[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Paul B. at 03 Apr 2003 22:56:19: Yahoo Serious
As an answer to: plz i need advice, im serious written by serious at 03 Apr 2003 18:06:47:
Well now, it sounds like you have got this pretty well sorted out.
- The problem is dermatitis caused by using soap on a part of the body it should never be used. Mind you, some people swear by it, but the point is, some people are really lucky if they don't get a bad reaction to soap. Anyone who does get any sort of irritation under the foreskin however, must stop using soap or wear the consequences.
- There is a degree of secondary infection. When the skin is broken, bacteria get in. Or yeasts/ fungi, which are similar. In fact, you are most unlikely to need a treatment for bacteria, but may well need a treatment for the yeast. And if you are given antibiotics for the bacteria and not for yeast(/ fungi), it may get worse before it gets better.
- For the swelling and inflammation, you may need a steroid cream such as Hydrocortisone. This can however allow the yeast to keep going, so it should be used with an antifungal. In fact, combinations of these for the purpose are sold "over the counter", such as Daktacort®
- Once you stop abusing yourself with the soap (which is probably a "medicated" soap, even worse for causing this problem), and tmporarily hold off masturbating (sorry!) the problem is probably not as bad as you think. It's sore, but will settle down in a few days - your body is pretty good at healing itself, and it's quite unlikely to do any permanent damage - unless you keep repeating the injury, which is the soap.
In fact, the simplest treatment you could get from the chemist with no difficulty and use right now, is Zinc and Castor Oil "nappy" ("diaper") cream which is what you use on babies when they get something very much like what you have - and if you think of it and know babies, you will realise just how similar it is. What you probably don't know yet, is that girls get this sort of trouble quite often, too, though they usually learn pretty quick never to use soap inside.
- You are presently wound up to see a doctor. Given your state of panic, that's probably the best thing though if you weren't, it probably wouldn't be necessary as the treatments are available without a prescription, except for the Nizoral® that Will (UK) mentions, which is a very powerful antifungal that you take by mouth so it works - fast - from the inside. But if you are given that, you will still need something to soothe and protect your glans and foreskin, such as the cream I mention above.
See a lady doctor if you like, she is just as likely to understand the problem as a guy - as I say, she sees lots of it already, in girls, if not guys. A lady doctor is likely to be more sympathetic to your worry. Many women insist on seeing female doctors because they think they will be more interested in "women's problems" but in fact, it is just as likely to work the opposite way.
- What's circumcision got to do with this (someone mentioned it below)? Absolutely nothing! Why do I mention it? For that exact reason.
If it happened that you saw a doctor who started talking about circumcision as some sort of "good idea" to "prevent" problems like you have, then be courteous but back off - they are telling you they don't know squat about penis problems. This is a particular problem in America, and is why Will mentioned not to go to a "urologist" because they make their business cutting things. It's unfortunate to have to mention this, but it's just a little danger about some doctors.
Do come back and tell us what happens. I'm betting the doctor gives you some creams which add up to the Daktacort. If they are really savvy, you may get the Nizoral® and Hydrocortisone or the "nappy" cream. If you get antibiotic tablets and nothing else, you've struck a dud, and if they say you need a circumcision, you've struck rock bottom. But we're all ears to hear!