Yeah man I understand wanting for this to heal as fast as possible, just not sure that surgery would be the best answer. Seems like it would be quite risky. If what you are dealing with is the side effects of the topical steroids and not a separate condition I think time and good health are what it's going to take. There are some guys who have seen benefit from a few months of doxycycline, it is frequently used for red scrotum syndrome and steroid induced rosacea. I would try that before surgery. Dude I'm with you on how bad this absolutely sucks, and doctors should quit prescribing steroids for guys to put on their damn penis. I seriously think they should try it themselves before recommending it to patients, but that'll never happen.
Thanx to Gator12 to alerting me to this particular thread as I am a new member & posted a "new topic" without realising it seems to be a well-established discussion point on this site already.
Wow, some of u are young guys & I feel for u guys! [I am in my 40's & in a long-standing relationship of nearly 25 yrs, but sadly unable to have sex with my partner due to extreme thinning skin, redness, pain & intense itching of the foreskin & glans especially].
My original post I repeat here: [[....it appears after 6 mths use of Kenacombe [prescribed by my G.P. for "dermatitis"] I have all the symptoms of a damaged, reddened, extremely thin skinned penis head. Can anyone offer advice as to treatment.....I stopped using the cream 9 days ago, but the itching & redness & shiny, paper thin skin [especially the "rim" of the glans] is causing me no end of depression & fear that I am damaged permanently]].
Also: [Never had the constant, intense burning & itching like this UNTIL I stopped using the topical steroid [didn't even know it was a steroid, was just told it was "broad spectrum" treatment for my condition!!]. I just thought the slight itching at the time meant I had "contact dermatitis" the Dr. referred to, so I kept re-applying the cream until it stopped. As I said above I have used this for 6 mths or more.....now after 10 days of not using the cream I wonder if my Dr. is a complete jackass....don't they know their stuff? [wow]
I am physically & mentally scarred for life, u would think more ppl would know of this "thin, shiny skin" steroid problem, but once i again google has told me.......so many ppl seem to have this. My Dr. said keep using the cream until "all symptoms" had gone. Little did I know the so-called symptoms after all this time were the damn side effects of the cream!!!]
P.S. Has anyone tried medicinal honey as a soothing balm or treatment regime? I am told it has healing, anti-oxidant, antiseptic properties?? The latest advice I have from another Dr. who apparently treats "Doctor's mistakes" [her words not mine] is to apply sweet almond oil to the head of the penis as it is "neutral" & has no chemicals, allergens etc. Does not oil [it is cooking oil, or massage oil after all] create heat? I am confused....
Thanx to Gator12 to alerting me to this particular thread as I am a new member & posted a "new topic" without realising it seems to be a well-established discussion point on this site already.
Wow, some of u are young guys & I feel for u guys! [I am in my 40's & in a long-standing relationship of nearly 25 yrs, but sadly unable to have sex with my partner due to extreme thinning skin, redness, pain & intense itching of the foreskin & glans especially].
My original post I repeat here: [[....it appears after 6 mths use of Kenacombe [prescribed by my G.P. for "dermatitis"] I have all the symptoms of a damaged, reddened, extremely thin skinned penis head. Can anyone offer advice as to treatment.....I stopped using the cream 9 days ago, but the itching & redness & shiny, paper thin skin [especially the "rim" of the glans] is causing me no end of depression & fear that I am damaged permanently]].
Also: [Never had the constant, intense burning & itching like this UNTIL I stopped using the topical steroid [didn't even know it was a steroid, was just told it was "broad spectrum" treatment for my condition!!]. I just thought the slight itching at the time meant I had "contact dermatitis" the Dr. referred to, so I kept re-applying the cream until it stopped. As I said above I have used this for 6 mths or more.....now after 10 days of not using the cream I wonder if my Dr. is a complete jackass....don't they know their stuff? [wow]
I am physically & mentally scarred for life, u would think more ppl would know of this "thin, shiny skin" steroid problem, but once i again google has told me.......so many ppl seem to have this. My Dr. said keep using the cream until "all symptoms" had gone. Little did I know the so-called symptoms after all this time were the damn side effects of the cream!!!]
P.S. Has anyone tried medicinal honey as a soothing balm or treatment regime? I am told it has healing, anti-oxidant, antiseptic properties?? The latest advice I have from another Dr. who apparently treats "Doctor's mistakes" [her words not mine] is to apply sweet almond oil to the head of the penis as it is "neutral" & has no chemicals, allergens etc. Does not oil [it is cooking oil, or massage oil after all] create heat? I am confused....
You used if to 6 months!!? that is a really long time. Did you use it every day?
We havnīt find anything that helps the skin recover
The creams I have found that have provided some relief are cetaphil restoraderm lotion, vanicream, aquaphor ointment, and Vaseline. Seems like the more ingredients the more likely it may irritate the skin. Retinol has been used for thin skin but will cause a lot of irritation. Also a cold compress may help, use a clean cotton washcloth with ice water. I can only wear cotton boxers now too, anything else seems to irritate the skin. Please keep posting on your progress and let us know if you find anything that works for you. It's pretty much been trial and error so far, there isn't a whole lot of research on this. The only Doctor who really gets it is in California, mentioned his name in a separate post.
Not sure about the honey, manuka honey I think is what you are referring to, or the almond oil. If it doesn't stick vaseline is probably the most neutral ointment for mixing something else with. I considered trying pure shea butter but never got to it.
Last edited by gator12; 08-13-2012 at 07:19 AM.
Reason: added info
Just read this thread and want to add that we need to learn how the body responds and research what diseases and imbalances really are, rather than to demand that doctors tell us what to do. Doctors have no more healing power than the average person. They can only offer ideas to try. The body does the healing. We can sometimes alleviate symptoms, that's all.
Sensitive skin can be soothed with benign oils like Almond or Jojoba oil, and a cool compress can be soothing. Outside of a proven bacterial infection it needs soothed and left alone, not rubbed or further irritated until it recovers. If this means no sex, then so be it! Skin doesn't recover fast. Irritated and damaged skin needs soothed and left alone for as long as recovery takes.
Candida is an internal 'good VS bad' bacteria imbalance that takes time to re-balance. It is not relieved instantly. It requires a change of diet, including abstinence from alcohol and sugar, and the results are far from immediate.
To put anything at all on sensitive skin is a serious risk. Penis skin is already sensitive and thin. Do not put petroleum jelly on it or anything else made from harsh chemicals. Wear 100% cotton boxer shorts underwear that have been washed with a small amount of hypo-allergenic and no perfume detergent.
Bathe but not excessively and don't rub wet skin. Use hypo-allergenic and no perfume soap and avoid soaping the groin. Be gentle with that area.
Bite the bullet and leave your penis alone! Stop torturing it. Soothe it with a very small amount of Almond or Jojoba oil and otherwise let it recover. It will on it's own.
Lance, A doctor prescribed a cream to me for a fungal infection and said explicitly it would not cause any side effects. I had tried several over the counter anti-fungal creams and an antibiotic for a few months already and wanted badly for this infection to go away. I expected the physician would communicate any potential adverse side effects, after all he is a guy too, and I think all guys would all agree that ruining your genitals would be a horrible thing. So anyway, I used the cream, which contained betamethasone, a very potent steroid for a couple of weeks, went back and he said it was ok to continue using it and that the redness was the infection. I did this a couple more times and after 2 months I realized the steroid was thinning this skin and stopped immediately. The skin cleared up for a few days, and then after that the skin became bright shiny red, swollen, and it burned like hell, not itching, more like on fire. What I am dealing with now is not a fungal infection, the infection is long gone, so are the symptoms I had with the infection, now it's much worse. Doctors should know, and they do, that steroids, especially the potent ones come with some horrible side effects if they are overused. But for some reason they prescribe the stuff like candy without any regard for the patient. If you have never gone through this it's hard to explain, all I can say is you do not want this to happen to yourself. Medical literature is clear that there are serious adverse side effects from topical steroids but doctors ignore this, I don't understand why. I hope with time that this will heal and if you are right about the vaseline and aquaphor, well that recommendation came straight from a dermatologist, so again, do doctors really know what they are doing? As you can tell, I'm very angry that a medical professional prescribed something that has done more harm than good, but what I am focused on, and so are the people on this board, is finding some relief and helping this to heal. If you really want to see the absolute hell that topical steroids can put people though, read some of the stories posted on blogs about steroid withdrawal. I appreciate the general tips and I follow most of them, but this isn't fungus we're talking about, I wish it were though.
I have a my own experience and read tons of threads. The reply was to everyone on the thread, not one particular person.
It is pretty common knowledge that doctors and that includes specialists do not explain side effects and often do not even know them. Everything in life is buyer beware.
I suggest that people read up on any drug before filling a prescription so we learn the risks. From what i read it seems that that most of the time people don't even ask doctors what the side effects are, much less research for themselves. At times I don't research until after I make a med purchase, then I have myself to kick.
When there are unlimited threads on a subject like red scrotum, we can be sure that there are probably many initial causes, and that we won't get a definitive answer from any type of doctor.
All of this vast evidence that cortisone is damaging to scrotum and penile skin shouts just stop using it, no matter who said to try it.
Lance, If doctors do not understand or know the side effects of medicines they prescribe to people they should not be practicing medicine. I have no sympathy for doctors who are too lazy or arrogant to communicate with the people they serve. There are no excuses. I asked the doctor if there were any side effects of the medicine he prescribed and he said No. When I went back to him with the steroid damage, he back tracked and all of a sudden knew all about the side effects of steroids. So he did know, he was just too lazy to actually communicate with me, which is quite pathetic. This happens much too often, and this is why I personally do not trust medical doctors any longer. I really didn't come here to argue about whether or not a doctor has a responsibility to communicate with their patients.
Thanks for all the advice so far from Gator & Guy etc....I will continue to use the almond oil & nothing else at present. As far as "leaving it alone" goes I have had no sex since January this year. And yes Guy I did use it for 6 mths at least, not continuosly, but my Dr. said if I have "an itch" or irritation use it every 2nd day when "flare ups" occur [he still thought it was dermatitis, not a reaction to the steroid!!....what does he know I ask now??.....I didn't even know Kenacombe was a steroid unfortunately].
I have had more pain & redness since I stopped using this cream completely 2 weeks ago than ever b4. I wash gently with Cetaphil soap & nothing else now.
Does anyone else get a white, pasty covering all around the base of the glans/head?? [I am uncircumcised].....even after applying the almond oil after showering & keeping clean all day & night, by next morning there is a thickish exudate which comes off after I gently shower [at 1st I thought it was the skin healing or peeling, but after cleaning the glans so carefully I notice it is almost translucent it is so thin.......very scary!!
I never noticed this thinning effect when using the topical cream. I wish I knew then what I know now.......I feel like the Dr. has been negligent, but that school of thought only makes me more drepressed because lawyers would only read me the riot act, tell me I am an idiot & move along. The ol' "ignorance" is no defence BS.
Final thought.....I am working near the beach soon, is saltwater something anyone has tried here?? Or is that a definite no no? In the old days [I am talking about when I was a child 40 yrs ago] if u skinned a knee or did anything involving injury, skin & bleeding, nurses, parents & doctors always bathed it in saline regularly to aid in healing? Just curious.....
I have send som mails to different plastic surgeys clinic but no good answers.
It almost always a nurse answering that knows nothing. And if surgey is possible i have pretty much have to use every money i got to get it done.
You always have to book an appointment but i really donīt wanna waist more money for 1minute meating.
One answer was that laser "might" helpt but they didnīt perform it.
I dont know where to go because doctors gets upset when i tell them about my problem because they canīt notice it so when im telling them they wont listen anymore because they are educated and canīt be wrong.
I've used several prescribed steroid creams to try and get rid of some irritation on my penis head. Inittialy the inflamation went down so I assumed the creams were working. However, ever since when I get a erection my penis head apperas very shiny, wrinkly and red in appearance. I have been to many doctors and they always say it seems fine but i know it is not as I know my own body. Can anyone advise a way of how I can get back to normal. SOme people have said abstaining from mastubation or sex will eventually let the skin heal. Its been about 4-5 months since I last used any steroid cream on my penis, but I've only managed to not masturbate for around 2 weeks. Will this eventually recover if I just leave my penis alone for as long as possible?
Having rosacea I have similar issues when using creams. The penis is a very sensitive area and the skin is easily irritated. My non professional advice would be an aloe vera cream with no lanolyn or fragrance added. What type soap do you use when showering. Also vitamin e is good for skin.
when i have been itching on near the penis head and that its become sore and irritable so i went to the doctors they gave me a cream called Daktarin as anyone used it before male? it works for to start but when its really irritable nothing works i can be clawing and clawing away at it becomes very sore and red i have been digansed with Eczema though its very senesitive as well. And i did have a full circumcision does that help? and i feel my penis isn't very big not sure if the cream is to blame. Just want the eczema to stop
My nephew has that. Believe it or not washing with baby shampoo helps him. He is in high school and his skin has improved so much. That is all he can use or he breaks out. Do you have allergies or asthma? Like I mentioned earlier stay away from any product with fragrance. Including your clothes detergent. Loose clothing likes boxers would help. Itching it will make it worse. There are oral meds they are using now. Like immunosuppressant meds or antihistamines. You are not alone. This is a chronic and life long issue. Once you get a treatment regimen that works you will be golden. Everyone is different and each treatment works on some and not the other. Fragrance dyes and some fabrics will be what is called a trigger. Which means it will cause a reaction. I hope this helps.
Smile to life and be happy there people out there who have worst things such as HIV and Herps and Cancer, let us all supplicate to our creator (god) that may he cure all of us.
My story, I went to see a doc 4months ago when I noticed some small sallowen and bit of redness on penile head, given Hydrocrotizole I used for 2weeks no improvement, then used anti-fungul 2 weeks no improvement, saw another doctor, gave me Elocon Otiment 0.1% (topical steroids) used for 3weeks under doc supervision, no significant improvment either!! However during usage of steroids I exeprienced irritation on that part of the gland that I never experience though doc adivce to keep using it and promise there is no side effects, I got really worries when I read your stories i decided to stopped on my third week.
Gland (head) is abit sensrtive now, and it can get irritated if not carefully handled. 10days now since I stopped steroids it is abit better. I try to wash with
For some reason fresh air and cold shower seems to help alot!! I'M going to give it another 20 days before I have early beach swim in very cold water followed with early sunlight for skin vitemines.
I wanted to ask, how do you assume that you penile head skin is thinned?
Didn't most of you used the steroids becausr you had redness prior to using it?
For my case I had this redness prior to use however creams made very sensetive.
I cannot seem to be convienced that gland can be thinned unless you have applied it for really long time.
anyone had any progress or find out anything else?
Try fresh airing area daily, some sun light and try swimming on beach and cold water.
If that does not work, mix some black seed oil ( only a little bit, a tea spoon) mix it with Olive Oil (light extra virgin ) and rub liberally on skinn every night before sleeping.
For some reason fresh air and cold shower seems to help alot!! I'M going to give it another 20 days before I have early beach swim in very cold water followed with early sunlight for skin vitemines.
I wanted to ask, how do you assume that you penile head skin is thinned?
Didn't most of you used the steroids becausr you had redness prior to using it?
For my case I had this redness prior to use however creams made very sensetive.
I cannot seem to be convienced that gland can be thinned unless you have applied it for really long time.
Can anyone tell me how they assumed the thinning?
Wish best for all
How i know? My glans turned red. You cant see that the glans skin has become thinner more than it is red. It wasnīt red before i had some red "dots" sometimes but is comes and goes thats why i didnīt even thought about it to my skin totally broke down.
But penile shaft, there you can see the skin get thinner but when you notice it , it is to ******* late and you canīt do anything about it. I had normal skin 1 day the next all my skin was "gone".
Im telling you stay away from steroids!!! dont you ever use it !!!!!!!!
My skin today isnīt as thin as before but all my penis is discolored and a bit dry and wrinkled.
But if you want to permanent damage your penis use cortisone if not get the **** away from that dangerous ****.
I was like you thought i can use this for how long i want nothing can happend a doctor prescribed and give me no warning im safe i thought.
You dont know what hit you and then it is to late!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was like you thought i can use this for how long i want nothing can happend a doctor prescribed and give me no warning im safe i thought.
You dont know what hit you and then it is to late!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/QUOTE]
Hey budd, so you are saying the glans head is only red its not thinned correct? If not thinned I tried frozen water with salt and black seed oil (couple of dribs as its very strong) I dip my penile into it for 15-20 after could shower (as cold as possible). It is a relief as I dont experience any itching but elocon steroids have diffinitly made it alot more sensetive and can irritate if not handled cafefully!
Bro, you thin I will recover from this sensation soon? I do not care about the redness as long as it does not cause problems with intercourse!
Another side effect frm the Hydrocotizole (im assuming it caused it) I have urine dribbing some times have to wait for 30 seconds after urnation.
I guess these steroids creams should not be used more than 5 days and applied thinnly but that is an advice for future users. As for us let us all pray to god things get better soon.
Re: penis damage from steroid creams 
