These lazy, foggy and crazy summer days give people the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities that are forbidden when the weather turns cold. Chief among them, of course, is swimming, and that is why the lakes and rivers are crowded during the summer months. Of course, swimming is not totally risk-free, and in some cases it can cause a minor penile health problem. For example, diving into those cold lake waters can be refreshing, but sometimes a man can come out with a rash on his penis that is often known, appropriately, as swimmer’s itch.
Swimmer’s itch
Medically classified as cercarial dermatitis, swimmer’s itch is by no means limited to a rash on the penis or even limited to the penis at all. This rash can appear anywhere on the body, but this article will focus on its presentation specifically as a rash on the penis.
Swimmer’s itch can be found in both saltwater and freshwater, but it is more often a freshwater problem, so it is more likely to be caused by lakes, ponds, and rivers than the ocean. The cause of this rash on the penis is a small microscopic parasite called a schistosome. Birds (such as ducks, geese, and swans) and certain mammals (especially raccoons and muskrats) are natural hosts for these parasites.
When these nasty parasites infect an animal, they lay eggs that are removed from the animal’s body as part of its feces. If the eggs end up in the water, they hatch and the baby parasites start swimming in search of a particular type of host, a specific snail that lives in and around the water. These snails, in turn, release a different type of parasite, the aforementioned schistosome, which needs to find its own host. Schistosomes would rather latch on to a goose or raccoon, but they are not fussy and will accept any host that is helpful, such as a guy that passes swimming.
They then dig into their skin, thinking they have found a good host. Surprise goal! Humans can’t really give them what they need. By the time they realize this, it is too late – they are trapped there and soon die.
But not without first sounding the alarms in the host’s body, causing the penis to erupt.
Eruption
As the name swimmer’s itch implies, the rash is one that is quite itchy, which can be embarrassing when localized on and around the penis. In some cases, the itching can turn into a tingling sensation or even a burning sensation. Its physical presentation is of small reddish grains; in some cases, they can look like small red blisters.
Although the rash appears unpleasant, it does not spread easily from one person to another. However, the penis rash can be irritated by the friction that accompanies sex.
Typically, the rash will appear within a few hours to a few days after exposure to the parasites. Rarely is a doctor’s attention needed. Using over-the-counter corticosteroid creams or anti-itch lotions can help, as can applying cold compresses and baking soda pastes or soaking in oatmeal baths.
A rash on the penis from swimmer’s itch or other causes needs the soothing relief of a penis health cream from the top drawer (Health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven to be gentle and safe for the skin). The skin of the penis must be kept hydrated, so a cream with a combination of moisturizing agents, such as vitamin E and shea butter, is essential. In addition, the cream should contain a variety of vitamins, A, B5, C and D, in addition to E, to help strengthen the skin of the penis and allow it to heal more quickly and effectively.