How often does a man feel an itch in his crotch and upon inspection discovers he has come down with a case of penis rash? Unfortunately it happens more often than most men would care to admit. While the rash can sometimes be linked to a serious penis health concern such as an infection or an STI, there can be other causes. One of the more common, especially during the warm summer months, is sea bather’s eruption.

What is it?

The hot days of summer naturally inspire people to spend some time at the beach, frolicking in the surf and lying on the sand building up their tans. Naturally, people have to take precautions against common “hazards” such as sunburn, but there are some problems that are difficult to guard against – and sea bather’s eruption is one of them.

Sea bather’s eruption is a rash that occurs in the areas of the body that are covered when a person goes swimming. In other words, it doesn’t show up on the exposed skin, but in the area covered by a swimsuit (and/or a shirt, if one wears a shirt in the water) – and that means that the penis is high on the list of possible eruption sites.

The eruption is caused by stings coming from “thimble” jellyfish and sea anemones that are not grown but are still in their larval stage. These larva are very small – less than a centimeter – and so are difficult to see. The stings don’t usually begin until a person gets out of the water. The process of evaporation can initiate the stinging, and if not removed the larvae can remain dormant and not sting for several days. The sting sites form into a rash, which can become very itchy. In some cases, the condition may result in fatigue and/or fever.

Treatment

There’s not really an effective prevention for sea bather’s eruption, other than to avoid swimming. Because the larvae are so small, it’s difficult to detect their presence in the water. They do tend to float near the surface, so swimmers are at more risk than those who go scuba diving.

To treat the eruption, it’s best to get out of the swimsuit as soon as possible. Rinsing with fresh water actually tends to irritate the stings, so if there happens to be a bucket of clean, larvae-free sea water that a person can use for an initial rinse of the affected area, that can help. This can then be followed by a fresh water shower to more properly clean the body.

Rubbing the affected area with a towel also provides irritation and can worsen the penis rash. Instead, an affected person should try to pat the body dry with a towel.

After cleansing, it’s good to apply rubbing alcohol or diluted vinegar to the rash. Hydrocortisone or calamine lotion also can be helpful in easing the itch. If the rash is severe, consulting a doctor is advised, especially if symptoms extend to fever, fatigue, etc.

A doctor may recommend that a penis rash from sea bather’s eruption would benefit from keeping the skin moisturized. Daily use of a top-notch penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) might be one good route to take to achieve this goal. The best cremes aim at proper skin hydration through the use of ingredients such as Shea butter (a high-end emollient) and vitamin E. These ingredients create a “moisture lock” that keeps the skin supple and healthy. It doesn’t hurt if the crème also contains vitamin D, the “miracle vitamin” acclaimed for fighting disease and supporting healthy cellular function. The healthier the penis is in the first place, the more likely it is to resist penis rash and heal quickly.

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