These lazy, foggy, and crazy days of summer give people the chance to engage in outdoor activities that are off-limits when it’s cold outside. Chief among them, of course, is swimming, and this is why the lakes and rivers are so crowded during the summer months. Of course, engaging in swimming is not entirely without risk, and in some cases it can cause a penile health problem. For example, taking a dip in the cold waters of a lake can be refreshing, but sometimes a man can come out with a rash on his penis that is often referred to as swimmer’s itch.
swimmer’s itch
Medically classified as cercarial dermatitis, swimmer’s itch is by no means limited to a penile rash or even confined 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 salt and fresh water, but it is more often a freshwater problem, so lakes, ponds, and rivers are more likely to cause it 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 the natural hosts for these parasites.
When these nasty parasites infect an animal, they lay eggs that pass out of 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 around 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 aren’t picky and will accept any host that’s handy, like a guy who swims.
They then burrow into his fur, thinking they have found a good host. Surprise goal! Humans aren’t really capable of giving them what they need. By the time they realize this, it is too late: they are trapped there and soon die.
But not before setting off the alarms in the host’s body which causes the rash on the penis.
rash
As the name swimmer’s itch implies, the rash is a rather itchy one, which can be embarrassing when located on and around the penis. In some cases, the itching can turn into a tingling or even burning sensation. Its physical presentation is small reddish granites; in some cases, they can look like small red blisters.
Although the rash looks unsightly, it is not easily spread from one person to another. However, the rash on the penis can be irritated by the friction that accompanies sex.
The rash will usually occur within a few hours to a few days after exposure to the parasites. A doctor’s care is rarely 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 due to swimmer’s itch or other causes needs the soothing relief of a top-tier penis health cream. (Health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven to be gentle and safe on the skin.). Penis skin needs to 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 faster and more effectively.
