Dry Skin Deserves Attention
If a specific part of your body starts to itch you should take a close look. For every condition there is a cause and if the area near the genitals is itching it is possible that you have contracted genital warts. Because it involves a part of the body that is private does not mean that you should remain silent. A medical practitioner is the right person to talk to. They have dealt with many such cases and have all the knowledge and expertise to give you immediate help. It is essential that you start treatment right away if it is genital warts.
Dry Skin May Or May Not Be Genital Warts
Genital warts attack the most delicate and hypersensitive areas of our bodies. The disease brings great physical discomfort to sufferers and we are embarrassed to even talk about it, thus we often keep quiet until the condition has reached a severe state.
One of the most irritating aspects, besides the pain and discomfort of the warts themselves, is the itchy and dry skin that surrounds the wart or warts. This dry skin is called genital psoriasis; this happens because the skin becomes dehydrated and looses its natural oils. The skin in the genital area is the most sensitive on the body and this makes treating the dry and itchy skin difficult.
Dermatologists have found that the best way to treat this dry and flakey skin that occurs with the onset of genital warts is to treat it the same way as you would dry scalp. A good medicated shampoo formulated for itchy scalp should be applied to the affected area and left on for between five and ten minutes. Then rinse thoroughly and dry the area. There are various cortisone creams available, choose one with one percent hydrocortisone and apply this twice daily after using the shampoo. If you experience discomfort during the day a general anti-itch cream can be applied to help sooth the itch.
For many centuries, people have used coal tar successfully in the treatment of psoriases and the dry, flakey skin that typifies this disease. Coal tar is now available as a prescription or an over-the-counter medication that can be used for genital psoriasis. Coal tar medication has an unpleasant smell and is known to stain clothing, but is a very effective and safe medication to use. The coal tar medication can be applied before bedtime and then left until morning before washing off. Do remember to wear undergarments made of cotton to allow the body to breathe, stay away from synthetic materials and avoid permanent press clothing for this will irritate the already sensitive skin because it contains formaldehyde.
Dry, flakey skin in the genital area might also point towards a fungal infection as well as genital psoriasis being present at the time. In such cases an anti-fungal treatment will be added to the treatment of the genital psoriasis and should be used for a period of seven to ten days. If you see that there is no response to the treatment after a few days, it is best to immediately contact your dermatologist for advice and maybe a change in treatment.
Care should be taken to keep your life as stress free as possible as genital psoriasis acts as a barometer for your physical and emotional state and often genital psoriasis can be resistant and stress will heighten this problem.
