Penile Eczema and 6 Other Conditions That Can Cause a Rash on Your Penis

Eczema can happen anywhere on the body, including on the genitals. It’s not uncommon to have eczema on the penis or scrotum. 

Many rashes can happen on the penis, and some are more dangerous than others. That’s why it’s important to understand what penile eczema is and when to get medical attention. 

What is penile eczema?

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that can affect different areas of the body, including the penis. An eczema rash makes your skin feel dry and itchy. How severe and widespread the rash is depends on the person. Eczema on the penis often flares on the glans (penis head), though it can affect your surrounding genital area as well. 

What causes penile eczema?

Penile eczema is caused by the same process as eczema on the rest of the body: a breakdown of the skin barrier. This may be due to genetic, environmental, or immune system factors. 

The skin acts as a barrier to protect you from irritants and allergens. And this barrier also helps your skin stay hydrated by keeping moisture in. When the skin barrier is broken, your body loses water and the skin dries out. This can leave it more vulnerable to irritation and cause eczema. 

What are the risk factors that cause penile eczema flare-ups?

Many different things can trigger eczema on the penis and scrotum. These triggers include:

• Extreme weather

• Stress

• Rough fabrics or tight clothing

• Excessive sweating or wet clothing

• Non-lubricated sex

• Harsh soaps and fragrances

• Skin wipes 

• Antiseptics

• Fecal incontinence or urinary incontinence

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Penile eczema is more common in men who aren’t circumcised. This is due to the rubbing of the foreskin. This can lead to friction and heat. And this increases the risk of skin breakdown and can cause eczema flare-ups. 

What are the symptoms of penile eczema?

Penile eczema can cause symptoms such as:

• Skin redness

• Itching

• Flaking and dryness

• Breakdown and open sores

• Weeping and crusting

• Bad odor

• Painful skin

• Pain urinating

• Swollen lymph nodes 

When eczema affects the penis, you may notice it on the:

• Top or shaft of the penis

• Scrotum

• Folds of the thighs

• Buttocks

• Anus area

What other skin conditions can cause rashes on the penis?

A few other skin conditions can look similar to penile eczema. Some of these conditions are contagious, so it’s important to know the differences.

1. Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a skin rash due to an irritant or allergen coming in contact with the skin. 

Common skin irritants that can cause contact dermatitis in the groin include:

• Harsh soaps

• Spermicide lubricants

• Piercings

• Urine or feces

• Prolonged moisture

Contact dermatitis can be difficult to distinguish from eczema because it can look very similar. Both rashes can cause itchy, red skin with flaking. An allergy test can help determine if you have contact allergies. 

2. Psoriasis

Psoriasis is caused by inflammation in the skin. It usually occurs on the outside of the elbows, knees, and scalp. But it can also affect the genitals including the penis, scrotum, and the area above your anus. 

Psoriasis can cause skin thickening and a white silvery scale, unlike eczema. And psoriasis is usually not as itchy.

A healthcare professional can diagnose psoriasis with a physical exam. Sometimes, a skin biopsy of the rash is required to make a firm diagnosis. 

3. Fungal infections

Fungal infections can occur anywhere on the body. When they occur in the groin, they’re called “jock itch.” Fungal or yeast infections in the groin are very common due to the heat, friction, and moisture that naturally occurs in the area. 

Fungal infections tend to happen more often in the skin between the thighs, rather than on the penis. But they can happen on the penis. The rash is usually pink or red and sometimes looks like circular patches. This makes it easy to confuse with eczema. Fungal infections are also very itchy like eczema. One important difference is that fungal infections are contagious.

Making the diagnosis may require a skin scraping test to take a closer look under a microscope. 

4. Scabies

Scabies are mites that burrow into the skin, lay their eggs, and multiply. It’s a contagious skin infection that commonly affects the groin. It rarely occurs on the actual penis. Rather, it usually appears on the skin above the penis. 

Scabies can look like red bumps in a row that are very itchy. Sometimes, it can be scaly or dry as well. 

Scabies can easily be confused with eczema. It’s often diagnosed by your history of symptoms and a skin scraping exam. Scabies treatment typically involves topical lotion, ointment, or cream.

5. Pubic lice

Pubic lice is another insect infection that can happen in the groin. But unlike scabies, lice don’t burrow into the skin. Instead, they attach to your hair and multiply. 

Public lice look like white sacks or scales that are attached to pubic hair. They’re extremely itchy and very contagious. The bites can cause a tiny, red rash. A healthcare professional can diagnose pubic lice with a physical exam. 

6. Sexually transmitted infections 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can affect the penis and be mistaken for penile eczema. These can include:

• Gonorrhea 

• Herpes 

• Syphilis

These infections can sometimes cause skin changes like blisters or ulcers on the penis and genital area. And there may be other symptoms, like pain with urination or discharge from the penis. 

STIs can have serious complications if left untreated. See a healthcare professional right away if you have any of these symptoms.

How do you treat penile eczema?

Penile eczema is treated much like eczema on the rest of the body. While there’s no cure for it, treatments can help clear your skin and decrease symptoms. 

Here are some tips and treatments you can try at home:

• Use gentle body cleansers and moisturizers on your penis and scrotum.

• Avoid harsh soaps with many fragrances.

• Change wet clothes and underwear frequently.

• Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing.

• Avoid rough sponges or scrubbing your skin.

• Use a water-based lubricant during sexual intercourse. And shower or wash your genitals after.

Sometimes, healthcare professionals recommend prescription treatments, such as:

• Topical steroids, to reduce inflammation (like hydrocortisone)

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory creams (like tacrolimus)

• Systemic treatments (like prednisone or Dupixent)

Light therapy is a common treatment for eczema on the body. However, it’s rarely used for eczema on the genitals. That’s because of the risk of skin cancer and sunburns. 

How serious is penile eczema?

Penile eczema isn’t serious or contagious. But there are more serious rashes that can happen on the penis. So it’s important to see a healthcare professional for an exam. 

Having a rash on your penis can be embarrassing and prevent you from participating in your daily life activities. But a healthcare professional can help make the diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan that works to clear your skin. 

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Written by:

Alina Goldenberg, MD, MAS, FAAD

Alina Goldenberg, MD, MAS, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in San Diego. She is also an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.

Edited by:

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN, is a California-based registered nurse and staff medical editor at GoodRx, where he focuses on clinical updates and Latino health.

Reviewed by:

Farzon A. Nahvi, MD

Dr. Nahvi is an emergency medicine physician and author of “Code Gray: Death, Life, and Uncertainty in the ER.” He works clinically at Concord Hospital in Concord, New Hampshire, and is a clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Prior to this, he worked as an ER physician and clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Mount Sinai Health System, NYU Langone Health, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, and the Manhattan VA. He is a graduate of Cornell University and NYU School of Medicine.

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