What is penile eczema and what causes it? How can I manage it? Get insight into causes, symptoms, types, treatments, and remedies to relieve this condition.
Penile eczema, otherwise known as penile dermatitis is a skin condition that results in the red, irritated and itchy area or a rash. Sometimes, the itchiness may be extreme.
Besides being painful, itchy, irritating, it is not a life-threatening condition. Furthermore, this is a controllable condition. However, it can trigger secondary infections if not dealt with well. Eczema on the penis can be confused with other conditions, for instance, those resulting from sexually transmitted diseases.
There exist only two types, both caused by irritants or allergens. This irritants or allergens include latex, harsh soaps, chemicals, etc. Here are the kinds of eczema occurring on the penis.
The factors that contribute to this skin condition are allergens or irritants as already seen. According to Webmd.com, the exact cause of eczema is not apparent, but currently, it is presumed by professionals that the following factors are involved:
Irrespective of the cause, it is essential for one to get timely and proper treatment for eczema. This is after a doctor has done an accurate diagnosis.
Let us now see what can trigger penus eczema. Remember triggers do not cause this problem, but they enhance flareups or aggravates the condition. They include:
1. Cleansing products
In our daily lives, we have to be aware of the effects of cleaning products we use, when bathing and taking showers. They can also affect you when you use them to wash your clothes or bedding. These products may be full of chemicals that may end up triggering skin irritation and itching. Hence vulnerable individuals should only use products that have been approved by dermatologist or experts.
2. Latex allergy
This allergy occurs due to the frequent use of condoms during sexual intercourse. So does this imply that you refrain from protected sex? The answer is absolutely No. you should consult your dermatologist on the best condoms to use for you and your partner
3. Clothing
Have you ever wondered if the material your cloth is made up of matters? Well, it matters a lot as far as penile Eczema is concerned, since it is among the causative agents. Both the material of cloth we put on and or the ill-fitting undergarments can irritate your penile skin and thus result in eczema on the penis. This because clothes contain dyes and certain chemicals in them which may be considered irritants or allergens
4. Sweat
You may suffer from sweat irritation if you participate in extremely physical activities such as doing vigorous exercise. Since sweat can cause irritations that can trigger penile eczema, you should make sure you bath immediately after sweating or reduce the activities that may lead to sweating if possible.
5. Heat or friction
Tight or ill-fitting clothes will trigger friction and thus produce heat. This will hinder the skin from breathing properly and may also make your skin itchy and sore. All these will only work towards worsening your eczema.
Other triggers include penile infections, staying in the water for a longer time and so forth.
The symptoms of eczema are the most likely to cause much discomfort and pain to an individual, especially during sex with your partner. They could range from mild to severe.
According to eczemarelief.org, “Penile eczema can manifest itself in both the glans and the shaft. When you have this condition, your skin will start to redden, and it may become lighter, especially for men who normally have a dark complexion.” See some of the symptoms below:
More importantly, you need to acknowledge that, penile eczema may bear similar symptoms to other skin condition and thus proper diagnosis is important.
Finally, the symptoms may worsen if your eczema has been irritated through scratching, popping or squeezing.
Yes, it can occur in the various part your groin including on your scrotum, inner thighs as well as penis head. If it happens on the penile head, the pain usually tends to be extreme. The pain can be felt after urination as the urine will burn over the resultant sores on the penile head. The scrotum and the penile shaft, the skin usually turn dry flaky.
Can it be treated? Well, this is a treatable skin condition but not be cured completely. The treatment will depend on the severity of the resultant symptoms, underlying causes, and medical history of the victim, age, etc. They can include home solutions, over the counter treatments or prescribed medications. Here is how you can deal with this genital eczema.
Medical treatments are available to treat penus eczema. They can be purchased over the counter or through doctor’s prescriptions. Some of these treatments include:
1. Steroids
This is a prescription treatment. It is essential in relieving inflammation caused by penile dermatitis. Usually, your doctor will prescribe steroids strength depending on how severe your case is.
2. Antihistamines
Antihistamines are allergy treatments that will help reduce itchiness and other allergy symptoms. Use this medication just before going to bed. It can be in the form soaps, creams or lotions. Sometimes oral antihistamines might be prescribed.
3. Ointments
They are recommended if you have a severe case. Ointments will moisturize your skin and prevent further damage to the skin as well as stop possibilities of secondary infections.
4. UV-light Therapy
This is rarely used unless you have severe eczema. It is a delicate treatment that could lead to burning especially if your skin is naturally thin.
Home remedies are used to manage very mild cases. Some of the remedies for penile eczema include the following.
1. Coconut oil
Coconut oil contains moisturizing and mostly antimicrobial properties that can make you easily get rid of this skin condition. When used frequently and consistently it helps in reducing dryness, scaling and the redness of the skin after using it for a few days. Coconut oil is applied directly to the affected areas.
2. Aloe Vera.
Aloe Vera is another remedy for curing eczema. It helps in soothing and treating this skin condition and also helps in the restoration of the pH level. Also, it helps in relieving the itching sensations as well as the irritation of your skin.
3. Vitamin E
It is the best and easiest to find as one of the remedies. It is an oil that accelerates the healing as well as provides you with relief from inflammation and itching.
4. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a type of bath. Taking an oatmeal bath will soothe skin that is already irritated, has rashes or is itchy. Oatmeal moreover helps in providing moisture to the skin around the penile shaft.
5. Cold compress.
It will soothe your skin, reduce inflammation and minimize pain. Just soak a soft fabric in cold water and apply it to the affected areas.
6. Vitamins A, C, and D
If the above vitamins are used in combinations with natural moisturizers or the amino acids, they will eventually improve the texture and the tone of your skin; this can even make eczema on your skin to heal even faster.
Other useful home products include baking soda, lemon juice, honey, lavender oil, coconut oil among others
