dr.
I am a 28 year old hetero male and I have been sexually inactive for about seven months, but have engaged in very risky behavior for years prior. Heavy drinker, promiscuous,etc. Was treated for chlamydia or gonorhea about 5 years ago. In the last seven months I had gotten into a steady habit of masturbating with hand lotion about once a day. About a month ago, I was masturbating with the lotion and the shaft about an inch down from the head and in a ring around the shaft began stinging. When I cleaned off and looked at it, it was red and looked rubbed raw. The penis was very itchy and the skin feels very dry. The raw parts were red and like open cuts but never scabbed- dry skin was hanging off all over the place. Some clear liquid came out of cuts, I think. Whole area just looked like a mass of dried up rugburned skin. Cut areas were almost like a ring around penis. Since then things haven't been the same. Very itchy and at times penis swells almost to a comical level. Penis skin in general just feels different. Since first occurrence, masturbate about once a week when itchy cuts clear up and everything starts over- everytime hoping that it doesn't. Feel a little itchy and visually dry all over body but think connection could be in my head. Had wisdom teeth out in september and still get some swelling in holes in mouth. I only mention because part of me hopes that this is some kind of infection caused from it. Also, I don't feel that I get as many erections as I used to. I don't wake up with an erection anymore and I pretty much only get an erection if I want to- never out of the blue which is how it used to be. Could be nothing or unrelated, just giving as much info as possible.
Thanks for your help.
I am a 28 year old hetero male and I have been sexually inactive for about seven months, but have engaged in very risky behavior for years prior. Heavy drinker, promiscuous,etc. Was treated for chlamydia or gonorhea about 5 years ago. In the last seven months I had gotten into a steady habit of masturbating with hand lotion about once a day. About a month ago, I was masturbating with the lotion and the shaft about an inch down from the head and in a ring around the shaft began stinging. When I cleaned off and looked at it, it was red and looked rubbed raw. The penis was very itchy and the skin feels very dry. The raw parts were red and like open cuts but never scabbed- dry skin was hanging off all over the place. Some clear liquid came out of cuts, I think. Whole area just looked like a mass of dried up rugburned skin. Cut areas were almost like a ring around penis. Since then things haven't been the same. Very itchy and at times penis swells almost to a comical level. Penis skin in general just feels different. Since first occurrence, masturbate about once a week when itchy cuts clear up and everything starts over- everytime hoping that it doesn't. Feel a little itchy and visually dry all over body but think connection could be in my head. Had wisdom teeth out in september and still get some swelling in holes in mouth. I only mention because part of me hopes that this is some kind of infection caused from it. Also, I don't feel that I get as many erections as I used to. I don't wake up with an erection anymore and I pretty much only get an erection if I want to- never out of the blue which is how it used to be. Could be nothing or unrelated, just giving as much info as possible.
Thanks for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your symptoms cannot be due to any STD. Beyond that, I don't know what is going on, except to note that any of the innumerable things that can cause skin rash anywhere on the body sometimes affect the penis. Your mastubration habits might be related. None of your other symptoms sounds like any medical illness I can think of. See a health care provider, perhaps a dermatologist. (In regard to your comment below, there is no such thing as a dermatologist that specializes in the skin "below the belt". Any dermatologist--and probably any family medicine or other primary care provider--will be fine.
In the meantime, put STDs out of your mind as a cause. No chance.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
In the meantime, put STDs out of your mind as a cause. No chance.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Thanks marriedlove. The lotion has been shut down since problems occurred and was not a necessity. Thanks for the advice though. Just don't have a girlfriend, and trying to be careful about random sex for the first time in my life so I exhausted independent recreations. Ironic that problems are occurring now. Maybe nature's payback for being so enthusiastically irresponsible for over ten years. I also forgot to mention that this all started while taking Chantix to stop smoking. Again, don't know if related. On a completely unrelated topic Chantix is no good. All around strange effects on mental state- almost personality stripping. Did cause crazy, vivid dreams that were interesting. If know anyone thinking about it, I didn't like it and didn't help to quit smoking at all.
Also, are you saying a regular dermatologist or do I have to go to one that specializes below the belt? If that even exists? I've never heard of that for guys.
Also, are you saying a regular dermatologist or do I have to go to one that specializes below the belt? If that even exists? I've never heard of that for guys.
Sounds like the first thing to do would be to lay off of using that particular lotion. Then, a trip to the dermatolgist might be in order if you continue to have problems with the skin.
Your lack of spontaneous morning erections could be due to some combination of the irritation, the fact that you're satisfied already, your fears concerning the state of the skin on your penis, and your general preoccupation with the whole area, right now. Aging will eventually bring some alternations, as well, but since you are, as you point out, getting erections whenever you want them, then things are probably going along just fine as far as capacity for aurosal goes. Cutting down on the drinking is likely to be a good idea, on this score. Smoking, too, can be a problem.
When you do return to using some sort of lubrication for your masturbation sessions, why not try one of the lubricants specifically designed for the area? Something like KY might do the trick. If you want lotion specifically for the thicker texture or it, something like Nuetrogena unscented handcream might be good, or anything that's specifically made without perfumes and dyes that can be irritating to sensitive skin.
Good luck--see a dermatologist, please, so you can have safe and satisfying fun without pain!
marriedlove
Your lack of spontaneous morning erections could be due to some combination of the irritation, the fact that you're satisfied already, your fears concerning the state of the skin on your penis, and your general preoccupation with the whole area, right now. Aging will eventually bring some alternations, as well, but since you are, as you point out, getting erections whenever you want them, then things are probably going along just fine as far as capacity for aurosal goes. Cutting down on the drinking is likely to be a good idea, on this score. Smoking, too, can be a problem.
When you do return to using some sort of lubrication for your masturbation sessions, why not try one of the lubricants specifically designed for the area? Something like KY might do the trick. If you want lotion specifically for the thicker texture or it, something like Nuetrogena unscented handcream might be good, or anything that's specifically made without perfumes and dyes that can be irritating to sensitive skin.
Good luck--see a dermatologist, please, so you can have safe and satisfying fun without pain!
marriedlove
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
