Most of the time, a penile rash is an unwelcome but transient visitor, disappearing a few days after it is treated. But sometimes it takes time to identify the cause of the penile rash, which can delay the time when treatment can begin. For example, when a skin rash is caused by tinea versicolor, it can be difficult to correctly diagnose right away. The delay doesn’t necessarily affect the health of a man’s penis, but it can be a nuisance for men who want their equipment to look its best again.
A yeasty situation
So what is this tinea versicolor? It is a fungal infection caused by the presence of yeast on the skin. Although anyone can get tinea versicolor, it is most often found in tropical or subtropical areas; a person who lives elsewhere but visits one of these areas may come into contact with the yeast and develop the rash as a result.
The rash can occur anywhere on the skin, including the penis. However, unlike most rashes, tinea versicolor can change its appearance.
When it first appears, it tends to be spots that can be white, tan, pink, or brown. They are often scaly and dry, and almost always cause an itchy condition. As the yeast grows, the stains grow and one stain can “melt” into another, creating larger stains. Very often, the spots can become quite light in color, so a person may have difficulty detecting the rash, but this does not lessen the urge to scratch.
When the skin is exposed to sunlight and begins to tan, the yeast absorbs the light and prevents it from reaching the skin below; therefore, a person may appear to have patches of lighter and darker skin. (This is less often a problem when the rash is on the penis, although for naturists or people who use sunlamps for nude tanning, it can definitely become a problem.)
not vitiligo
Because the spots can give the appearance that the skin has become lighter, doctors can sometimes mistake tinea versicolor for vitiligo, a skin-lightening condition. In other cases, it can be confused with another fungal infection. Both situations can delay diagnosis and proper treatment.
Causes
The yeast that causes tinea versicolor is common yeast, so it’s not clear why some people develop the rash and others don’t. However, it seems to be more prominent in people with oily skin, as well as those who sweat a lot or reside in moist, humid areas. (This fondness for moisture and warmth explains why it can occur more easily on the penis.)
Treatment
Topical antifungal treatments are often used to treat penile rash, and patients are advised to keep the area clean and dry. Sometimes oral medications can be used if the topical approach doesn’t work.
Curing the rash does not immediately cure the skin lightening effect. It takes a few weeks for the skin pigmentation to return to its normal consistency in the affected area.
Keeping your penis in good general health can also be helpful when you’re recovering from a penile rash, whether from tinea versicolor or another cause. Regular use of a first-class penis health cream (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, that is clinically proven to be gentle and safe for the skin) can improve the overall health of the organ, putting it in a position to recover more quickly from rashes. The dryness and scaling that accompany tinea versicolor can be relieved with a cream that contains a combination of moisturizers, such as a high-end emollient (think shea butter) and a natural moisturizer (such as vitamin E). It is also advisable to use a vitamin D cream. Topical application of this “miracle vitamin” can make it even more effective in fighting disease and supporting healthy cell function.