*sigh*, infection on my penis. Plans to pull back in hopes of resolving.

[Mellon]

Yes, STI test was the first thing I did. They tested for the usual: Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphillis, HIV, etc.

I ended up putting some Terrasil Balanitis cream today. It started stinging on the left side of the glans, but visually there's almost invisible rash, so I caved in and put this on. This cream is supposed to be 100% natural ingredients, so I think I "should" be ok to try it without making myself worse. So far it calmed down the stinging. Not sure how useful putting up new pics will be, the weird part is that visually it's maybe about 1/2 of what the original pics show.

I am going under the assumption that I have really irritated my glans, and all of this now is just contact dermatitis. I'm scared of using any steroid creams, but I might try the betamethasone for a couple of days and see what happens. I really made a huge mistake to postpone that appointment for dermatologist, so now I am stuck for May 22nd.

The problem is this area is so sensitive, I might be 100% fine, but just irritated, and it feels like there's something wrong. Or there's a mild infection there, which is possible. I had 3 days where I had literally zero pain, and only the faintest redness........then I went to mess myself up with Silver gel (I did it because I read someone online used it to treat themselves successfully). It was probably a bad idea to put that on. I am on the 7th day after that, and the stinging is only down maybe by half (3/4 with the Terrasil).

If it's just irritation, I might benefit from a couple of days of a steroid cream. If it's zoon's or some other bacterial infection, I guess I will get some antibiotics (assuming the derm agrees for me to try them). Visually it's better than it has been in months. Pain wise it was better until I aggravated it again.   

[Stealth]

I'd not use anything steroidal, at least until you've seen the dermo. You don't want to risk empowering anything underlying really, and it sounds like it's not currently in any kind of state where it's weapinng anything or open and 'needs' the extra help healing. Even if it's just irritation, I wouldn't throw steroids at it. Forgive me for saying but learn the lesson and move on as much as you can from that experience - just be patient and give it time, keep it clean and moist (though not too moist, don't want to encourage anything fungal) and let it breathe. Anything irriating, you'll naturally subconsciously scratch or rub it - resist this temptation and wait it out as much as you can.

[Mellon]

I'd not use anything steroidal, at least until you've seen the dermo. You don't want to risk empowering anything underlying really, and it sounds like it's not currently in any kind of state where it's weapinng anything or open and 'needs' the extra help healing. Even if it's just irritation, I wouldn't throw steroids at it. Forgive me for saying but learn the lesson and move on as much as you can from that experience - just be patient and give it time, keep it clean and moist (though not too moist, don't want to encourage anything fungal) and let it breathe. Anything irriating, you'll naturally subconsciously scratch or rub it - resist this temptation and wait it out as much as you can.

After reading a lot about different steroid creams, I decided to try the one I was prescribed (Betamethasone Valerate cream, 0.05%). I have used it twice, once yesterday for about 5hr (from 5pm to 10pm and then washed it off), and once today so far for 8hr (plan to take a shower in about 30min). It seems that using it for 2 days should be relatively safe. We'll see how I fare on the weekend.

It did help reduce the stinging. I am also going off the oral Terbinafine, since it's not helping for the balanitis. One good suggestion I read online is to wash it with cold water during a shower, or even using an ice pack (not directly, like with a towel in between).

The strange thing is the stinging is only coming from the left side, and in an area where there is no rash, which makes me think it's irritation. Otherwise how have I been getting by for 2 months with only 1 out of 10 pain (On Monday it was like a 4 out of 10 pain on the left side).

I'm wondering if the stress of this is getting to my nerves. I doubt it's fungal. I have used: Clotrimazole, Terbinafine Cream, Terfinafine Oral, Fluconazole, Itraconazole. I find it highly suspect a fungal infection would be resistant to all these antifungals.

If it's bacterial, well, I guess I could be making it worse, but at least there will be something to swab once I have my appointment. I have Fusidic Acid, but I don't want to put any anti-bacterials. So far the rash does not look different, but the pain is definitely down. 

I plan on getting very good sleep this weekend, and no more creams, and hope that's enough to not have the stinging flare up again. If for some reason it does, I'm going to try just straight up coconut oil (putting it on after a shower). I've read this might help with irritation as well, at least until my appointment. But fingers crossed I won't need it at all.

[CuriousSkinner]

Its been an interesting read, I am having similar issues myself and whilst I thought it was getting better, it seems to have gone backwards during the last 24 hours. I am interested to hear how you get on, I have just put some Eumovate on mine (for eczema) so will see what good that does. But like you I suspect I will need to actually go and see a doctor.

Good luck

[Mellon]

Its been an interesting read, I am having similar issues myself and whilst I thought it was getting better, it seems to have gone backwards during the last 24 hours. I am interested to hear how you get on, I have just put some Eumovate on mine (for eczema) so will see what good that does. But like you I suspect I will need to actually go and see a doctor.

Good luck

Update.

I have used the Betamethasone twice as stated in my previous post, washed it off before bedtime, and then used literally the mildest steroid I could get (Hydrocortisone cream, 0.5%) overnight, on Thursday evening.

Friday and today have been extremely calm. I have 0.5 out of 10 pain right now, and the redness has actually gone down. I am almost 100% sure now that this is just irritation, and plan to leave it alone for the rest of next week.

I forgot to mention that I stopped keto, and I am eating normally now. I need my body to be as strong as possible for the next month, and I may beat this thing with no further drugs...........and if not, I will not skip my next derm appointment (I'm going even if I am 100% good by then).

Thanks for the moral support guys!