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Top Tips for Testicular Itching

Top Tips on Testicular Itching

Embarrassment aside, sharing with your doctor about your uncomfortable itch down there can help you get proper treatment.
Embarrassment aside, sharing with your doctor about your uncomfortable itch down there can help you get proper treatment.

There are many causes of the itch down there, but it is not advisable to use over-the-counter creams without a proper medical diagnosis.

“It may be embarrassing to share your concerns about this uncomfortable itch,” says Dr Pang Shiu Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group. But more often than not, the cause of your testicular itching can be easily treated.

What could be causing the itch?

Actually, the term testicular itch is incorrect as the testicles are inside the scrotal sac and they don’t itch. What is commonly affected by an itchy rash is the skin of the scrotal sac and the groin. The pubic area, the shaft of the penis and the tip of the penis are less commonly affected.

Types of itch that can affect the scrotal skin

  • Eczema: “This is a chronic skin condition marked by itching, inflammation, redness, and swelling of the skin,” says Dr Pang. “While there’s no cure for eczema, it can be treated to prevent flare-ups.”

Related article: Eczema - How to take good care of your skin

  • Extramammary Paget’s disease of the scrotal skin is a skin cancer that may look similar to eczema. If an eczematous rash does not respond to treatment, this more serious condition is suspected. This rash sometimes involves the groin and the anal skin.

4 types of itch that can affect the groin

  • Tinea cruris (dermatophyte infection – a kind of fungal infection also called jock itch): This is an itchy, irritable rash in the groin area that mostly affects men. It is typically associated with sweating and tight clothing.

Dr Pang explains: “There is usually intense itching in the groin area. Sometimes, there might be a red rash with scaly edges, which usually starts in the folds of the skin and spreads from there.” Women may also have tinea cruris but it is less common than in men.

Related article: 7 ways to prevent yeast infections

  • Candidiasis (yeast infection – a kind of fungal infection): “Both men and women can be infected,” says Dr Pang. In women the infection may also involve the vagina, causing a profuse cheese-like discharge associated with burning or an intense itch. In men, it may be associated with infection of the glans penis which may be the first sign of diabetes mellitus.

Candidiasis may be caused by sexual contact with an infected person (“ping-pong” infection) or from using antibiotics that disturb the gut bacteria flora. The yeast infection typically causes irritation, burning, itching and pain in the groin area. Apart from diabetes mellitus, pregnancy may also make the female more prone to candidiasis.

To read the rest of this article, including tips to stop testicular itching, please visit HealthXChange.com.sg.

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This article was written by Jaclyn Lim for HealthXChange, with expert input from the Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group.

Articles on HealthXchange.com.sg are meant for informational purposes only and cannot replace professional surgical, medical or health advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment.