More embarassing medical questions

July 1, 2006 7:34 PM

Posting this question for a friend (obviously, since I don't have the parts involved). A rash around the base of the penis -- what could cause it?

Seems to have been aggravated by sex. Could it be a latex allergy, being as it's more at the base? Is it an STD? Is it something totally different?

posted by dagnyscott to Science & Nature (10 answers total)

If it persists, see a doctor obviously. Wash your junk with soap after sex. It was there, and then got worse by having sex? Yeah, that generally would happen by introducing moisture and friction to a rash, but also, what was he thinking having sex with an unidentified rash?
posted by GleepGlop at 7:42 PM on July 1, 2006

what was he thinking having sex with an unidentified rash?

i'm assuming he had sex with someone else. since it takes two to tango, somebody else consented to sex. that being said, it sounds like he wore a condom, which is a good thing.
posted by brandz at 7:48 PM on July 1, 2006

IANAD but I was just in a doctor's appointment with my 70+ year old dad. He was there for multiple reasons and I was the 'memory' for the doctor's advice. He also has a rash around the base of his penis. Sex isn't the problem. Basically, the doc said it was fungal, as in athlete's foot and could be treated in much the same way.

Have a doc look at it. It might be as simple as that.
posted by michswiss at 8:32 PM on July 1, 2006

it sounds like he wore a condom, which is a good thing

I'd just like to point out that condoms do not prevent infection from every STD. Some STDs like herpes and genital warts may shed from places that aren't covered by the condom, and infect the partner. I think the answer is obvious, go see doc.
posted by jimdanger at 8:54 PM on July 1, 2006

this is a vague question I am sure we could all list

1. 2. 3. ...... 14353 reasons that could cause a rash down there. Go to the doctor, or at the VERY least search on google image for penis rash, base and see if any of them look somewhat like what he has and proceed from there.
posted by crewshell at 9:35 PM on July 1, 2006

Could be a bunch of things, should be checked out. But I would bet you $50 it is jock itch. Fungal infection like athlete's foot, but around the groin.
posted by Justinian at 10:08 PM on July 1, 2006

Follliculitis, a mild staph infection, is possible from frictional forces irritating the bases of the short n' curlies. But so's Haitian Variant Herpes 12M. So, uh, tell your friend to see someone trained to examine dong rash.
posted by docpops at 10:15 PM on July 1, 2006

Did he not tell the girl he had sex with? It's possible that she may not have noticed a rash there. If not, he should so she can keep an eye out for a rash regardless of the cause.
posted by Iamtherealme at 1:26 AM on July 2, 2006

Could be a latex allergy, but probably not--that would more likely show up everywhere latex was in contact, no?

nthing the suggestion to GO SEE A DOCTOR, and for God's sake, inform his sexual partner(s).
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:38 AM on July 2, 2006

My suggestion is probably not the cause - but it happened to me...

I had a girlfriend long ago that asked me to shave the base of my penis on a regular basis. She was one of those "I can't stop douching" girls.. and had douched just before we had sex. When we were finished, it looked like someone had rubbed sandpaper across the base of my penis.

Silly young boy that I was, it took about three more times for the cause to become clear to me. Something in the douche irritated the freshly shaved skin around the base, and the rash would generally stick around for a couple of days.
posted by bradth27 at 8:04 AM on July 2, 2006