Zoon's Balanitis

[regnof]

I have been diagnosed with Zoon's Balanitis, or Plasma Cell Balanitis.  I am male, 35, uncircumcised.  I'm not a diabetic, and I've been tested for most STD's, which were all negative.  Just weeks ago, I was sent to get a urine culture.  Though initially tested positive with traces of bacteria, when retested again for bacteria culture, the results came back negative as well.  

I have been battling this inflammation for almost 19 months now.  My first occurrence of any penile inflammation was a month after I had unprotected sex, when I noticed a foul smelling substance (smegma) underneath my foreskin.  My primary physician told me it was a yeast infection, and that it can't be from sexual transmission since the yeast fungi can't be dormant for that long.  He recommended OTC clotrimazole.  I followed the treatment, and after a full week, went back to my primary to let him know that it wasn't working.  He sent me over to a dermatologist, and I was told that it was a fungal infection and to apply Lamisil, the OTC anti-fungal cream.  Within 3 days, the infection/inflammation cleared up and went away, or so I thought...

For 2 months, I was cleared of all symptoms, no smegma, no irritation or itching.  But little red dots were always present on the glans.  Then after 3 days of hard drinking and insomnia because of work obligations and jet lag, I noticed the itchy irritation and smegma buildup once again.  I was out of the country at the time, but I knew exactly what to do - Lamisil.  Only this time, it didn't work.  When I came back stateside, my doctor tried everything that he could think of: OTC hydrocortizone cream/ointment, OTC antibiotic cream, oral antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin), anti-fungal cream (Lamisil, Clotrimazole), oral anti-fungal (Diflucan).  I just tried Tacrolimus after researching extensively online, and that's failed me too.  I'm extremely depressed.  I've seen 3 primary physicians all together, and 1 dermatologist, and still, no solution.

The dermatologist advised that Zoon's Balanitis is idiopathic, and that it may persist or it may go away on its own, and to keep the area clean and use hydrocortisone as necessary.  I tried washing twice a day, morning and night with Cetaphil, a mild soap, but the condition would inevitably relapse if left unmedicated.  The only relief I get is from OTC triple antibiotic from Walgreen, a Neosporin equivalent.  The active ingredients are Bacitracin Zinc, Neomycin Sulfate, and Polymyxin B sulfate.   If I apply this for about 3 days, once a day, I can stave off the balanitis for about a week, then the symptoms would slowly relapse, beginning with the presence of smegma, then the overall redness on the glans and foreskin with dark red and well-defined patches at the base of the glans. and last comes the transverse lesions at the base of the glans near the crease.  I've been doing this antibiotics on and off for about half a year now.  

Not only am I curious to find out what active ingredient in the ointment is effective against the inflammation, more importantly, I wonder about the negative side affects, if any, of prolonged topical antibiotic use.  Does my repeated use of topical antibiotics create the possibility that eventually, it too will be noneffective?  If the Balanitis is responsive to topical antibiotics, could the underlying cause be bacterial?  If so, is there a class of oral antibiotics containing Bacitracin Zinc, Neomycin Sulfate, or Polymyxin B sulfate (present in the cream/ointment) at a higher dosage that I should try?  Or is Ciprofloxacin a "catch all" antibiotics?  I did noticed when I was on Cipro that the Balanitis showed no improvement.

Can someone please help me?  Am I going to have to live with this for the rest of my life?  Or is circumcision the only cure?

[rick3333]

I have used Frankincense essential oil (DOTERRA MEDICINAL ) with good results..... the patch i had has shrunk away to almost zero , this has taken about 5 months to do. I applied the oil every 24 hours. There is still some inflammation of the foreskin and itchiness but things have greatly improved and i am happy with the results so far. What disturbed me most about zoons was the smegma smell... disgusting!!  The frankincense essential oil is made specifically for topical and internal use. DO NOT USE CHEAP GENERIC PRODUCTS.... i tried a cheap oil and it was painful to say the least. I was diagnosed with Zoons about 10 years ago and at the time was told that there was no cure.  This attempt at managing the zoons was out of desperation as i had tried all the different creams with no results. The frankincense essential oil has made a major improvement.
Hope this helps

[Arsb]

regnof I don't know this is any use to you but I'm pretty damn sure I have Zooms Balanitis. As it doesn't seem to be doing me any harm I've been attempting self treatment and the only thing that makes any impact at all is an ear ointment for ear infections called Otocomb (I'm in Australia)which contains triamcinolone, acetonide, gramicidin, nystatin and neomycin sulphate. It doesn't get rid of it completely but leaves a small amount of redness on the tip some of which at least is darker than the original rash. When I stopped using the cream the original lighter red rash returned and the dark patch disappeared.
I noticed that the cream that work for you also contained neomycin which is the ingredient I have suspected worked for me. I suspect it may have been the one that worked for you too.
You might get something out of following this guy:  http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Dermatology/red--shiny--dry-skin-on-penis/show/1226320
Has anyone had any success with the yoghurt or the vinegar as recommended below?

[Ra1234]

Hi !  I suffered from exactly the same thing for 1.5 years. I went to many doctors, urologyst, etc.. was prescribed with many medications (clotrimazole, triancinolone, antibiotics, fluconazole, etc..) and nothing worked. The steroid creams only made my problem worse as they were thinning my skin, please stop the creams, they won't do anything good to you. The last doctor I went  said I have balanophostitis (balano is the red patches of the glans and posthitis is the inflammation of the foreskin). 4 urologyst recommended me circumcisionand after so much thinking I went for it and everything cleared after that. I am not recommending you the surgery, because  that's a tough decision. I read that one of the members got cured of zoon balanitis taking desonide, ask your doctor about it. Also try home remedies like: Dilute 2 tablespoos of white vinegar in a glass of water and soak your penis  two times a day, rinse with water.  Also try spreading plain yoghourt. Air dry your penis after shower. You lknow that the foreskin makes the perfect conditions for the growing of fungus and yeast infections as well as bacterias. Try to keep your foreskin retracted as much as possible. Take care.

[dave505]

I have been dealing with this for ovetr 20 years, and I have tried everything. I was only diagnozed with Zoons last year, finally! I use Protopic ointment (expensive)  once a week and it seems to be enough . If I forget its back in a flash. Talk to your doctor

[Bear45]

find a infectious disease doctor that deals with fungal and bacterial infections.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

You need o reconsult with your doctor or take a second opinion. Have any investigations been done?

You could read about the condition at the following links and let us know if you need any specific information.

http://www.emedicine.com/DERM/topic45.htm

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balanitis

Let us know about how you are doing and what your doctor advises.

Regards.