Pulled back — living with a bare head

Quote from: rubbercock on 2024-04-19 08:19:03Permanently retracted from age 11, until circumcised at age 31. My glans is now irreversibly exposed and I love it as much as I've ever done.

You really dug up every possible post to write this into them?

Thanks for replying. I know you are right about the doctors. I am very much hoping it has sorted itself out next week but otherwise I am going to bite the bullet.

I did have a go at pulling back earlier and it was actually fine once back.

Yeah I did read about the steroids and thought I would steer clear. Perhaps sudocrem wasn't my smartest move either, I might wash it off.

I'll Google Balanoposthitis

Disclaimer: not a medical professional

Balanitis can have different causes like bacterial/fungal/viral infection, irritation or autoimmune.

The smart option will be to reach for a medical help.

The unsafe option will be to try and treat it yourself. If you plan to do anything yourself( without doctor help) never start with corticosteroids (for autoimmune diseases). If you are wrong corticosteroids will make bacterial/fungal infections worse.

Clean it with plain water and try to limit exposure to chemicals in soaps/gels. Wash with water leftovers from pee if possible.

I think when the condition affects both the head and the foreskin that its called "Balanoposthitis". Search stuff about it, there might be more specific information for your case

You should go and introduce yourself in order to be able to see the pictures. There are two pictures of this method on the original post.

I just had another look at your photos. I think the rash fits the profile for Zoon's Balanitis, but it'd have to be a very mild form. The photos I've been able to find online of Zoon's are all pretty horrific, but the description from DermNet is 'symmetric "cayenne pepper spots" and orange-glazed erythema on the glans penis due to microvascular haemorrhage and hemosiderin deposition.'

It's also very possible this is some sort of dermatitis caused by, as you say, all of the chemicals you've been throwing at it. The foreskin and glans are both very thin mucosal membranes and they don't take kindly to heavy chemicals (as you've found with the coloidal silver). Note that according to Healthline:

'... colloidal silver has been declared unsafe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1999. In fact, the FDA deemed that all over-the-counter products that contain colloidal silver ingredients or silver salts are not generally recognized as safe or effective'

My mum used to use colloidal silver to (supposedly) treat psoriasis and she tried to convince me to use it. I opted not to and I'm glad I did: there are much better and safer treatments available. Note that it can turn your skin blue as well, although I think that might be only if it's taken orally. There's a famous case of a guy who pretty much turned himself into a smurf using colloidal silver.

I stopped using my canesten on Sunday and have had persistent itching since and a small amount of peeling skin, but I can't see any clear indications that the infection is back. Apparently using antifungals can lead to soreness and itching if they're used for a "long" time (I couldn't find a definition for "long" in this context, beyond "the recommended treatment time on the packaging") so I'm working on the assumption that I'm probably clear now but simply suffering a side effect of the Clotrimazole. It usually takes a week or so for the skin to settle afterwards so I'm hoping for some relief this week.

And, like you, I've also not been skinning back for the last week for fear that may have been causing additional irritation. Here's hoping I can resume again soon.

If I were you I'd do as you were doing: use the oral antifungal, keep it clean and dry, and avoid irritants. I'd also suggest maybe considering using a small amount of a gentle emollient moisturiser like E45 or Epaderm. And if you're not already doing so, try adding an iron supplement into your diet: a low iron count can lead to fungal infections.

No experience in this area to be honest, but for a while I have wondered about if salt water could have any effect on things? I know it can be used to help toughen up skin or your mouth perhaps after dental work?

Quote from: ThePiemel on 2024-04-20 08:35:39Question, did anything emotional or stressful happen to you recently?

What you write ticks all the boxes of balanitis. Which is often defined as an infection. An infection is when you catch an "alien" bacteria your body never met before. Like you catch a cold or a flue.

Most balanitis is just your natural balance of defenses getting tipped over. Microbes, part of your life and defenses, go wild. Nothing alien about it. Some guys much more sensitive to this than others. But when it happens, the penis is a regular spot. Yet when not sensitive in general, when it does hit you, you might not recognize it. Normally it goes away in a day or two as penises are brilliant in quick recovery.

To be honest I have been doing some research and I came across a photo which looks exactly like what I have which has been described as Balanitis, so I think you are absolutely right. Fortunely the head has gone back to normal now, its just my foreskin left to sort out!

I have put on this morning some Sudocrem and a mixture of an aqueous cream, I hope that does some good rather than make things worse! I think because I know its not right, I am more concious of it and want to look at it more...if that makes sense?

Thanks for your reply

I use daily surgical spirits on glans to keep it dry

Question, did anything emotional or stressful happen to you recently?

What you write ticks all the boxes of balanitis. Which is often defined as an infection. An infection is when you catch an "alien" bacteria your body never met before. Like you catch a cold or a flue.

Most balanitis is just your natural balance of defenses getting tipped over. Microbes, part of your life and defenses, go wild. Nothing alien about it. Some guys much more sensitive to this than others. But when it happens, the penis is a regular spot. Yet when not sensitive in general, when it does hit you, you might not recognize it. Normally it goes away in a day or two as penises are brilliant in quick recovery.

I stay retracted for a day or two hear and there when I decide I want the feeling of it being back. Sometimes I like seeing the bare head. Then
I'll let it come forward again for a few days.