Rash on Genitals: Causes, Treatments, and Outlook

A rash on the genitals can be caused by certain infections, parasites, allergies, and autoimmune conditions. A doctor can help determine the specific cause and the best way to treat or manage symptoms.

A genital rash is a skin symptom that can be caused by a number of health problems and can occur on any part of the genital area.

Rashes are normally reddish in color, may be painful or itchy, and may include bumps or sores.

If you experience any skin rash that you can’t explain, you should see a doctor or other healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.

There are many possible causes for a genital rash, ranging from infections that are easily treatable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), allergies, and autoimmune disorders.

Some of the most common causes of genital rashes are infections:

• Jock itch, a fungal infection, or ringworm of the groin area. The rash is red, itchy, and scaly, and it may blister.
• Diaper rash, a yeast infection that affects babies because of the warm, moist environment in diapers. It’s red and scaly and may include bumps or blisters.
• Vaginal yeast infection, an infection that affects the vagina and often occurs as a result of taking antibiotics. It causes itching, redness, swelling, and white vaginal discharge.
• Molluscum contagiosum, a viral infection that affects the skin and appears as firm, isolated, round bumps. They may be itchy and inflamed.
• Balanitis, an inflammation of the foreskin or the head of the penis that’s usually caused by bacterial or fungal growth and is more likely to occur in those who have uncircumcised penises. It leads to itchiness, redness, and a discharge.

Infecting parasites are another possible cause of a genital rash:

• Pubic lice are tiny insects. They lay eggs in the genital area and are most often spread from person to person through sexual contact. An infestation of pubic lice causes itchiness and sometimes sores.
• Body lice are different from pubic lice and are larger. They live in clothing and on the skin, and feed on blood. They cause an itchy rash on the skin.
• Scabies is an itchy skin rash that’s caused by very small mites. They burrow into the skin and cause intense itching, especially at night.

Allergies and autoimmune disorders are other possible reasons for a genital rash:

• Contact dermatitis is a common type of rash caused when skin comes into contact with an allergen or with an irritant such as a harsh chemical substance. Latex is an allergen that may produce a rash in the genital area because it’s commonly used in condoms.
• Psoriasis is a common skin condition. The cause is unknown, but doctors suspect it’s an autoimmune disorder. It can produce a pinkish, scaly, itchy rash anywhere on the body. Psoriasis may also produce sores in the penis area.
• Lichen planus is less common but also produces itchy skin rashes. Doctors are unsure of the exact cause, but it’s thought to be due to an allergen or autoimmune disorder. In the genital area, lichen planus can produce sores.

STIs are another possible cause of genital rashes and can include:

• Genital herpes, a virus that can produce painful, blister-like sores in the genital area.
• Genital warts, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They’re small and flesh-colored and may be itchy.
• Syphilis, a bacterial infection that’s spread through sexual contact. It produces a rash that can be anywhere on the body. The rash isn’t necessarily itchy.

Before treating a genital rash, a doctor first needs to determine its cause.

You can connect to a primary care doctor in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool.

The diagnosis process can involve some or all of the following:

A physical examination

The doctor will look at the features of the rash, including any lesions or warts. Let them know about any unusual redness or discharge.

They’ll also examine other areas of the skin that may be affected. For example, they may study the webs of your fingers to look for scabies.

Swab testing

Doctors may swab vaginal discharge and any discharge present around the penis, along with lesions.

Skin scraping or biopsies

The doctor may order a skin scrape or biopsy, where they scrape or remove part of a wart, part of a lesion, or skin cells.

The tissue from the scrape or biopsy is examined under a microscope. The findings can potentially be used to diagnose conditions such as psoriasis, scabies, and fungal infections.

Blood work

Some causes of genital rashes, such as herpes and syphilis, may be detected through blood work.

There are home diagnostic tests you can use to test for STIs, though they may not be as reliable as tests run by a doctor. If you do use a home diagnostic test and get a positive result, have a doctor double-check the results and get treated as soon as possible.

The treatment needed for a genital rash depends on the underlying cause.

Regardless of the cause, however, the itchiness of a rash can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) creams such as hydrocortisone.

A doctor may also prescribe you a cream to reduce the symptoms while treating the underlying condition.

Some skin infections will heal without treatment as long as the affected area is kept clean and dry.

Here are some other conditions and the treatments that a doctor may recommend:

Vaginal yeast infections

These can be treated with an OTC or prescription medication, such as oral antifungals.

Syphilis

Syphilis is treated with antibiotics.

Genital warts

These warts are treated with prescription medications. A doctor can also eliminate visible warts by freezing them with liquid nitrogen or removing them surgically.

Genital herpes

Genital herpes can’t yet be cured, but the condition can be managed with medications.

Pubic and body lice

Lice can be eliminated with a medicated wash, which is applied directly to the site of the infection, left on for a required amount of time, and washed away.

To prevent reinfection, you should wash clothing and bedding in hot water.

Scabies

Scabies can be treated with medicated creams or lotions prescribed by a doctor.

Allergic reactions

Eliminating the allergen will allow the rash to clear up and prevent future outbreaks.

Autoimmune disorders

While there’s no cure for autoimmune disorders, certain medications — such as those that suppress the immune system — can help control symptoms or skin conditions caused by these disorders.

Lichen planus occurring in autoimmune disorders

This can be treated with OTC antihistamines or prescription medication skin creams, corticosteroid shots, or pills.

Preventing a genital rash, particularly a reoccurring genital rash, will depend heavily on the cause of the rash itself.

To prevent rashes caused by STIs, you can:

• Always use barrier methods that protect against STIs, such as condoms and dental dams.
• Take medications to manage preexisting conditions such as herpes.

To prevent rashes from allergic reactions, you can:

• Take antihistamines when at increased risk.
• Avoid the allergens that trigger the reaction.

Maintaining a balanced diet and lifestyle will keep you in the best shape you can be in, which may boost your immune system and help it fight off any infections that could cause genital rashes.

If you have a specific concern, consult a doctor.

For most people with rashes, the outlook is very good.

In most cases, the underlying cause can be treated and the rash will clear up. With the right care, parasites and infections that aren’t STIs can be cured and prevented with good hygiene.

Conditions that have no cure, such as genital herpes or autoimmune disorders, can be successfully managed with the right medications.

Syphilis, if caught early, can be cured easily with penicillin. If it’s found later, additional courses of antibiotics may be needed.

Causes, symptoms, pictures, and treatment

Intertrigo is a skin condition that causes a rash in skin folds, such as under the breasts, in the groin, or in stomach folds. The rash may be sore or itchy.

It happens when areas of moist skin rub together. Bacteria and yeast can grow in this environment, leading to an infection.

In this article, we describe what intertrigo is, what it looks like, and what causes it. We also cover diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Intertrigo is a skin condition that happens when folds of skin chafe against each other.

It usually develops in the inner thighs or armpits, or under the breasts or tummy fold.

Some people may experience yeast or bacterial infections in the folds of skin.

Areas of moist skin rubbing together cause intertrigo. The warm, damp environment makes the skin conducive to irritation and the growth of yeast and bacteria, which can lead to an infection.

While it can happen at any age, intertrigo tends to affect infants, older people, and those with a reduced ability to move around. In babies, it is often called diaper rash. Most cases occur in hot or humid environments and during the summer.

Intertrigo is also more common in adults with incontinence, obesity, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.

Specific health conditions that can contribute to the development of intertrigo include:

Inverse psoriasis

Also known as intertriginous psoriasis, this form of psoriasis develops in the folds of the skin. It can look red and shiny.

Hailey-Hailey disease

Hailey-Hailey disease is a rare genetic disorder that causes skin cells to stick together and breaks down the layers of the skin.

People with Hailey-Hailey disease usually experience blisters and irritations on the neck, armpits, and genitals and in the folds of the skin.

Pemphigus

There are different types of pemphigus, but they all happen when the body’s immune system attacks the healthy cells in the top layer of the skin.

It typically causes blisters in the mouth, nose, throat, eyes, or genitals.

Bullous pemphigoid

A fault in the immune system causes bullous pemphigoid. People with the condition can develop mild, itchy welts or more severe blisters on the skin. These tend to appear on areas of the skin that flex or move.

Intertrigo looks like a red, raw rash on the skin. It may feel sore or itchy, and it can sometimes ooze.

It can develop in any fold of the skin. The most commonly affected areas of the body include:

• the inner thighs
• under the breasts
• in the fold of skin underneath a protruding belly
• the groin
• between the buttocks
• in the webs of the fingers
• in the webs of the toes

Intertrigo may develop in one or more of these places.

It will often be a specialist skin doctor, or dermatologist, who diagnoses intertrigo. They will do this by inspecting the skin and asking a series of questions about the person’s symptoms.

If the dermatologist suspects that a yeast or bacterial infection has developed in the skin fold, they may take a swab and send it to a laboratory for analysis.

An article in the Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association offers the following advice on treating intertrigo:

• Wash the affected area with ketoconazole 1% shampoo, which is available from most drugstores. People should leave it on for 2–5 minutes and then rinse it off.
• Use a hairdryer on a low setting to ensure that the area is completely dry.
• Mix equal amounts of clotrimazole 1% cream (or miconazole 1% cream) and hydrocortisone 1% cream and apply a thin layer to the affected area. People should do this twice a day until the rash is clear, which may take 3–8 weeks.
• Once the rash has cleared, continue to use the ketoconazole 1% shampoo as soap in the affected area at least once a week.
• Dry the skin with a hairdryer after every bath or shower, or whenever it feels particularly damp.

The best way to prevent intertrigo is to keep the area dry. People who experience the condition due to obesity can speak to a doctor about ways to lose weight and reduce the risk of skin complications.

The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology suggest that people prevent intertrigo by:

• placing a wad of absorbent material, such as cotton, in the affected fold to absorb sweat
• using antiperspirants
• washing daily with an antibacterial soap
• dusting the affected area with an absorbent antifungal powder once it is clean and dry

Anyone who finds that the problem keeps coming back should speak to a doctor.

Intertrigo is a skin condition that happens when areas of moist skin rub against each other. It causes a red, raw-looking rash and can lead to yeast and bacterial infections.

It can happen to anyone, but it is most common in babies, older people, individuals with mobility problems, and those with obesity.

People can easily treat the rash at home with over-the-counter creams and lotions. They can also prevent it from coming back by keeping the area clean and dry.

Anyone who experiences multiple incidences of intertrigo should speak to a doctor.

Prickly heat – health articles

Prickly heat – a rash in the form of transparent blisters or red nodules, which occurs due to blockage of the sweat glands and is most often caused by overheating of the body. By the nature of the rashes, red, crystalline and papular miliaria are distinguished. Diagnosis of prickly heat is usually not difficult, a consultation with a dermatologist may be required only in complicated cases.

The treatment of prickly heat is mainly to eliminate the factors that cause overheating and increased sweating of the body. Measures to prevent prickly heat include the optimal temperature regime of the room, clothing adequate to the weather, personal hygiene and proper skin care.

Causes

Mostly, prickly heat affects skin areas with insufficient ventilation:

• areas of natural body folds (armpits, groin, knees and elbows),
• area under the mammary glands in women and very obese men,
• area behind the ears in children and adults with thick hair,
• the area between the thighs, if the legs are very full,
• area permanently under clothing (area under a bra, swimming trunks, diapers), bandages, dressings.

Contribute to the development of prickly heat: synthetic clothing, dense non-breathable fabrics, feverish conditions, elevated air temperatures combined with high humidity, injuries and chafing of the skin, the use of creams, oils, fatty bases of cosmetics that clog pores, diabetes mellitus, metabolic diseases, overweight .

Causes of excessive sweating may include malfunctions in the body’s endocrine system, insufficient functioning of the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and disorders of the nervous system. Sometimes an increase in sweating (hyperhidrosis) is influenced by a genetic factor, i.e. heredity and place of residence. In hot countries, acclimatization is always accompanied by increased sweating, and the locals are prone to hyperhidrosis.

Symptoms

It is generally accepted to divide prickly heat into three types:

1. Crystalline prickly heat manifests itself in the form of pale red small multiple vesicles up to 1 mm in diameter, located close to each other. The blisters are painless and do not cause any other symptomatology, except for the external manifestation. tend to merge. They occur on the forehead, face, neck, torso, flexion surfaces of the arms and legs. In the vast majority, it occurs suddenly and resolves on its own.
2. Red prickly heat is characterized by vesicular rashes on the skin up to 2 mm, which are surrounded by a red halo of inflammation. Inside the bubble is cloudy content. Often accompanied by inflammation of the surface layer of the skin and severe itching. As it progresses, wet crusts appear – a sign of a bacterial infection. Typical localization sites are the armpits, abdomen, skin between the buttocks, elbows and forearms. Such prickly heat in the groin is a common occurrence in obese women. Doesn’t go away on its own.
3. Papular prickly heat is a type of red prickly heat with a severe course. In fact, it is a continuation of red prickly heat. There are papular-vesicular vesicles 1-2 mm in diameter with an acute inflammatory process in the surface layer of the skin (microbial eczema). Itching is possible due to dry skin. Papular miliaria is accompanied by general intoxication: low-grade fever, soreness of the affected skin, swelling and hyperemia. Occurs on the lateral surfaces of the chest, abdomen, arms or legs. Requires long-term treatment for several months.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of prickly heat usually does not cause difficulties for a doctor of any specialty. Therefore, to confirm the diagnosis, a visual examination by a pediatrician or therapist is sufficient. In difficult cases, a consultation with a dermatologist may be required.

Treatment

Prickly heat can occur at any time of the year, but most often it manifests itself during the hot period, when we sweat a lot. It can also appear on vacation in warm countries. It is necessary to treat prickly heat, and as soon as possible. You can get rid of a mild form in one to two weeks. In severe cases, the sweat glands become exhausted over time, leading to dry skin. Against the background of deep prickly heat, infection and microbial eczema can penetrate. And it is already much more difficult to fight it – treatment can take years. This is another reason why it is worthwhile to do tests without delay.

In newborns, during the treatment of prickly heat, the cream should be discarded, replacing it with a powder that will absorb excess moisture and allow the skin to breathe. Chamomile decoction can be added to bathing water, which soothes the skin and helps to restore it. And do not forget about the need for daily air baths. Sometimes it is recommended to treat the skin with zinc oxide powder or salicylo-zinc ointment, but such treatment should be prescribed by a doctor.

Treatment of prickly heat in adults begins with the elimination of the factors that caused it. Of course, nothing can be done about hot weather, but if you are one of those people with excessive sweating, you can still make your life easier. Choose loose, loose clothing made from natural materials and, if necessary, use cosmetic talcum powder where clothes or underwear can rub the skin.

On hot days, do not use cosmetics that can clog pores and greasy creams. It is better to limit yourself to a water-based lotion. The skin affected by prickly heat should be wiped with an antiseptic – for this, alcohol solutions of salicylic or boric acid, a weak aqueous solution of potassium permanganate are used. To reduce itching and swelling, antihistamines are prescribed – tavegil or suprastin.

diagnosis of itching of the scrotum in the clinic, prices for dermatologist services in Moscow

Many of the diseases that affect the health of men are accompanied by itchy sensations in the genital area. It can be irritation, localized only on the scrotum, or throughout the body. Itching of the scrotum may be mild or very uncomfortable. In our clinic, the diagnosis of such symptoms is performed on an ongoing basis.

The groin is a particularly important area of ​​the body. The scrotum covers the testicles, protects them from overheating, contains the vascular system and numerous sweat secretion glands. The very location of the scrotum contributes to the itching reaction to various stimuli.

Principal causes of itching of the scrotum

Men, especially those who have encountered such a problem for the first time, are embarrassed before seeing a doctor. But the appeal to the clinic, nevertheless, is highly desirable. The fact is that the causes of itching can be very different:

• Diseases of the genital area. In this case, the urologist in our clinic can determine which of the genital infections causes the patient to have scabies in the groin area: chlamydia, genital herpes, etc.;
• Various allergic reactions. Both latex and clothing fabrics, detergents can act as irritants;
• Presence of parasites in the groin area. Pubic lice or scabies mite settle in the genitals, bites of parasites cause severe itching, accompanied by scratching the skin to the blood.
• Non-venereal infections of the skin around the genitals. Dermatitis caused by fungal infections, erythrasma, bacterial infections may be accompanied by redness of the skin of the scrotum, a rash of various forms and types, and require medical intervention.
• Noninfectious dermatitis. Psoriasis or eczema affects, among other things, the genital area, protruding scaly plaques or cracks in the skin also cause severe irritation.

Itching is not always caused by a serious illness, sometimes medication or nervous tension cause such an unexpected reaction of the body. In our clinic, any case is carefully examined and the patient is assisted.

You can make an appointment with a dermatologist with our consultants by phone +7 (495) 125-49-50

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Rash on the body
Itching in the urethra
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Is itching always caused by a serious illness?

Recently, as experts note, there has been a significant increase in the number of diseases of the sexual sphere in men (this trend is true for all developed countries). Only chronic inflammatory diseases of the prostate (according to various sources) affects at least 40 percent of men over 30 years old. In 50% of cases, by the way, the impossibility of conception occurs precisely because of male “problems”.

Of course, you should not run to the doctor if “there” itches, headlong. Not always the reaction of the body is caused by an infection or fungus. It should be noted that itching can be the result of:

• violations of the rules of personal hygiene that are normal for every modern person. In other words, if a person does not wash properly, then he should not be surprised that he has an itchy scrotum. Treatment in this case is daily washing of the scrotum with the use of detergent compositions.
• irritation after shaving with a machine. Small wounds, cuts, skin injuries and hair sprouting after shaving cause itching;
• In rare cases, water, namely its hardness, can cause skin irritation.
• underwear that is too tight or of poor quality, synthetic fabric. You should be more careful when choosing underpants, especially in summer, preference should be given to more comfortable models made of cotton.

If none of the above options is your case, then it makes sense to consult a doctor. The clinic will be able to most accurately diagnose the state of the body for skin and infectious diseases.

Diagnostics, treatment and prevention

When contacting our clinic, a person with complaints of itching will be referred, first of all, to an appointment with a dermatologist. Thorough examination, questioning of the patient and a comprehensive analysis of blood, skin smears, urine, etc. make it possible to prescribe the correct treatment. Perhaps, after the analysis, consultation of additional specialists will be required.

Doctors with many years of practice determine the cause of itching. If she has become a non-compliance with personal hygiene, cleansing procedures, baths with medicinal herbs, regular washing, ointments and creams are prescribed. If infectious or fungal pathogens are detected, therapeutic hygiene procedures are combined with drugs that correspond to the detected itch pathogen.