Can I Have Sex? And Other Questions About Living With Genital Psoriasis

Can you have sex if you have genital psoriasis? Is it really genital psoriasis or is it herpes? All of your embarrassing questions about genital psoriasis are answered here!

genital psoriasis

Genital psoriasis is when psoriasis symptoms show up in the genital area, including the vulva for women, the penis (Penile Psoriasis) and scrotum for men – Psoriasis on Scrotum, the pubic area, the upper thighs, the skin between the anus and the genitals, the skin around the anus, and the skin between the buttocks. This type of psoriasis can be uncomfortable to have and it can be hard to talk to someone about the skin condition. Find the answers to all of your embarrassing questions right here.

Do I have genital psoriasis or is this herpes? Or maybe it’s something else?

Psoriasis on the genitals look red, moist, and shiny and are usually itchy. Symptoms don’t usually include white scales and may feel tight and sore, especially when a lot of itching occurs. Most people with genital psoriasis also have psoriasis on other parts of their body. Herpes look like sores or insect bites and they can be painful. See a doctor or a dermatologist to get a diagnosis to be sure of what you have.

Can I have sex with psoriasis on genital are?

Yes. But if it hurts, stop.

Sex can feel uncomfortable sometimes. What can I do?

Try using a moisturizer before having sex to help soothe the skin and reduce itching. Men might find some comfort by wearing a condom. A condom can help with lubrication and protects the skin from becoming more irritated, which can cause inflammation and the worsening of psoriasis symptoms. Be sure to apply lubricant before putting on the condom. And don’t forget to wash off any medicated creams and lotions from the genitals before sexual intercourse. Reapply the medications afterwards.

Genital psoriasis treatment?

Doctors often prescribe topical steroids to treat psoriasis, but they can damage the skin, especially the already-thin skin of the genitals. Protopic and Elidel are topical drugs that you and your doctor might consider, since they have the same inflammation-reducing properties but they won’t thin the skin like strong steroid creams will. However, they can irritate the skin and make symptoms worse for some people. If these two drugs aren’t an option for you, you might consider low-strength topical steroid creams, such as 1% Hydrocortisone cream. Even then, use the cream as little as possible to prevent damage to the skin. Dovonex, another topical medication, is another possible option. It works well and can be used long-term.

How to Treat Genital Psoriasis?

The treatment of genital psoriasis (psoriasis genital) isn’t limited to topical medicines. Ultra violet treatment is sometime used to treat psoriasis on the genitals often refer as psoriasis genitalis, but it’s not as common because the skin on the genitals is very thin and can burn easily. If used on the genitals, UV light therapy is usually administered in very low doses. This option is a good idea if you have psoriasis elsewhere on your body as well as on the genital area.

I think I have an infection as well. Is this bad?

It’s common to get bacteria and infections, like a yeast infection, when you have psoriasis on the genitals because of the nature of the condition. An anti-bacterial and/or anti-fungal medication can help heal the infection. Lamisil or Nizoral are good treatment options, but talk with your doctor first.

How can I prevent future flare-ups?

Triggere to avoid include tight underwear and excessive sweat. If you’re an athlete, try to shower as often as you can to prevent the worsening of symptoms and itching. Wear cotton as often as you can. Try to resist any itching – it only makes things worse.

I only have red spots in the folds of my butt and they’re flat. Is this genital psoriasis?

Maybe, but it could be inverse psoriasis, which is the most common type of psoriasis to appear in the genital area. Check with your doctor to get a confirmed diagnosis.

No matter how embarrassed you are, it’s very important to find a doctor or a specialist that you can feel comfortable with to discuss about your genital psoriasis, so you can get the proper treatment and help you need.

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