How to Fix Dry Skin on Your Penis

Last updated 2/16/2023

10 reasons your junk feel funky.

It’s annoying to have dry skin on your arms or legs. It adds a whole new level of discomfort to have it on your junk. Not super socially acceptable to itch your penis in front of others.

Additionally, there’s the nagging concern that there might be something more going on beneath your boxers than just dry skin.

According to NORMUK’s own urologist Ignacio Max Dura Pamintuan M.D. chafing, not using enough lube during sex, and chemicals in soaps and detergents can all dry out the skin on your penis. These causes result in the skin becoming red, cracked, and itchy as well. The skin on your penis is thin and easily prone to dryness.

Skin irritation from infections or skin diseases can also dry your member. To resolve this, it’s best consult a dermatologist or doctor. Here are some possible causes of dry, itchy, red penile skin and what you may do to treat them. See if you can figure out the cause based on the following symptoms.

You Have Dry Skin on Your Penis for These 10 Reasons

1. Wrong Soap for Sensitive Skin

The compounds in harsh soaps could dry penis skin. The same is true of those washing detergents with strong scents.

Additionally, improper soap removal might lead to itchy, dry skin on penis or even irritated atopic dermatitis. The soap sits in between your foreskin and head or skin of your penis, making it more difficult to wash away all the residue, making uncircumcised members even more vulnerable.

How to identify: Peeling skin redness, or blistering skin that is dry. Additionally, your penis could be scaly, flaking, or itching.

How to prevent the dry skin on penis: Consider using body wash, mild soap, or other soaps and laundry detergents that are fragrance-free. Also avoid dry skin by using chemical free home remedies.

After taking a shower, you can help trap moisture and lessen the condition if you dry off and moisturize within three minutes of being wet.

Find fragrance free soaps and detergent for laundry day. Don’t forget to use your dryer sheets and fabric softeners as well, since these products can spread scent and drying chemicals to your underwear, which can cause peeling skin of your penis.

2. Allergy (Latex, Body Lotions, Ointment, etc.)

Safe sex can be difficult if you’re one of the 1 to 6 of the general population who has a latex allergy. If you’re a person with just latex sensitivity, your member may develop dry pimples after intercourse.

Keep in mind that you can have an allergic reaction to almost anything. Lotions and ointments are always a possibility. Another random allergic reaction you could run into is that of a material found in a penis pump. This isn’t a common symptom but is a possibility if you are a user.

However, severe allergic responses usually result in breathing difficulties, hives, swelling, nausea, and a fast heartbeat is extremely uncommon. Seek emergency medical help if this occurs.

How to identify: Skin that is dry, cracked, or scaly and that swells, feels hot to the touch, or uneven discharge in the genital area.

How to prevent the dry skin on the penis: Go visit a dermatologist if you think you may have a latex allergy. You could require topical medicine or oral steroids.

You can still have sex using non-latex condoms, which is what truly counts. Condoms made of polyurethane (plastic), polyisoprene (synthetic rubber), or lambskin all provide comparable degrees of irritation-free protection against STDs and pregnancy.

The most important thing to remember is that you can be allergic to anything and not know it. Try to think of anything that you’ve done recently that deviates from your normal day-to-day.

Did you use a new lotion? Did you build a homemade DIY penis pump using random items from your house? Get a new cat? You can get an allergic reaction on your penis skin even if you only applied it to other skin on your body, the same as a runny nose watery eyes, it’s no different.

3. Dry Sex

Friction from insufficient lubrication during intercourse can cause dryness and discomfort. However, some lubes contain substances like spermicides, which can cause your penis’ skin to become even more dry.

Ask yourself: Are you performing dry masturbation, using water based lubes, shea butter or another type lubricant that might cause unnecessary friction?

How to identify: Your shaft is red and have flaking skin. Your penis’s head can feel tender and inflammatory response.

How to treat flaky skin: Steer clear of water-based lubricants, which can become sticky upon absorption and increase friction.

Oil-based lubes are preferable to water-based ones because oil gives your skin more moisture and is less likely to dry you out.

4. Tight Underwear

Rubbing against too-tight clothing often can leave your underwear dry and rashy and cause you to perform the humiliating penguin shuffle.

You could potentially have a fungal infection on your penis, if you add additional moisture from your sweaty exertion.

How to identify: Itchy, flaky, irritated skin, and elevated pimples, together with a red rash, are telltale signs.

How to stop the irritation: Wear loose clothing, natural fabrics and 100% cotton underwear to reduce friction burn and chafing and prevent itching. Read our recent post if you suspect you have friction burn on the penis.

Apply a moisturizing cream or ointment if you already have a rash white patches or are red. Avoid simple lotions with alcohol in them because they can make your skin even more dry.

5. Atopic Eczema on Penis Skin

Your penis is not immune to skin problems like male genital eczema just because it isn’t exposed to the environment all day (we hope), especially if you are already predisposed to the ailment.

Chafing or irritation from the chemicals in soaps, shower gels, and deodorants can cause genital eczema.

Eczema and general irritation may be difficult to distinguish from one another, therefore a dermatologist may be necessary to diagnose the problem and choose the most appropriate course of action.

How to identify: Itching, cracking, dryness, and pain.

How to stop the dryness: Go to a dermatologist if fragrance-free products and baggier boxers are unable to relieve the skin on your member. To solve the issue, you might need to use low strength topical corticosteroid or other medications.

6. Penis Pump Binges

The use of penis pumps has increased drastically over the past 10 years. However, just because it’s becoming more and more socially accepted doesn’t mean you’re exempt from the possible side effects of over-pumping.

How to identify: You notice dry skin on penis after long or frequent pumping sessions.

How to stop the dry skin on penis: If you’re new to the penis pump world, it’s pretty likely that you got a little too ambitious, too fast. Consider a beginner penis pumping routine for girth instead of doing an extreme penis pump binge.

7. Genital Psoriasis

Another skin disease that can make your penis dry and uncomfortable is psoriasis. Psoriasis, in contrast to eczema, is an autoimmune disease, meaning that your own immune system overreacts and starts attacking healthy tissues. Psoriasis can develop on the skin of your genitalia as a result of infections or injuries to the penis.

How to identify: On the shaft or tip of your penis, there are little red spots. You could have glossy skin. You could see plaque-like lesions that are red and have a buildup of silvery, white dead skin cells.

How to treat dry skin: Seeing a doctor or dermatologist for therapy that will focus on particular immune system components to address the problem.

8. Penile Yeast Infection

A yeast called Candida, which thrives in warm, damp settings, is what causes yeast infections on your penis, and can cause other skin conditions as well. A yeast infection is more prevalent in males who are not circumcised, are overweight, or have type 2 diabetes.

Elevated glucose levels can compromise your immune system and leave you more vulnerable to any infections, including those brought on by yeast. Being uncut or carrying extra weight can produce damp circumstances where yeast can grow.

How to identify: Skin swelling and redness in your groin. You experience burning, itching, and irritation on the skin on the penis tip.

How to prevent the dry skin on penis: Keep your genitals as dry as possible to reduce dampness. If you already know you have an infection, consult a dermatologist who can diagnose the issue and recommend an antifungal cream or lotion to treat it.

Related Post: Penis Itching: 10 Home Remedies for an Itchy Penis

9. Jock Itch or Itchy Rash

Jock itch can affect everyone; you don’t have to be an all-star athlete. Though it may affect anybody, the fungus known as Tinea is more prevalent in athletes or those who frequently perspire and have sweat trapped under clothes for long periods of time.

How to identify: A reddish region in the crease of your groin and a flaky, scaly shaft. The rash may be ring-shaped with a line of tiny blisters surrounding it and progress to your upper thigh.

How to stop the dryness: Wear comfortable underwear that isn’t tight, keep your penis dry and practice good hygiene.

Your doctor may suggest an over-the-counter or prescription anti-fungal cream or ointment if that doesn’t solve the issue.

10. Other Infections & Diseases

Balanitis is a common condition observed in uncircumcised men and young boys, often caused by phimosis and poor hygiene. It’s a common penile ailment marked by inflammation of the head of the penis and dry skin on the penis.

Related: Can Balanitis Cure Itself?

Can STDs cause dry skin on your penis?

Early symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease could be dry skin on penis. Syphilis might start as discomfort and you may detect dry skin, and genital herpes can reveal dry skin before blisters. Additionally, flat genital warts may first be mistaken for dry skin.

However, our in house urologist’ reassures that STIs common symptoms don’t include dry penis skin, it’s just a possibility to consider if you’ve been overlooking other symptoms.

How to identify: If the adjustments mentioned above don’t help the dry skin on the penis, see your doctor to get tested for a potential STI and medical treatment.

Dry Skin on Penis Summary

Although it might cause discomfort, having dry skin on your penis is not usually a cause for concern.

Altering your lifestyle can help you get rid of the itch, but if your dry penis symptoms persist, you could require medical attention due to a serious medical condition we didn’t list.

The cause can even be related to another skin condition of the male genitalia and environmental factors.