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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Male -- Penis/testicles/scrotom > Fungus infection on penis
Posted on: 06/05/2007
Question
I'm a bit worried about some dry, red and sometimes itchy skin on the shaft of my penis. I saw a doctor again today about it because it has been 9 days using Canestan 3 times a day with very minimal results. It's still itchy at times and looks like the dry and red skin is spreading from the right to the center and on the base of the head of my penis. The doctor prescribed some Cortisone cream which I'm worried about using as the doctor and chemist say I had to use it sparingly and I heard it has steroids in it?. How long does a fungal infection on the penis usually take to clear up? and if it hasn't by a certain amount of time then is it most likely to be something a lot more serious? Thank you for your time.
Answer
It is very hard to second guess your doctor. Sometimes skin irritation is a challenge to diagnose and if one treatment doesn't help they you move to another treatment. If you didn't respond to the antifungal then you most likely have a skin irritation and the steroid it the treatment of choice.
A thin film over the area twice to three times a day for 7 days will not harm you. Steroids you put on your skin really don't leak into your body to any clinically significant degree if used as directed for a short period of time.
Diseases that are more serious usually present in a different way like ulcers, blisters, sores that don't heal.
Keep working with your doctor and this will resolve. It is important to remember that good care is in simple follow up and communication. Illness, like health, evolves over time and it is important to continue to see you doctor until your problem has resolved.
Good Luck!