Dr Steve
06-30-2008, 08:06 PM
Dr. Steve,
I decided to take advantage of the link that JustJon posted, since I don't know who to ask about a difficult situation. For several years, I've had bad itching problem in my crotch. I can't see any kind of rash, but it itches almost every day. At first, I thought it was just because I'm overweight (not huge, but overweight), and I drive for a living, so I'm constantly sitting. About a year ago, it dawned on me that it could just be jock itch, and I've tried several over the counter remedies. They sometimes temporarily relieve the itch, but it never really goes away. I think I can probably rule out anything STD related. It must suck, always getting this kind of question! Do you have any suggestions? I've let this go on for way too long. I have a new GF and I'd like to get rid of this
The medical term for this is "nutsack pruritus", or it would be, if there was any justice in the world. One of the things I'll do is demystify medical terms for you in this forum...here's your first lesson in medical latin: "Pruritus" is a fancy-pants way of saying "itch". When someone has an itch somewhere, instead of just writing "the patient complains of being itchy all over" we feel we have to write it this way "the patient complains of generalized pruritus" why is this? I dunno, other than it's a way to set ourselves apart from everyone else.
Anyway, to the question at hand (well, "at scrotum" would be a more apt turn of a phrase...and why do we say "scrotum" instead of just "nutsack"? Another mystery)
I'd need to know exactly what over the counter meds you've tried, and whether the itch is only on the scrotum, or on the thighs next to the scrotum as well. And what time of day is it worst, and can you say anything (like exertion) makes it worse? anything that makes it better?
Not knowing those things, I can say that sweating to an area that has skin mashed against skin, and then allowing it to dry out a bit will cause intense itching without a rash. This would be solved by wearing cotton briefs, that separate the nuts from the thighs by a bit of fabric, or by stuffing gauze between the scrotum and the thigh on both sides while you're driving (an inconvenient solution, especially when you forget and stand up and people ask why you have sweaty gauze falling out of your pants legs, but it works).
However, you could have an infection, either yeast, or an unusual but not-unheard-of bacterial infection called "erythrasma". If you take a black light and shine it on your scrotum, erythrasma will cause it to shine with a very lovely salmon-colored hue. It's very impressive, and making this diagnosis makes health care providers feel extremely smart.
So if wicking away sweat doesn't fix the problem, go see your health care provider and let them check you for yeast and erythrasma. Neither will go away without proper treatment.
Keep me in the loop and let me know what you find out! And good luck with your new GF!
your friend,
Steve
One thing I'd like for everyone to do if they have time is to answer us back with the "right" answer, after they've seen their health care provider and found a solution for the problem. If I'm way off, it doesn't hurt my feelings to find out about it...rather it helps me to be more right with the next person.
I decided to take advantage of the link that JustJon posted, since I don't know who to ask about a difficult situation. For several years, I've had bad itching problem in my crotch. I can't see any kind of rash, but it itches almost every day. At first, I thought it was just because I'm overweight (not huge, but overweight), and I drive for a living, so I'm constantly sitting. About a year ago, it dawned on me that it could just be jock itch, and I've tried several over the counter remedies. They sometimes temporarily relieve the itch, but it never really goes away. I think I can probably rule out anything STD related. It must suck, always getting this kind of question! Do you have any suggestions? I've let this go on for way too long. I have a new GF and I'd like to get rid of this
The medical term for this is "nutsack pruritus", or it would be, if there was any justice in the world. One of the things I'll do is demystify medical terms for you in this forum...here's your first lesson in medical latin: "Pruritus" is a fancy-pants way of saying "itch". When someone has an itch somewhere, instead of just writing "the patient complains of being itchy all over" we feel we have to write it this way "the patient complains of generalized pruritus" why is this? I dunno, other than it's a way to set ourselves apart from everyone else.
Anyway, to the question at hand (well, "at scrotum" would be a more apt turn of a phrase...and why do we say "scrotum" instead of just "nutsack"? Another mystery)
I'd need to know exactly what over the counter meds you've tried, and whether the itch is only on the scrotum, or on the thighs next to the scrotum as well. And what time of day is it worst, and can you say anything (like exertion) makes it worse? anything that makes it better?
Not knowing those things, I can say that sweating to an area that has skin mashed against skin, and then allowing it to dry out a bit will cause intense itching without a rash. This would be solved by wearing cotton briefs, that separate the nuts from the thighs by a bit of fabric, or by stuffing gauze between the scrotum and the thigh on both sides while you're driving (an inconvenient solution, especially when you forget and stand up and people ask why you have sweaty gauze falling out of your pants legs, but it works).
However, you could have an infection, either yeast, or an unusual but not-unheard-of bacterial infection called "erythrasma". If you take a black light and shine it on your scrotum, erythrasma will cause it to shine with a very lovely salmon-colored hue. It's very impressive, and making this diagnosis makes health care providers feel extremely smart.
So if wicking away sweat doesn't fix the problem, go see your health care provider and let them check you for yeast and erythrasma. Neither will go away without proper treatment.
Keep me in the loop and let me know what you find out! And good luck with your new GF!
your friend,
Steve
One thing I'd like for everyone to do if they have time is to answer us back with the "right" answer, after they've seen their health care provider and found a solution for the problem. If I'm way off, it doesn't hurt my feelings to find out about it...rather it helps me to be more right with the next person.