Dear Readers,

Sean C. is a 32-year-old man who is concerned about some small warts, which he says form a ring about the head of the penis where the penile head joins with the long shaft of the penis and the foreskin of the penis.

He says that they have been developing for a long time and although he has had them treated, they are still present.

It is very possible, due to the location of the lesions Sean describes, that they are not warts at all, but are pearly penile papules. These penile papules are quite often confused with warts but they are definitely not warts. Visually, they are usually small, even tiny, papules, which are often shiny and slightly elevated. They are never large but can form a ring around the margin of the entire penile head. They can occur over time due to the friction intercourse (sex) places on that area.

Benign

These papules are benign and will never turn to ulcers or cancer. In fact, they are best left alone and require no treatment at all. Nonetheless, Sean C. could see a dermatologist to have the penile skin examined and the diagnosis confirmed.

H.V. from St Catherine is another Lifeline reader, who says she has been reading Lifeline for years and thanks us for our efforts. Her problem is recurring generalised itching of her skin but there is no rash visible.

This pruritis (itching of the skin) can be difficult to eradicate unless the cause is known. It can probably be readily treated with various anti-itch and anti-allergy preparations, but will tend to recur.

Examination by a physician is necessary to make sure that the itching is not due to urticaria (or hives), which is another itching disorder which is associated with a rash. Excessive dryness of the skin is one cause of itching skin with no rash.

Treatment

Treatment usually involves using a soap substitute such as oilatum soap, E musol or keri, to minimise the removal of skin oils while bathing, which would occur with the harsher regular bath soaps. When the skin is thought to be dry, bath oils can be used while bathing, after which proper moisturising of the skin is necessary. Mild anti- inflammatory creams or ointments such as Advantage, Cultivate or Betnovate can be applied while the skin is still damp and oral antihistamines can be taken. These would include Erolin, Zyrtea, DPH, Algeria, Tavegyl and other preparations. Once the skin is kept moist and well oiled, the itching should remain controlled.

Skin itching

Another cause of skin itching, especially after a bath, is not only that the protective skin oils have been removed with harsh soap but also that the chlorine in the tap water can cause some individuals to itch regularly. One way to circumvent this is to catch bath water and allow it to stand for some minutes before bathing. This allows some of the chlorine to evaporate and may help to reduce the itching of the skin. If the problem persists, a physician should be consulted.

Write to:

Lifeline

PO Box 1731

Kingston