Hi all
So ive had this issue now since Oct and shows no signs of letting up. I have had 4 blood tests and 4 pee tests plus the painful jabbing down my eye and all come back negative. I've seen a number of doctors which have all guessed from fungal, bacteria to no issues or CPPS. So far I have had two rounds of Doxycycline, Daktacourt (that one hurt a lot), steroid cream, eczema cream and the latest Trimovate all of which have short term success but no lasting results. I shower once to twice a day so not a hygiene issue and have cut out shower gel etc. Have tried leaving it however flares up and gets sore. Steroid cream seems to calm it. Its sore day to day and sometimes painful (like someone squeezing it) and is really starting to get me down. Going to try the coconut oil next.
It is difficult to tell from one picture and whether there is any scale/plaque under the foreskin? Any redness?
No its mainly the cracking around the base of head of the penis. Did have a blister appear some months ago but this was swabbed at the time and nothing found.
… yeah, picture does not show anything - you need to give things like steroid applications quite a while to see if they are going to give you the result you want. I used one for a while and seemed to get little benefit from it - I could have given up on it - instead I found out how to apply it correctly and about 5 to 6 months in I got the best result possible.
have you seen a Dermatologist? Do you actually have a diagnosis? Also, make sure if this is a skin disorder that you are using an ointment version of the steroid - as I understand it, creams treat infections on the skin, ointments treat diseased skin internally …
Thank you for the response. I have developed a crack around the base of the head of the penis and if left the head gets ‘wrinkly’ (like skin if left in water too long) and red and blotchy. No unfortunately 6mth or so waiting list for a dermatologist plus with the background issues with Corona virus is understandably not top priority. I have looked to go private but specialists in this area seem to be hard to come by in the private arena (excuse the unintentional pun!).
No diagnosis as yet as most just seem to be guessing at possible answers. They have ruled out STI’s as have had multiple tests all negative. I’m knocking the Trimovate on the head as all medical websites suggest not using for more than a week so not sure ideal. Have gone back to Clobavate in a gel/ointment form which does seem to calm whatevers going on when flares up. Putting nothing on it really isn’t working sadly. I also have some additional groin pain which comes and goes but again have been given two courses of Doxycycline which should have cleared anything bacterial.
So, yes it may be best to continue using the Clobavate if you are applying correctly: there are 2 main factors, applying it sufficiently frequently enough; and, it must be fully absorbed by the skin, say rubbing it in gently for at least around 2 minutes. I use a gentle massage type action where the ointment is first rubbed back and forth, then I use circular massage type movements to ensure it is completely worked into the skin. In comparison, if application is done in haste the risk is the skin may not benefit at all, or certainly not to the full-degree possible.
In addition, often a very critical factor is what else the skin is exposed to, it may simply be soap, or shower gel, or skin creams
You are saying “when it flares up” - if you mean you are ONLY applying the Clobavate when you see it flaring this may be because you are applying it too infrequently. Take this approach if that is the case: prevention of a flare is better than trying to cure it.
Whatever you try, particularly with a topical steroid, or even trying nothing at all - you must give the skin time to adapt to whatever the situation is, this very often takes a number of months, rather than days or weeks - I would say anywhere between 5 and 7 months may be required for the skin to adapt and to achieve the best that the overall situation is going to allow / enable to occur.
Appreciated. Yep tried the doing nothing approach to see if would settle but that doesn’t seem to be a viable option. The skin gets noticeably worse if left alone with nothing on it. Will continue on with the Clobavate and try as you say to give it a good period to see if resolves. I’ve knocked all shower gels etc on the head around this area
Thanks for the update - you can do a further update 5 to 7 down the line …