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

[stephen.reilly79]

US clinic got back to me. Good and bad news. Good news is that I can get an appointment with a Dermatologist for $350, and if a swab/biopsy is needed, could be another $350 to $1000 depending how complex.........but earliest appointment they can get me is until July.

Wow... it would probably be quicker and cheaper to fly to India and get treated there.

When I came back from the hospital, I was hurting pretty bad, so I started using the only thing that originally helped: The Terbinafine cream, and as of this morning, I am a lot better

Everything you've said sounds like a fungal infection to me. Have you tried the 2% Clotrimazole cream? The 1% stuff is fine, but the 2% stuff's better. You definitely need to cure the jock itch as well: I'm in a similar position, I'd not really clocked that my scrotum was itchy until the yeast infection on my glans returned. I also realised my backside was itchy and, after some awkward acrobatics with my phone, I realised I had an infection between my buttocks as well. So I'm now treating my ass, my balls, my dick, and my feet. Ugh. Fungal infections suck.

If you're using antifungal creams then make sure you're applying them 3 times a day, and in my opinion it's worth using several different active ingredients: I'm using Clotrimazole and Terbinafine in tandem and the infection looks to be mostly gone after 5 days.

By the by, what do you wash with? What you're describing could just as easily be contact dermatitis (probably with an opportunistic fungal infection). If you wash with soap it might be worth switching to washing with a moisturising cream instead, such as E45.

I'm also impressed you're doing keto. I couldn't stick with that more than a week because I became cranky and almost insane, nearly dysfunctional with all sorts of cravings.

You raise an interesting point there. I've never done a keto diet, but for an unrelated health reason I've been on a fairly strict weightloss diet for the last year and a half. I'm infuriatingly close to my weight goal but struggling to lose the last few kilos, so I've been quite severely limiting my calories recently to try and drop the last little bit of weight... which would likely also put me into ketosis. It's probably not helping my cause, and I have noticed that "malnutrition" is often listed as a risk factor in yeast infections.

[Mellon]

Everything you've said sounds like a fungal infection to me. Have you tried the 2% Clotrimazole cream? The 1% stuff is fine, but the 2% stuff's better.

I haven't used the 2% version, but I was on 400mg of Itraconazole for 5 days, and it did not make a difference. Terbinafine cream did work, a little bit, but that could just have been my own body fighting it. I mixed a 2% Clotrimazole and Terbinafine together and started using it today.

I wake up with very mild pain, but by 4pm it hurts like 2 out of 10, and by 7-8pm I start feeling like when an infection is getting advanced.
I already tried going to ER and they said I had no fever, "talk to your GP".

So all that's left for now: I will try the combo antifungal (2% clotrimazole and terbinafine) for a couple of days (this weekend). If I notice absolutely no change, I will use the Fucidin for 7 days, and see what happens. If nothing, I will just endure until I see dermatologist and explain everything........if the doctor cares at all.

[Stealth]

So I've suffered with a couple of skin conditions over the years. I was born with Cradle Cap that was treated and went away. I then had really bad eczema from about 6 until 11 years old (skin used to split wide open and be down to a subdermal layer) and I'm now back with Seborrheic dermatitis on my forehead. Suffice to say, I have some experience with various skin conditions.

I've had yeast infection previously once before after a night of beer drinking and intimate shinanigans i.e deep throating by partner who was also as inhebriated as I was after beer. At that point, I was prescribed 2% clotrimazole and it went away. Symptons started abating after about 36 hours of topical application, but I had to keep applying for a minumum of 10 days. I haven't been able to properly view close-up images of your issue to advise if what you have looks like a standard yeast infection (I can only see your thumbnails, I can't open the actual images - sorry)

The fact that you state that your issue seems to get worse after masturbation might be indicative of that the problem could lay deeper in the dermal layers. The friction/motion bringing more blood supply to the area 'feeding' that area, bringing infection back to the surface. Also, I'm guessing that you're of course masturbating to completion - your ejaculate is protein rich which again could feed the infection (especially bacterial infection) and cause it to 'flare up worse'.

Things that you would probably be wise to look into, outside of a 'simple' fungal infection would potentially be Herpes - this is something that spreads on contact and once infected, lays dormant in your system and reoccurs with 'intermittent flare ups' - You're more likely to get a recurrence when your immunity is low, or in times of stress. Some women who have Herpes get recurrent flare-ups around the time of their cycles, so there is a potentially suggested hormonal component to this but I don't think that's ever been proven.

You'd perhaps also be wise to get checked for HPV (human papillomavirus) again because this a broad, varied, contact based viral infection with a large STD/STI component.

It's a lot less likely that you'd get a more general STI/STD just from surface contact (i.e. fondling/hand jobs) but it's not completely unheard of, especially if you had any micro-tears/cuts on your genitalia when this happened. To that end, you may also be wise to have a broad STI panel workup for the regular/usual suspects, especially if you've had any other discharges.

If you're getting burning sensations when you pee, this maybe indicative of something else at play here too i.e. more evidence of an STI such as  gonorrhea/chlamydia/Syphillis , or may be something more straightforward such as cystitis (yes men can get this too, not just women) An infection doesn't have to cause a fever, indeed some STIs may not really present with any external symptoms.

I'd personally check in with a Urologist/Sexual Health clinic in the first instance, rather than a dermatologist. They see Penises every day and are more likely to have viewed something "contact STI" related than a dermatologist who primarily looks at overall skin health. The skin being the biggest organ of the human body, but your foreskin, like your eyelids, is a minute amount of skin type in comparison to the rest of your body which is what a dermatologist is most likely seeing on a day-to-day basis. That being said, scrapings and biopsy is of course a valid path forward, but if your issue isn't directly dermal but potentially subdermal/infection under the dermal layer that's being scraped then scraping mightn't provide conclusive result of the underlying issue.

[Mellon]

Symptons started abating after about 36 hours of topical application, but I had to keep applying for a minumum of 10 days. I haven't been able to properly view close-up images of your issue to advise if what you have looks like a standard yeast infection (I can only see your thumbnails, I can't open the actual images - sorry)

Hmm, that's weird, don't know why you can't see images. I used Clotrimazole for over a month with zero change.

The fact that you state that your issue seems to get worse after masturbation might be indicative of that the problem could lay deeper in the dermal layers. The friction/motion bringing more blood supply to the area 'feeding' that area, bringing infection back to the surface. Also, I'm guessing that you're of course masturbating to completion - your ejaculate is protein rich which again could feed the infection (especially bacterial infection) and cause it to 'flare up worse'.

I've so far tried going without touching my penis at all for 10 days in a row, except to wash with just water once a day before bedtime. I made sure to get 8hr sleep every single night. Did not pull back to reduce irritation. I made sure to eat as good as I could. I stopped doing keto. I am eating more carbs now, but still clean, a lot of greens, veggies, and lean proteins. It seems to not have made a difference at all.

So I started masturbating again. I am using coconut oil as a lube. I am very careful, and what I have noticed is when I finish, yes, the red areas are more red and more raw, but if I shower immediately and clean up, in 15 min it goes back to the normal status, as if I hadn't touched myself at all. I think part of it is how careful I am doing it.

Things that you would probably be wise to look into, outside of a 'simple' fungal infection would potentially be Herpes - this is something that spreads on contact and once infected, lays dormant in your system and reoccurs with 'intermittent flare ups' - You're more likely to get a recurrence when your immunity is low, or in times of stress. Some women who have Herpes get recurrent flare-ups around the time of their cycles, so there is a potentially suggested hormonal component to this but I don't think that's ever been proven.

You'd perhaps also be wise to get checked for HPV (human papillomavirus) again because this a broad, varied, contact based viral infection with a large STD/STI component.

It's a lot less likely that you'd get a more general STI/STD just from surface contact (i.e. fondling/hand jobs) but it's not completely unheard of, especially if you had any micro-tears/cuts on your genitalia when this happened. To that end, you may also be wise to have a broad STI panel workup for the regular/usual suspects, especially if you've had any other discharges.

STI panel was the first thing I did. Tested for the usual: Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, HIV, etc. Came back clean. I don't know if they tested for the herpes viruses. Usually does infections clear up on their own and go dormant. I've had my rash 24/7 for the past 3 months. The only things that helped were Lamisil, and pulling back.

If you're getting burning sensations when you pee, this maybe indicative of something else at play here too i.e. more evidence of an STI such as  gonorrhea/chlamydia/Syphillis , or may be something more straightforward such as cystitis (yes men can get this too, not just women) An infection doesn't have to cause a fever, indeed some STIs may not really present with any external symptoms.

No burning sensations when I pee, thank God.

I'd personally check in with a Urologist/Sexual Health clinic in the first instance, rather than a dermatologist. They see Penises every day and are more likely to have viewed something "contact STI" related than a dermatologist who primarily looks at overall skin health. The skin being the biggest organ of the human body, but your foreskin, like your eyelids, is a minute amount of skin type in comparison to the rest of your body which is what a dermatologist is most likely seeing on a day-to-day basis.

I reached out to a Sexual Health Clinic. They interviewed me over the phone and I sent pics. They said I had already done what they would have done for me (Clotrimazole, Oral Itraconazole, etc), and at this point I was better off waiting for the Dermatologist. They did not recommend seeing me in person, it would have been a waste of time.

That being said, scrapings and biopsy is of course a valid path forward, but if your issue isn't directly dermal but potentially subdermal/infection under the dermal layer that's being scraped then scraping mightn't provide conclusive result of the underlying issue.

I actually had an appointment with my GP yesterday. He's a very nice guy, and has listened to all my issues and ideas. We don't know if the infection is fungal or bacterial. We need to wait for the Dermatologist to do the test (he can't request it, it has to be Dermatologist).
It seems that mild bacterial infections can mimic fungal infections. If that's what I have, it would make sense that antifungals are doing nothing. Lamisil helped, so I think it's possible I had both fungal and bacterial, and the Lamisil nuked the fungal.

Things of note: I was hurting pretty bad last week, so I caved in and started using the weakest steroid I could get: Hydrocortizone 0.5%. I used it for 3 days, and it calmed down the burning, but interestingly enough, actually made the red patch even more red, and the spots became bubbly and visible right on the surface of my glans. I stopped using it and it stayed redder, but with less pain.

I also started using a Calendula soap, and washing with it every other day, and I'm noticing this has reduced the pain to almost zero. All I have right now is a very mild burning. And I think the red is basically right on top of the skin. I have noticed that some of the deeper red spots are no longer visible (could be my body fighting this off), so even though it's redder on top now (thanks steroids!) but deep seems to be better.

I am just patiently waiting for my Derm appointment (another 10 days). Thankfully I am in almost no pain. Once the lab reports what I have, I will act accordingly. I would not be shocked if it ends up being bacterial, which means I will probably have to go on antibiotics. If it ends up being fungal, then I have a ton of stuff right now that I will use to hammer it for my next attempt (pulling back, Oral Terbinafine, Itraconazole, etc).

I have another fungal rash (unrelated) in my thigh, and it was not responding to Clotrimazole, but I bought a Silver gel, and to my surprise, it's helping. The rash is less and less every day. If it wasn't for the fact that I want to get active cultures off my glans, I'd be slapping that stuff on right now, and monitoring to see if it would help.

If for some reason, the Dermatologist refuses to do a swab, then I have already spoken with a private Dermatology clinic, and they have openings in May (they told me they can swab/biopsy, whatever is needed). It took me a lot of searching to find a private clinic, and it's an 8hr drive from where I live (and of course, paid out of pocket), but had I known a month ago I would have just went there. For now, let's see if I make progress with the first one.

Again, appreciate your replies. You guys are awesome.

[Mellon]

I throughly checked myself right now, and the irony is it seems to be better all on its own. Like I'd say a good 20-30% better. Redness is still there, but looks more superficial.

I have been going bananas with the hygiene. Once a day washing, blowdrying it off and making sure it's bone dry before rolling my foreskin back, and pulling back at night twice a week.

I think I'm reducing this thing's ability to latch on, and my immune system is fighting back. I'm tempted to go full war on it now (I have so many antifungals on hand, Itraconazole, Oral Terbinafine, Topical Terbinafine, Topical probiotics, Boric Acid wash, Silver gel, etc etc). But this is inspiring. It means I'm getting better, and I may yet go back to normal.

And I found being exposed feels really cooling, which was a nice bonus that has come out of all this knowledge. Also I am never touching anyone, or letting them touch me without knowing them. What an effin' nightmare this has been. Literally 4 months wasted for one tug that wasn't even that good.

[stephen.reilly79]

Fungal infections are commonly secondary to bacterial infections, so it's entirely possible you have both. My infection keeps recurring so I'm starting to suspect there's a bacterial component to it as well.

[Mellon]

Fungal infections are commonly secondary to bacterial infections, so it's entirely possible you have both. My infection keeps recurring so I'm starting to suspect there's a bacterial component to it as well.

Well, a mixed blessing. I have no pain now. Rash is so light now, that I don't think the Dermatologist will bother swabbing, nor doing any tests. If I show them pics, they will just say "well looks like you're a lot better, just keep on keeping it dry and use a steroid once in a while".

I doubt I have a bacterial infection, or if it is, it's going away. I took a pic and it wasn't worth posting up because it looks like a normal dick now. I even jerked it yesterday and barely had any pain. I'm going to the appointment anyway, but I don't think anything will come of it.

[PossibleMagician130]

Keep us posted on news!

[Mellon]

Keep us posted on news!

Ok update. I made 2 stupid mistakes:

1. I called the dermatologist and postponed my appointment. I had 3 straight days where I had zero pain and barely any irritation. I figured it was pointless to go, I am 90% sure I was just going to be told "you look fine, you are much healed compared to your pics", and sent home.

2. I put some of that silver gel on my glans, thinking I would speed up the healing. Well, that day I was fine, but the next day wow was my dick hurting. Not an acute burning, more like a mild burn. And have some lesions, but they are dark, not like the bright red ones from before. I am positive the silver irritated my glans, and I don't think I have a fungal infection at all now, but probably a mild chemical burn from the silver.

I think I may have had an initial fungal infection, which was cleared by the Lamisil, but just putting constant creams on probably created the left over irritation.

I should have just been happy at the massive progress, left it alone for a month and see if it cleared up completely on its own. With that said, I am trying a cream called Terrasil Balanitis relief. I just put it on like 2hr ago, and I'm already feeling some reduction of the irritation. Even now I am nowhere as bad as I was 2 months ago, so it's been 3 steps forward, one step back.

I also started taking Terbinafine tablets, 250mg a day:

1. To ensure that if there is fungal infection left, it nukes it from the inside.
2. To see if I can start hitting this blasted Jock Itch as well.

I have a month's supply. I also Fluconazole and Itraconazole for a couple of days. I've been reading of pulse therapy where you hit it with Terbinafine for a week, then you do a day of Fluconazole or Itraconazole, and then another week of Terbinafine.

At this point it can't hurt to do it (except my liver, lol. I've been taking NAC and Milk Thistle to help, and eating very clean). I don't drink or smoke either, so my risk of liver damage is low.

I have a feeling once my glans is able to clear out the silver, and inflammation reduces, I will get that to that "almost clear" stage. I did stop pulling back for now as well.

So a bit worse than last week, but still better than when all of this began. I will 100% come back with updates. I guess if anything gets worse, May 22nd is the appointment now, but I don't think it will get worse, just my body has to recover from the chemical burn, I guess. If I get back to where I was on Monday, I am basically in the clear, as the rash was so light, and even masturbation did not make it worse. Maybe a few more days?

Thanks again guys! Will provide updates as I have them.

[stephen.reilly79]

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.

[Kylar]

+1 what Stephen is saying: don't overdose on medicine and stop using the snake oil called colloidal silver.

[Stealth]

Sorry I haven't replied sooner, I've had some family illness amongst other stuff I've had to deal with just recently. Pleased to hear that you've been able to make some good progress with it though Mellon, and hope that it's just a temporary set-back.

I'd agree with Kylar and Stephen though - a 'scatter gun' approach to these topical applications/creams mightn't be a good idea in the long run. In my mind, it's kind of like the same principle as why Doctors generally try to only prescribe limited duration courses of antibiotics for bacterial infection i.e bacterial resistance development. In the same vein, whatever you're applying, if it's for the wrong application for the wrong thing, you don't want other things such as your natural body flora/fungus to then get out of whack and make you more susceptible to other stuff. Sometimes less does more, so try and go sparingly as much as you can and let your own immune system make as much progress as it will.

[Mellon]

Thanks guys.

It's been approx 1 week since the silver gel thing. Every day gets a little bit better, but going slowly. I guess the silver really irritated it. The only thing I put on it was the Terrasil Balanitis cream. I only did it once, and it definitely reduced the irritation, maybe by half. I have not put anything else until then.

Since my derm appointment is now on May 22nd, I'm just not going to put anything on it, or pull back, or do anything at all, unless it gets worse, but it's slowly getting better. I'm so stupid to put on anything when I was making good progress, but it is what it is.

If it's Zoon's, I guess I will mention it to to the derm. I also have been taking Terbinafine tablets, one a day for the past 8 days. No difference to the balanitis, none with the jock itch either (I am using Clotrimazole 2% on the jock itch, to hit it from both sides (nothing on the glans).

[Burgo84]

Did the GP do a STI screen? Lots of your symptoms could be from an STI and particularly if it's not resolved after multiple attempts.

[Kylar]

Did the GP do a STI screen? Lots of your symptoms could be from an STI and particularly if it's not resolved after multiple attempts.

I think he mentioned getting STI checked and came out clean