Glans Abrasion

[Mercury]

Dear Dr Rockoff,

I'm a 37 yr old male of generally good health. Nearly a year ago, whilst taking a prescribed course of Paxil, I masturbated excessively hard, I think over several days, due to the reduced sexual sensitivity that this drug causes.

The rear half of my glans (that closest to my body) became very sore with feelings of great sensitivity. It felt just like I'd worn away the top layer of skin tissue which was very red and sore looking. I probably made this condition worse because I didn't know to take extra care to keep the glans moist to aid healing and I restrained the foreskin to 'let it dry' which probably didn't help.

I read one of your other answers to a similar sounding problem and so for the last 10 days I've been using a eucerin + 1% hydrocortisone cream applied twice daily. This has helped somewhat but the skin is still very fragile and thin, i.e. it feels just like a layer is missing and that it has yet to heal fully.

Prior to this I've never had any problems of this type before
and I feel very anxious about it. It seems like it's just not going to get better. My sex drive has also reduced considerably even though I'm no longer taking anti-depressants and I'm sure the problem with my glans is mostly to blame as it makes me wary of anything that might traumatise the skin furher.

I would like to treat this effectively, my questions are:

- Should I persist with this treatment for longer or is there anything else you would suggest.
- Or, should I head straight for the nearest dermatologist?
- If I do see a dermatologist, what kind of treatment is he likely to offer? There seems little point in going if he only tells me to carry on using eucerin cream for example.
- What's the least embarrassing thing I can say to my physician about this to get a dermatologist's appointment?

Thanks in advance for your for your help on this.

Regards,
Clive

[derekhy]

A related discussion, Glans abrasion was started.

[Mercury]

Thanks - I'll give it a go.

[Mercury]

Sorry, I should have added that I'm uncircumised.

Clive

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I'm sure you don't have to worry about having done permanent damage to your skin.  The skin may feel "thin," but certainly isn't--it's just sensitive.  You're no doubt correct that your reduced sex drive at this point stms from wariness about touching the affected area.

My advice is to continue Eucerin but skip the hydrocortisone.  (10 says of that are enough.)  Keep that up for two weeks, twice a day.  If you still feel sensitive and want additional reassurance, you can see a dermatologist then, explaining that excessive friction from exercise and sex made the area feel sore and you want to be sure there's no rash or inlammation.

However, I am confident that a bit more time and moisturizing will be all you need.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff