red scrotum syndrome (rss)

Sharply defined chronic erythema of the ventral side of the scrotum. Recurrent pulling or burning pain, no itching, therefore no scratching artifacts.

Manifestation: older men

Etiology: unclear, possibly neurogenic inflammation, special form of erythromelalgia or rosacea

Therapy: not established - external steroids lead to worsening - possibly calcineurin inhibitors, moisturizers, possibly systemic painkillers. There are positive reports with doxycycline over a longer period of time, good results are reported with pregabalin and gabapentin or amitryptiline or carvediol (beta-blocker).

Differential diagnosis: psoriasis inversa, atopic dermatitis, mycoses, erythrasma, allergic contact dermatitis.

1. Moll I. (2021) Red scrotum syndrome overview and case report. Act Dermatol 47: 176-178
2. Fisher BK (1997) The red scrotum-syndrome. Cutis 60: 139-141