1. Use Topical Treatments Sparingly
The skin in your genital region tends to be thinner and more sensitive than in other areas of your body, so you'll need to use extra caution to avoid worsening your irritation when treating eczema there. Unless you have an extreme flare-up, you should expect that the eczema in your genital region will get better with natural topical treatments such as aloe vera creams and moisturizers. However, you should use these products sparingly, applying them only three times per day or so, until you see how your skin responds. You can slowly increase the frequency of the topical ointment applications if you don't have any adverse reactions to them.
Prescription topical medicines, including corticosteroids, can have extreme side effects that make them a less attractive option for treating eczema in the genital region. If you want something stronger, ask your doctor about topical ointments that boost the immune system. While they can thin out your skin, causing extra irritation during the initial stages of treatment, you'll find that they also markedly reduce inflammation without the risks of corticosteroids.
2. Natural Remedies Can Help
In addition to ensuring that your skin is properly moisturized, you can also supplement topical treatments with natural remedies that might bring additional relief. The regular application of a cold compress, for example, has helped many people treat eczema in their genital regions. Acidophilus capsules and even yogurt have also been used to varying degrees of success.
3. Choose Your Underwear Wisely
If you're suffering from eczema in your genital region, it's imperative that you wear cotton underwear. Cotton-based fabrics facilitate airflow, which speeds the healing process. You should make sure, though, that affected skin isn't coming into frictional contact with your underwear, as this might irritate the eczema and worsen the condition.
Because many genital eczemas are caused by allergic reactions, you might also consider washing your clothing in a hypoallergenic soap. To make sure that there are no traces of skin irritants left over after washing, it's also a good idea to send your garments through the rinse cycle twice instead of just once.
4. Treatments to Avoid
Sometimes, UV phototherapy treatments are used to treat eczemas in other areas of the body. These treatments are to be avoided at all costs if you're trying to heal an outbreak of eczema in your genital region, as they'll cause painful and embarrassing peeling of the skin. Men, in particular, need to be careful. If you're getting treatment for eczema near the groin and your doctor recommends UV phototherapy, make sure your penis and testicles are completely shielded from the radiation.
You should also avoid medicines that have perfumes and fragrances in them. These compounds can irritate swollen and dry skin, particularly in bodily regions where the skin is thinner anyway, and actually make the problem worse rather than improving it.
