Oh, no - not an itchy penis! All men know what that means - deciding between resisting the urge to scratch (which keeps a guy from concentrating on whatever he should be focusing on) or going ahead and scratching (and running the risk of being caught looking like he’s fondling his penis). Any itchy penis is a problem, but when scabies are responsible it becomes a genuine penis health issue. Knowing about scabies - or, more importantly, what to do about them - is useful information for any man.

Mites

Some people think scabies are lice, but that is not correct. Scabies are actually very, very tiny mites, which means that they belong to the same family as spiders. These microscopic critters burrow under the skin, which is where they like to live. Eventually, they lay eggs, which hatch, and then the fun really begins.

Scabies bring about a purplish rash - and as noted, they itch like crazy. They can be found anywhere on the body, including the penis - and they are especially likely to be on the penis if a man has sexual contact with a person with scabies on their private areas (including the buttocks, if anal sex is engaged in). Usually, scabies is passed on through direct skin-to-skin contact, and usually that of a prolonged period; in other words, just lightly brushing against an area of a person who is infected with scabies is unlikely to bring about scabies in the other person. If found in the midsection, scabies are easily passed on through sexual transmission, sometimes even when protection is used.

The first time a person gets scabies, symptoms (i.e., itching and rash) don’t usually show up for at least 2 weeks, and sometimes not for as long as 2 months. However, if a person gets re-infected, it can show up much more quickly, usually within a few days.

Treatment

Suppose a guy comes down with an itchy penis due to scabies. Aside from informing any sexual partners of this fact, what should he do?

First, he needs to visit a doctor and be sure that what he has is scabies. The doctor can then prescribe an appropriate treatment. Initial treatment usually involves one of several creams or lotions. The first application is typically placed all over the body from the neck down, even if the scabies outbreak seems to be localized. Subsequent applications may be required.

In addition, in order to prevent re-infection, all clothing, towels, sheets, bedclothes, et cetera, in the home will need to be washed or dry cleaned. Ideally, other household items such as carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, drapes, curtains, et cetera, also should be cleaned thoroughly.

Even after the scabies are killed, an itchy penis (or other body parts) may continue for weeks. In such cases, a doctor is likely to recommend keeping the skin cool and moist, applying a lotion (sometimes calamine lotion) to help ease itching, or taking antihistamines, which are often used to relieve painful or persistent itchiness.

Most often, an infestation of scabies involves 1 to 2 dozen mites. In some rare cases, however, a "crusted scabies" situation may develop, involving literally millions of mites. This latter form of scabies is much harder to treat and may require ongoing care by a physician.

When scabies cause an itchy penis, some soothing relief may be obtained by applying a top-drawer penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). In such cases, look for an oil that contains both a high-end emollient (such as shea butter) and a natural hydrator (such as vitamin E), for significant moisturization. It also helps to choose an oil with alpha lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant that strengthens penis skin by fighting free radicals.