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What will I notice?

A rash is a change in the look or feel of the skin usually involving redness. It might include localised swelling, lumps, spots, blisters and, or, itching. Rashes are usually the result of the skin reacting to an infection, e.g. chickenpox, or an allergy, or injury e.g sunburn. You can get rashes on almost any part of your skin including your genitals. Some rashes are symptoms of infections of the genitals only. Some types of allergic reactions can come on suddenly and can affect your breathing or tongue.

 

 

 

What is the most likely cause?

Most genital rashes are a reaction of the skin to irritation. You can get a rash from not washing enough, or washing too much, or with something your skin doesn't like. An allergic reaction can also cause a rash. A possible allergic reaction that affects the genitals is an allergy to the latex, rubber, that is used to make condoms. If you are allergic to latex, you might also get a rash on your hands or wrists when you wear rubber gloves. Some people are allergic to the spermicides that are added to some condoms, or the foams or creams that are used by girls and women with diaphragms or caps.

 

Many genital rashes are caused by common skin conditions, e.g. eczema. They are easily treated.

 

 

 

What other causes are possible?

You might have a localised skin infection, which might need antibiotics to clear it up. If you have a rash on your genitals and on your wrists and the surface of your hands which has small, very itchy, lumps you might have caught scabies. Scabies is caused by a small burrowing insect which can be caught during close personal contact including during sex.

You might have one of the skin conditions that can involve the genital area including:

• Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
  
  

• Contact Dermatitis
  
  

• Lichen simplex, Lichen planus or Lichen sclerosu
  
  

 

If you have a rash with dry scaly areas of skin you might have eczema or psoriasis.

What should I do?

If you have a rash anywhere on your genitals you should go to see a doctor who can 'check you out' for any of the causes of rashes.

 

If you have any kind of sudden allergic reaction with, or without, a rash anywhere on your body and you start to feel your tongue getting bigger or have problems breathing you should immediately seek emergency medical help. Such an allergic reaction can be very serious and can progress quickly without treatment.

 

If you think your rash might have been caused by overwashing, or is a reaction to soaps, shower gels, or bubble baths, try using something else instead of soap, e.g aqueous cream, which can be bought from any chemist.

 

If you think you might be allergic to latex, don't use a condom again until you have been 'checked out' by a doctor who can refer you for some tests for allergy if necessary. They will want to make sure the rash doesn't have another cause.

 

Don't put yourself at risk of catching infections or becoming pregnant by having unprotected sex without a condom.

In the longer term you could try another type of male condom that is not made of latex, for example Avanti by Durex uses polyurethane, a type of plastic. Female condoms are not made of latex and so will not cause a latex allergy.

At SHAC, at Clinic 1A, we can examine you to check for any of these causes of rashes of the genitals. We are always happy to test you for infections, to help put your mind at rest and we can refer you to skin specialists if necessary. We can also give you advice and information about staying healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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