The Itching Penis: What to Do Now to Stop It

For men, an itching penis is the worst, because it’s an itch you just can’t scratch in broad daylight. A man’s privates can feel especially itchy, dry or flaky due to a number of common problems. Fortunately, most of these are easily tamed, once you have identified the cause. Here are some of the possibilities:

- Dry skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis can lead to peeling, flaky, dry penis skin. The affected skin can become very chafed, leading to redness and irritation. In men, the appearance of psoriasis can look like small, red patches of skin on the penis shaft or tip, whereas eczema may appear as a bumpy red rash or tiny blisters. The skin may appear scaly or be smooth and shiny. Both circumcised and uncircumcised penises are affected by these skin disorders.

- Tinea cruris, or jock itch, isanother very common cause of itching penis skin. Jock itch is a fungal infection that can appear on the skin of the genitals, inner thighs and even buttocks. The fungus is more common in men, but women can be affected, too. The fungus can travel and develop nearly anywhere on your body and causes an itchy, often ring-shaped rash. Most remedies are over-the-counter, but make sure to abstain from any sexual activity until you’re certain your jock itch has left the building.

- Thrush is a fungal infection that appears on the skin or mucous membranes; it is caused by the fungus Candida albicans. Symptoms of thrush are irritation, burning, redness and peeling around the head of the penis. If a white discharge accompanies any of these, thrush may be the culprit. It is possible for thrush to spread through contact during sex, but it is not considered a sexually transmitted disease. Take note of your stress levels, as high stress can lead to an outbreak of thrush.

- Hot tubs, while enjoyable on vacations, at parties or at the gym, are a breeding ground for bacteria. A rash from a hot tub, called hot tub folliculitis, usually begins as itchy red skin with bumps that can fill with pus and become very painful. Some chemicals in hot tubs can react with your skin to cause itching, dryness or flakiness. In order to avoid this hot tub rash, make sure any hot tub you enter has beencleaned properly and often. Avoid hot tub use if you have acne, have recently shaved or waxed, or have a compromised immune system, as these make it more likely that a reaction will occur.

In addition to the strategies outlined above, it is important to always keep your skin clean in order to avoid hygiene-related itching and discomfort. Wash daily with warm water (not hot), making sure to use a gentle cleanser, rather than detergent-based soaps or shower gels. Men with an uncircumcised penis need to pull their foreskin all the way back to wash the head of their penis.After correctly washing the genital area, dry and moisturize your skin with a product made specifically for skin, like a penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin) . This particular health creme is a super weapon, containing vitamins and nutrients essential to the wellbeing of private area skin, like vitamin C, for collagen production, and Shea butter, which hydrates the skin leaving the area soft and smooth. Keep the penis skin clean, dry, and hydrated for optimal health.