Chronic Glans / Foreskin inflammation for 16 Months now. Very worried.

[Parabellum]

Hi there. I am fighting this problem for way too long already and it only seems to get worse. I didn't have unprotected sex for a long time when this all started so I could already rule out an STD (which was then confirmed by my urologist and dermatologist as they did a variety of tests). Everything came out negative. They say it's probably an "Atopic Eczema" that appeared out of nowhere which to me more sounds like "sorry, I have no idea what it is".

Symptoms:

- Redness

- Itchiness, burning

- Red spots on glans, inflamed red foreskin

- Flaky skin on glans

- Sometimes fishy smell

- Extreme dryness and sticky foreskin

This problem really is very worrying to me and affects my quality of life as well as my self confidence a lot...

Things that I have already tried are:

- Putting olive oil on it worked for quite a while but my dermatologist said I should stop it because the skin will dry out under the oil film nevertheless and become more prone to eczema etc.

- different anti fungal creams

- two or three different topical antibiotics

- Fucidine ointment (thanks to a very promising post on this forum) for two weeks unfortunately did nothing.

- cortisone is starting to become the only thing that can fight/avoid an inflammation, despite me really really not wanting to use it.

- Urea ointment with hydrating properties (as a long term treatment to keep symptoms in check) worked really well for many months but now has started to lose its effect, unfortunately.

- A variety of hydrating creams

- Virgin coconut oil

- camomile baths

- and probably some more things.

- diluted Apple Cider Vinegar

- two or three medical shampoos (moisturizing, cleaning or antifungal)

- I wash only with warm water and dry carefully

That's about it, I probably forgot some things that I did. I want to avoid circumcision at all costs and can't imagine it being the solution anyway seeing how extremely dry and sore the area becomes after just a few minutes with retracted foreskin.

Again, this is really worrying and the doctors don't seem to be of much help... I'm desperate, what should I do?! And what might be a solution to at least tame the inflammation due to Balanitis / Balanoposthitis without having to use cortisone?

Honestly, I'm kind of hopeless to find a solution here but don't want to leave anything untried.

Thank you so much for your help.

[SnipperSniffer]

What do you wash it with? Try washing only in plain water for a time.

[Parabellum in reply to SnipperSniffer]

Hey. As I wrote in my post, this is exactly what I do. I have tried some medical or PH neutral shower gels but they made it worse. So plain water it is. Can't be the culprit. Thanks for your answer.

[Krkfk]

How are things going?

[Lowcut]

Hey. I have eczema. In the end I got cut which is, to be honest, great. But I can totally understand and respect your wish to avoid if possible. Stop everything for a while and look at what you are eating, what you are washing your clothes in (detergentscan be a disaster), look out for mould or damp in your environment (my skin went crazy in a damp southern Italian town in winter). The source of your problem may well not be fixed by putting cream on your foreskin. Message me if you want.

[jimfromcalif]

Stop the cortisone. Wash only with plain water, no soap. Apply Clotrimazile twice daily. Wear condoms. Coconut oil is best to combat dryness.