Strange rash/irritation on groin/genitals

[Techno55]

About a month ago, I was at work and I started getting a painful rash in my groin area (in the crease between my scrotum and thigh).  I didn't pay much attention to it at first but eventually it began to get worse, with the usual signs of a bad jock itch problem.  It spread down my thigh and had a crusty edge, with the interior being a dark red color.  I started using clotrimazole cream .  I was using it twice a day for about a week, but during that time my scrotum began to hurt very badly and began peeling.  I stopped using the cream and less than 20 hours later my scrotum felt fine, so I'm pretty sure that was a reaction to the cream.  The jock itch had retreated fairly well but was not completely gone; the area that used to be red was dry and cracking, and quite rough.

After a few days of working like that, I could feel the area of my scrotum that rubbed against my thighs was very sore, and just about a week ago a sore on each side opened up and was leaking clear fluid.  It leaked most of the time I was at work (about 20 hours) and healed up in a few hours after I got home and took a shower.

So I pretty much thought it was just an infection I got from scratching the area with dirty fingernails (which I did alot) but then just last night the tip of my penis began to irritate.  I can't feel it right now, but when I walk around I can feel my pants rubbing up against the tip of my penis, it feels like someone is tickling me there almost, but it is uncomfortable.  It sort of came out of nowhere too, I went to the bathroom, pulled down my underwear to urinate, and when I pulled them back up got a shock from the sensation I felt as my underwear rubbed against my penis.  There is no rash or sore or anything like that, it looks normal.  I'll go to a doctor as soon as I can schedule it, but do you have any ideas on what caused all these symptoms?  Is it one thing, or multiple problems?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Clotrimazole doesn't cause reactions, but it also doesn't help unless the condition is caused by yeast or fungus, and I don't think yours is caused by either.  It sounds to me as though what you have is caused by irritation.  My advice is to avoid any further scratching or irritation as much as possible, and to see a doctor when you can for the anti-inflammatory cream that I think it's likely you'll need.  I think the funny sensations you describe are just from chafing, and are nothing to worry about.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[Techno55]

A couple of things I forgot to mention; I got a small cut (an accident I had) just below the head of my penis, which I applied an antibacterial ointment to, a couple of days before the tingling at the top of my penis began.  Is this possibly related?  I also put antibacterial ointment on the sore spots on my scrotum which seemed to help make them heal.