What causes male vulvar itching?

When it comes to vulvar itching, many men think that it is only a women's problem and they can rest easy. Vulvar pruritus is not just a female problem. In fact, more than 20%-30% of men suffer from vulvar pruritus to varying degrees. So what are the common causes of vulvar itching in men?

Vulvar pruritus of various causes

Disease 1: Scrotal pruritus

Cause: Local moisture is a major cause of scrotal itching. The scrotum itself has glandular secretions, and sweating occurs frequently. If you often wear tight, synthetic underwear that does not absorb sweat well and is not breathable, it can easily cause scrotal itching. Having sex with a woman suffering from candidal vaginitis can also cause scrotal itching due to irritation of the male genitals by inflammatory secretions. In addition, mental stress, stimulation from spicy food, friction, static electricity, and detergent residue on underwear can also cause scrotal itching.

Symptoms: The skin of the scrotum is itchy, but no rash is visible. Because patients always scratch, the skin in the affected area often becomes thickened and lichenified.

Response: Clean promptly after sexual intercourse; keep the area dry, and use talcum powder on the scrotum appropriately; wear cotton, sweat-absorbent underwear to help ventilation; use mild detergents, and use less soap and laundry detergent; relax, and use some nerve nourishing drugs such as vitamins B1, B2, and oryzanol; avoid washing with very hot water or using irritating drugs, and avoid eating spicy food to prevent the condition from worsening; try to scratch less, because it can lead to a vicious cycle and form chronic simple lichen (ie, neurodermatitis), which is more difficult to treat.

Disease 2: Scrotal eczema

Cause: It is related to the individual's eczema constitution, so allergies are an important cause, including the material of the underwear, dyes, and shrimp, crab, beef, peanuts, alcohol, etc. in the diet, which can all induce scrotal eczema. In addition, moisture, friction, psychoneurological factors and seasonal climate can induce or aggravate the disease.

Symptoms: limited to the scrotal skin, sometimes extending to the area around the anus, and rarely to the penis. The itching is severe. Rashes, erosions, and exudates may be seen.

Response: Eczema is related to hereditary eczema predisposition, so it is more difficult to correct. The key is to remove or avoid factors that induce and aggravate eczema, such as relaxing, wearing breathable cotton underwear, scratching less, not eating foods that may cause allergies, and not washing the eczema area with hot water, let alone washing too frequently, because doing so can make the skin drier, further aggravating the damage to the skin barrier function and making it more prone to itching. Therefore, do not clean too frequently, keep the water temperature low, use less detergent or use mild and moisturizing detergent, moisturize your skin immediately after washing, and ensure that it will not cause skin allergies.