Genital Skin Rashes & Conditions in men

Our specialists at Cutis Dermatology are experts in skin disorders including diagnosis & management of genital skin conditions. We make it easy for you to access the best quality treatment & support in Brisbane. With clinical expertise & the latest lasers, our clinic is conveniently located in just 10 minutes from Brisbane’s CBD. 

 We have created a relaxing space where you will receive the highest quality of care. Our dermatologists are highly trained to provide the best treatments possible. 

Your GP can help with common conditions such as ingrown hairs, fungal & yeast infections. 

Consider seeing a dermatologist if your genital itch is severe or doesn’t improve, or if you have accompanying symptoms like discharge, blisters, pain, or a rash. 

A dermatologist may be able to promptly diagnose the cause of penis itch after examining your skin. We may also take a swab of your penis & send the sample to a lab for testing. This can confirm or rule out a virus, bacteria, fungal or yeast infection. We are also the experts in treating conditions such as pearly penile papules, angiokeratomas & Fordyce spots. 

No, however having a referral will assist you in claiming a rebate from Medicare. A referral is not mandatory. 

For discrete problems like genitourinary health, most patients would like to see a dermatologist without a referral. You can also arrange a video conference if you would like more privacy. The downside about virtual consults is that the accuracy of diagnosis is not a good as a real time examination.

Benign skin lesions: include pearly penile papules, cysts, Fordyce spots, angiokeratomas of the scrotum.  

Infective skin conditions: molluscum, herpes, warts, STDs, scabies, thrush.

Inflammatory & misc. Conditions: Zoon’s balanitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema, dermatitis. 

In most cases we can make the diagnosis based on clinical examination. For equivocal cases our dermatologists may order special tests including swabs or a skin biopsy. 

If you require an appointment for a genital skin condition & would like to see a dermatologist of the same gender, just let us know when you book your appointment with Dr Sarath (males) or Dr Charlotte (females). 

Yes, we do. In fact, this is preferred if the diagnosis has been ascertained & you would like to book in for treatment. Our dermatologists offer private virtual consultations. Cutis Dermatology sees patients from all around Australia & Internationally. 

Drop us an email & our staff will arrange a virtual consultation with Dr Sarath. 

Cutis Dermatology Brisbane has the largest portfolio of lasers in the Southern Hemisphere, including lasers for the sensitive skin of the genital area. We employ-

Ablative CO2 & erbium lasers to treat Fordyce spots & pearly penile papules. The lasers include special one millimetre spot sizes to treat even the smallest lesions. These lasers are also used with bigger spot sizes of 2-4 mm to treat genital warts. 

Vascular lasers including the V Beam Prima, Perfecta, Derma V & Splendour X are used to treat angiokeratomas of the scrotum. 

PPP or pearly penile papules are angiofibromas of the penis. They are benign; however, laser treatment can markedly reduce the number of papules. 

Cutis Dermatology Brisbane frequently treats patients with this condition from all around Australia, Asia & internationally. 

In most cases a clinical examination can be diagnostic, however if the diagnosis is in doubt, your specialist dermatologist will conduct swabs or a skin biopsy for microscopic analysis. 

Though there are many treatments for genital warts, namely cryotherapy, Aldara, TCA. electrosurgery, & excision, our dermatologists employ the latest laser technology to treat genital warts. 

Lasers include ablative CO2 & erbium laser resurfacing. The advantage of lasers is that we can vaporize the entire wart in one treatment. 

Psoriasis is very common in the genital areas. It can present as red patches, areas of ulceration or scale. Commonly there is an overlap with sebopsoriasis. Your dermatologists can usually distinguish between different types of rashes. Occasionally a skin biopsy is required. 

The most common type of psoriasis in the genital area is known as flexural psoriasis. This presents as shiny patches of skin in the groin & skin folds. 

Zoon’s balanitis is chronic inflammation of the head of the penis. It affects uncircumcised men & is relatively common. A dermatologist can readily diagnose this condition via a physical examination. A biopsy can be useful in some cases. 

Zoon’s is due to an inflammatory reaction to inflammation of the foreskin, which may be due to chronic irritation from dead skin cells, soaps & irritants. It is not sexually transmissible & not contagious.

The cornerstone of treatment is with soap substitutes, general hygiene & a bland emollient like Vaseline. We recommend Cetaphil or QV wash in the shower. 

Your dermatologist will also prescribe an anti-inflammatory ointment in a pulsed matter, namely a specified time on & off. Calcineurin inhibitors are also useful.   

Molluscum contagiosum is a common STD that presents on the penis as tiny lumps & bumps. It may resemble pearly penile papules however molluscum is umbilicated & present on the shaft, glans penis & surrounding skin. 

Treatments include cryotherapy, nick & flick with a needle, BPO, Aldara, & laser. A dermatologist can easily tell the difference between molluscum & other penile lesions. 

Jock itch refers to fungal skin infections known as tinea. These microscopic fungi live on your skin, hair, & nails. Fungal infections thrive in warm, moist areas including the groin, inner thighs, & buttocks.

Tinea infection causes a rash that itches or burns & often affects the genital areas. Skin is often red, flaky or scaly. On darker skin, the rash might appear grey or brown. A skin scraping is done to confirm the presence of fungi. Jock itch can be treated with topical creams or systemic tablets. 

Vitiligo commonly affects the genitals including the penis & scrotum. Though embarrassing, vitiligo does not affect sexual function or fertility. Effective treatments are possible & include-

• Anti-inflammatory medications & calcineurin inhibitors
• Narrowband phototherapy under Medicare

Genital herpes presents as grouped blisters on the penis & genital areas. Initially the rash may itch. This is then followed by stingy blisters that will subside over 3-7 days to form crusts. Herpes most commonly affect the shaft of the penis, glans/penile tip & the genital skin. 

A dermatologist can give a spot diagnosis in most cases, however viral swabs will confirm HSV 2 in early lesions. Early lesions can be treated with antivirals including Valtrex, Famciclovir & Acyclovir. 

Scabies is a common condition that affects the penis, scrotum, buttocks & groin areas. It causes intense itch, especially at night. There may be burrows & nodules on the shaft of the penis. This condition is secondary to mites.  Scabies also affects the hands. It can be tricky to diagnose & a dermatologist can assist in the diagnosis & treatment. 

It is super important to treat everyone that is of close contact to you. Scabies can be treated with Lyclear, sulphur & oral ivermectin. Post treatment itch can last up to 8 weeks. 

Syphilis is not uncommon. In fact, dermatologists diagnose a few cases every year. This is a STD that is due to a bacterium. It can be passed on through sexual contact, including oral sex. The first symptom is a circular, red, & painless sore on your penis & genital area. If left untreated, it can spread and advance to other parts of your body.

As the infection progresses, you may experience rash on other parts of your body, such as your torso & hands, fever, headaches & swollen lymph nodes. 

Syphilis is treated with penicillin or doxycycline. 

Gonorrhoea is caused by infection with the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoea. It is spread by having unprotected sex with an infected person. In men, symptoms include:

• Thick, yellow or white discharge from the penis
• Pain, discomfort or burning sensation when passing urine
• Testicular pain
• Redness around the penis opening
• Discharge and discomfort

Testing for gonorrhoea may involve taking a swab from the urethra in men or by a urine sample. Gonorrhoea can be effectively treated with oral antibiotics. You will need to be re-tested 2 weeks after your treatment to make sure treatment has been effective.

This common but under reported condition presents as lumps & cyst on the scrotum. Each cyst measures between 2 to 18 mm in diameter. This condition can be diagnosed by ultrasound, CT scan or MRI scans or a skin biopsy. 

The best specialist to treat this condition is either a general surgeon or a urologist.