The skin on the scrotum can itch and peel for various reasons. Most often, men notice that the skin on the testicles becomes red and crusty. Dead skin particles flake off, litter bedding, and get stuck in clothes.
The testicles affected by the disease itch intensely; a man can scratch them until blood comes out. As the skin begins to heal, it often tightens and cracks.
Peeling on the scrotum can be a symptom of a serious pathology, but there is no need to panic ahead of time. Some men experience peeling of the skin on their balls when they are simply trying to get rid of dead cells.
Causes of peeling skin on the scrotum
The skin on the scrotum is delicate, thin and sensitive, so they are often injured, dry out and peel. Peeling skin on the testicles does not always indicate the development of a serious disease. The skin of the scrotum often peels off in healthy men, and the following factors provoke this unpleasant phenomenon.
- Incorrectly selected underwear. Skin irritation may occur when wearing tight or synthetic underwear. In uncomfortable panties, the testicles become wet, and pathogenic microorganisms begin to multiply intensively on them. Infection settles in microcracks in the skin and under dead particles. Infected skin becomes red, inflamed, painful, or itchy.
- Ignoring hygiene rules. In men who do not maintain intimate hygiene, dead skin particles do not fall off, but remain on the surface of the scrotum. New epidermal cells under the scabs cannot grow normally, causing the skin on the eggs to peel off.
- Use of unsuitable hygiene products. Alkali has a negative effect on the skin, so in men who often use soap for intimate hygiene, the skin on the scrotum dries out, cracks and peels. Alkaline-based hygiene products and water containing a lot of chlorine remove protective fatty deposits from the skin. To prevent cracks from appearing on the testicles, you should use special soft and gentle gels and foams for intimate hygiene.
- Poor nutrition. A deficiency in the body of retinol, tocopherol and B vitamins negatively affects the condition of the skin. The thin and sensitive skin of the scrotum suffers especially badly from vitamin deficiency. To return your skin to its normal appearance, you need to eat properly and nutritiously and take vitamin complexes.
- Harmful working conditions. In men who work in chemical production and are forced to inhale toxic fumes, the structure of the skin is disrupted and cracks appear on the scrotum.
- Allergy. An allergic reaction, accompanied by itching and redness of the skin, can occur after using household chemicals, condoms, and lubricants.
- Shaving the pubic area. The skin on the eggs often peels off in representatives of the stronger sex, who regularly cleanse the pubis of hair. To prevent the skin on the scrotum from drying out, it is recommended to use special moisturizing creams while shaving.
The above reasons for peeling skin are not dangerous. To return the scrotum to a healthy appearance, it is enough to get rid of unfavorable living conditions, bad habits and allergens.
Antihistamines help eliminate allergic itching. But if, despite all efforts, the pathology does not go away, then you should definitely go to the doctor. If the appearance of the skin rapidly deteriorates, peeling affects healthy tissue, itching intensifies, pain and burning appear, then the man most likely develops a severe infectious, parasitic or neuroallergic disease.
Atopic dermatitis
This is the last of the most common reasons why peeling may appear on the scrotum. This is a non-contagious inflammatory skin lesion, manifested by dryness, irritation and itching. Occurs due to a decrease in the body's protective functions. In addition to peeling, dense plaques with dry bumps may appear on the scrotum.
It is recommended to avoid frequent washing of the genital area and use moisturizers for hygiene. To make the disease go away faster, you need to use the Skin-Cap series of products. There is a shampoo, an aerosol for treating the affected area and a cream. These are safe products that quickly eliminate itching and irritation.
You can also use creams called “Fucidin”, “Naftaderm” and “Radevit”. Zinc ointment and Tsindol suspension are also suitable.
But, again, only a specialist can prescribe adequate treatment. Therefore, when peeling appears on the scrotum, you should first go to the doctor for examination to identify the cause.
Fungal and parasitic skin diseases
With fungal diseases of the skin, pink or burgundy spots appear on the testicles, growing very rapidly and often merging with each other.
The skin affected by the fungus is very itchy, covered with dry scabs and painful microcracks.
Most fungal infections affect only the epidermis, without penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin.
Below are diseases that most often affect the skin of the scrotum.
- Ringworm versicolor . Diagnosed mainly in mature men, it provokes increased sweating.
- Lichen lichen . It develops in representatives of the stronger sex who do not follow the rules of intimate hygiene. Transmitted through sexual contact or through personal objects.
- Athlete's foot . Observed mainly in obese men, it causes itching and flaking of the skin in the groin area.
- Candidiasis . If left untreated, the infection spreads from the reproductive organ to the scrotum and then to the legs.
There are fungi that can affect not only the epidermis, but also the dermis - the deep layer of the skin. Such microorganisms are called dermatophytes. Most often they provoke the following diseases on the testicles.
- Ringworm . It is caused by fungi of the trichophyton class. It is transmitted by touching contaminated skin or objects of a sick person.
- Microsporia . It is caused by microsporum fungi. Develops after touching the skin of a sick person or animal.
- Scab . It is caused by fungi called Schonlein's achorions, which are parasitic only on humans. It is transmitted by touching an infected person or his things.
In addition to pathogenic fungi, flaking of the skin on the scrotum and severe itching are caused by parasitic insects - pubic lice. Men can become infected with parasites in a public bathhouse, swimming pool, sports club, as well as through promiscuous sexual intercourse.
Neuroallergic skin diseases
Neurodermatitis is a chronic skin pathology of a neurogenic-allergic nature, occurring with periods of exacerbation and recovery. The first symptom of the disease is sudden severe itching, then inflamed spots and nodules appear on the skin. The causes of neurodermatitis can be very different:
- Immune deficiency;
- Damage to the body by toxic substances;
- Disorders of the digestive or endocrine system;
- Penetration of infection into the body;
- Poor quality and inadequate nutrition;
- Deterioration of metabolism;
- Physical fatigue;
- Stressful situations.
Flaky and cracking skin on the testicles can be a symptom of eczema, a chronic inflammatory non-infectious pathology of the skin. The disease develops after touching an irritant and is diagnosed in people who have hormonal imbalances and are mentally and mentally overexerted.
With eczema, a variety of rashes appear on the skin: extensive spots, nodules, blisters, ulcers and crusty formations.
Psoriasis
This unpleasant disease can occur for a variety of reasons. Genetic predisposition, problems with the endocrine system, impaired metabolism, disruptions in the immune system, emotional shock... there are many provoking factors.
The symptoms are specific. With genital psoriasis, the skin of the scrotum itches and peels, redness and a small rash appear, accompanied by itching, and discomfort occurs during urination and sexual intercourse.
To treat this disease, ointments such as “Antipsoriasis”, “Antipsor”, “Akrustal”, “Kartalin”, “Magnipsor”, “Cytopsor”, “Naftaderm”, “Daivobet”, “Berestin”, “Akrustal”, etc. are used d.
It is better to combine the use of local remedies with tablets. The doctor may prescribe drugs such as Milgamma, Befungin, Heptor licopid, Methotrexate, Metipred, Betamethasone and others.
Treatment of fungal skin diseases
Treatment of fungal skin pathologies should be carried out exclusively by a medical specialist.
Self-medication is strictly prohibited, otherwise you can trigger the disease and provoke complications. Antifungal drugs are used in the treatment of fungal diseases. Before starting treatment, a man must thoroughly shave his genital hair.
To get rid of versicolor, you need to lubricate the skin with 10% sulfur ointment or 5% salicylic alcohol. The therapeutic course lasts a week. In case of advanced disease, the doctor may additionally prescribe Ketoconazole. This medication should be taken for two weeks.
Treatment of shingles is carried out with both external and oral medications. Most often, doctors prescribe to patients Griseofulvin, an antibiotic in tablet form that has a fungistatic effect.
- Griseofulvin is also prescribed for diseases caused by dermatophytes;
- If a man cannot tolerate any component of the drug, then instead of Griseofulvin he can use Ketoconazole;
- External remedies include Canesten cream, Clotrimazole ointment, sulfur ointment, and salicylic alcohol.
These medications should be used to lubricate the scrotum regularly.
If a man is bothered by intense itching, a white coating on the testicles that emits an unpleasant sour odor, redness and inflammation of the skin on the genitals, then he develops thrush, that is, candidiasis.
At the initial stage of the disease, it is enough to use external medications:
- Clotrimazole;
- Pimafucin;
- Natamycin;
- Nystatin.
For advanced infections, oral medications are prescribed:
- Fluconazole;
- Diflucan;
- Flucostat.
During treatment, a man must follow the following recommendations:
- do not bathe in the bath, so as not to transfer the infection to healthy skin, wash the genitals separately from all other parts of the body;
- wear comfortable underwear made from natural fabrics, change it daily;
- do not engage in intimate intercourse until complete recovery, so as not to infect your partner.
Recommended reading:
- Causes of itching and burning between the buttocks;
- List of the best ointments for diaper rash;
- Peeling skin on the feet: causes and treatment of pathology.
Sexual infections
If the skin of the scrotum turns red and begins to peel, then it is possible that the man has contracted some serious disease. This happens most often as a result of unprotected sexual intercourse. Here is what kind of STD this symptom may indicate:
- Herpes.
- Trichomonas.
- Gonorrhea.
- Hidden syphilis.
As a rule, STDs are also accompanied by a burning sensation during urination, unpleasant discharge from the urethra, fever, rashes, general malaise, etc.
But the disease may not manifest itself in any way. Therefore, it is better to get tested and be examined by a venereologist.
Based on the results of the diagnosis, the specialist will prescribe an oral drug that acts directly on the pathogen. This could be “Gerpevir”, “Zovirax”, “Famvir”, “Acyclovir”, “Fluconazole”, “Nystatin”, “Diflucan”, “Flucostat”, “Ceftriaxone”, “Spectinomycin”, etc.
Treatment of neuroallergic skin diseases
Neurodermatitis and eczema are very difficult to treat.
During therapy, it is necessary not only to restore the skin on the scrotum, but also to strengthen the body. For neurodermatitis, neuroleptics, tranquilizers, antihistamines, biostimulants, and vitamin complexes are prescribed. The most commonly used external medications are sulfur, sulfur-tar, and naphthalan ointments.
Neurodermatitis is also treated using physiotherapeutic methods: acupuncture, endothermy, magnetotherapy, laser acupuncture, ultraviolet irradiation.
Hyposensitizing medications, antihistamines, bromine-containing agents, and tranquilizers are used to treat eczema. If the scrotum swells, the diuretic Furosemide is usually prescribed. If the skin is dry, covered with extensive flaky spots, then medications based on glucocorticoids are prescribed.
Once a week it is useful to arrange bath procedures with potassium permanganate. To improve your well-being, it is advisable to take biostimulants.
