Rash on hands and penis

[AW12]

Hello! Hoping you can give me a little insight as I am scared and confused what this could be. I have had a rash on my penis for about 2-3 months now and have tried various creams and none seem to be working. It spread for awhile but has remained around the left side of the tip spots in a row on the head patch around the rim and a half line around the shaft. They are red circular spots and some are a little bigger, longer, and best described to be lesions of some sort. there is a half ring going horizontally around the shaft and they all demonstrate peeling of the skin. The lesions near the head of the penis have somewhat extended to the opening of the penis and causes me to sometimes offshoot urine at the end of going to the bathroom. About 2-3 weeks ago I developed a rash on my right hand that appeared at first to be little spots and eventually became a red patch that can puss a little yellow and has stayed about the size of a quarter and then on every knuckle a red circle and part of it going up the cracks of my two fingers. Some has seemed to spread to my left hand but has remained mild with a light patch near my last two fingers and 3 spots at the far base of my thumb.

I have visted urgent care early this week and the doctor told me she was 80% sure it was jock itch/ring worm and said to apply Lamisil AT cream. She said it would take about 5 days to notice healing and could take 2-4 weeks to heal completely. She also noted that I seem to have it on my feet and I should get a pedicure to rid of the fungi. At this moment I am more motivated to get it off my hands first as it is embarrassing when I am holding my hands out while dealing with people but more concerned about the red patches on my penis. It is greatly affecting my sex life and is causing a good level of stress and I know that doesn't help cause it can cause a rash or make it worse.

I admit I am being a bit impatient but I have tried to wait this out and cure it on my own so I am starting to freak out and I am also doubting the medicine being effective cause nothing else has worked, though this is a different ingredient from what I have gotten, but I know she said it would take time just I wonder if getting it wet a lot at work is making it ineffective. The penis doesn't seem to be showing any signs of getting better as it is still red though some of the spots seem to be less bumpy. I was really hoping that she would have prescribed me with a stronger medicine but she seemed unsure herself with her percentage guess and she advised to see a dermatologist if it didn't heal. I kinda wished I did in the first place but I am just trying to minimize spending a lot as I already have on creams, etc.

I know this could probably be best summed up with, "Go see a dermatologist!" but I was hoping I could get some peace of mind now or someone just knowing exactly what it is... maybe it's possible. I work pretty hard at work so I am sweating a lot down there and I did have tight pants on for a time because they shrank so I have gotten a bigger pair of pants to make room. I also hear wearing cotton underwear can be effective but I have polyester atm. Mostly curious if it does just take time for the medicine to be effective and maybe I should just relax and wait the couple of weeks but I am not seeing anything after the 5 days of visiting so I am a bit concerned. Thanks in advance for anyway you can help!

[AW12]

Yes I was thinking it just comes down to what the Dermatologist says and then go from there. I know they can scrape the sample to determine what it is exactly. Someone said that if it is fungi it will glow in the black light as silly as that sounds I tried it out and it's still hard to tell if it's just glowing because it's discolored or if it is because it is fungi; oh well.. I will say that it seems to be clearing up a big more after I have kept it oiled and keep applying Lamisil AT and Tenactin.

I did go off on a limb and tried someones prescription anti fungi shampoo and that wasn't such a good idea since it seems to have caused it to directly effect my testicles and now they itch and burn but I am keeping it moisturized best I can and that seems to lessen the irritation. I a fellow at work who delt with these skin conditions as a field medic said it looks just like a fungi infection or what he likes to call, "Jungle rot" haha I just can't wait to get it over with but yes it seems you are correct I have taken steps to get a dermatologist to narrow it down and it won't cost me too much with my copay so I should go asap!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be due to contact dermatitis or it can be due to fungal infection. What you need to do is consult a dermatologist and get a KOH examination of the skin scrapings and a biopsy of small skin sample done. KOH examination of the area will clarify whether it is due to fungal infection or not.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[AW12]

Just wanted to update... I am starting to apply Tea Tree Oil by dabbing it on with a cotton ball and it has significantly lightened and dried out some of the effected areas. Starting to trust it as a natural healing oil as it seems to be working!

[AW12]

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