Most of the time a penis rash is an unwanted but transient visitor, gone a few days after it is tended to. But sometimes it takes time to identify the cause of the penis rash, which can delay the time when treatment can begin. For instance, when a skin rash is caused by tinea versicolor, it may be difficult to diagnose properly right away. The delay does not necessarily impact a man’s penis health, but it can be an annoyance for men who want to get their equipment back to looking its best.
A yeasty situation
So what is this tinea versicolor? It’s 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. Unlike most rashes, however, tinea versicolor can change appearance.
When it first appears, it tends to be spots that may be white, tan, pink or brown. They are often scaly and dry, and almost always bring about an itchy situation. When the yeast grows, the spots grow, and one spot may “melt” into another, creating larger spots. Very often the spots can become quite light colored, so that a person may have a hard time detecting the rash – but this does not diminish 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 beneath – thus it may look like a person has patches of lighter and darker skin. (This is less often an issue when the rash is on the penis, although for naturists or people who use sunlamps for nude tanning, it can definitely become an issue.)
Not vitiligo
Because the spots can give the appearance of the skin itself having become lighter, doctors may sometimes mistake tinea versicolor for vitiligo, a skin lightening condition. In other cases, it may be confused with another fungal infection. Both of these 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 does appear 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 heat explains why it may occur more readily on the penis.)
Treatment
Topical anti-fungal treatments are often used to treat the penis rash, and patients are advised to keep the area clean and dry. Sometimes oral medications may be used if the topical approach does not 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 across the affected area.
Keeping the penis in good general health can also be helpful when recovering from a penis rash, whether from tinea versicolor or another cause. Regular use of a first class penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can boost the overall health of the organ, putting it in a position to more speedily recover from rashes. The dryness and scaliness that accompany tinea versicolor can be helped by a crème that contains a combination of moisturizers, such as a high-end emollient (think Shea butter) and a natural hydrator (such as vitamin E). It’s also wise to use a crème with vitamin D. Topical application of this “miracle vitamin” may make it even more effective at fighting disease and supporting healthy cellular function.