Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists. 2014;24 (3):278-280.
Case Report
Irritant contact dermatitis from passive contact
with sexual massage oils - ‘sexual contact
dermatitis’
Loknath Ghoshal, Suchibrata Das
Department of Dermatology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata
Abstract Massage oils for sexual use have flooded the Indian market in recent times. These oils have
been claimed to have several sexual augmenting properties. These oils are sold widely over the
counter in India to the otherwise unsuspecting and lay public, who use them largely out of
curiosity, being driven by clever marketing techniques. We report a patient who suffered
irritant contact dermatitis from the oil after passive contact. We consider this to be the first case
report of such ‘sexual contact dermatitis’ resulting from the usage of such penis-massage oils.
We intend hereby to emphasize the need for issue of side effects and safety notifications. This
condition may also be considered in the differential diagnoses of anogenital ulceration
following sexual intercourse.
Key words
Sexual contact dermatitis, penis massage oil
Introduction untoward effect of such oil on the sexual partner.
We believe this to be the first such report in the
Massage oils for sexual use have flooded the literature.
Indian market in recent times. They require
application and massage of the same on the Case Report
penis; the results claimed are potentiation of
penile rigidity, increased intercourse time, A 32-year-old female patient presented to the
enhancement of the size of the male organ and outpatient clinic with complaints of intense
as result, ‘guaranteed’ partner satisfaction. A burning pain and ulceration on the anogenital
multitude of such penis-massage oils are wildly region for 3 days. She could recall that the onset
sold over the counter in India. The manufacture of the symptoms were from a few hours after she
and marketing of these ‘herbal ‘medicaments are had unprotected genital and anal intercourse
unregulated and their actual composition, with her husband. She also stated that her
unknown. husband, a migrant laborer having procured
some ‘sexual’ massage-oil from a local chemist
The issues of indication of usage, efficacy and shop, had used some on the penis before
active ingredient apart, these rubbing oils are but intercourse. In the beginning she felt a burning
not without side effects. We report herein, the sensation on her anogenital area. When she
examined herself, she found the area to be
Address for correspondence
intensely red, with few surmounting blisters.
Dr. Loknath Ghoshal
Department of Dermatology, There was no previous history of any topical
NRS Medical College, Kolkata, India application, medicine intake preceding the event,
Email:
[email protected] or similar episode.
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Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists. 2014;24 (3):278-280.
husband have intercourse with her after using
the oil.
Discussion
Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is a
multifactorial disease where both exogenous
(irritant and environmental) and endogenous
(host) factors play a role.1 Exogenous factors
Figure 1 Extensive well demarcated areas of influencing the development of the condition are
blistering and ulceration. Few blisters are evident at the type of the irritant, cutaneous penetration of
the periphery. the irritant, body temperature, and other
exposure factors including duration, prior and
On examination, she was distressed with pain
simultaneous exposure. The endogenous factors,
and unable to move her legs. Examination of the
on the other hand are presence of atopy, skin
anogenital area (Figure 1) revealed sharply
permeability, individual susceptibility, age and
demarcated extensive blistering and sloughing
sex factors. The common causes of ICD include
involving the perianal area, intergluteal cleft and
cosmetics, degreasing agents, detergents,
part of the buttocks and vulva. The skin on the
friction, low humidity, topical medicaments,
right buttock had sloughed off to reveal a raw
solvents and wet work and others.1
and erythematous floor. The areas were tender to
the touch. Examination of the other mucosal The clinical type of ICD may vary as: ulceration,
surfaces and other areas of the body, nail and folliculitis, miliaria, hyper- and
hair examination revealed no additional hypopigmentation. The patient with acute ICD
information. Systemic examination was may present with a sensation of burning, itching
noncontributory. Complete blood count, swab and stinging while clinical examination may
cultures were noncontributory. The patient reveal edema, erythema, vesiculation and bulla
declined the suggestion of a biopsy. formation to tissue necrosis in severe cases.1
Based on the history and clinical findings, we The present patient had irritant contact
concluded that the patient had irritant contact dermatitis from the penis-massage oil probably
dermatitis from prolonged contact with the resulting from protracted contact (6-8 hours); the
penis-massage oil which was used by her oil having remained pooled on the intergluteal
husband: it was thus, a case of ‘sexual contact cleft and below the buttocks all through the
dermatitis’. night.
We administered systemic antibiotics, analgesics The main differential diagnoses considered in
and topical antibiotic cream to dress the ulcer. the present case were few and included scald.
The possibility of scald could be excluded by the
It took about three weeks of hospital stay for the
specific history.
condition to resolve and the patient to be
discharged. We cautioned her against letting her
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Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists. 2014;24 (3):278-280.
Conclusion References
The purpose of reporting this case is to stress on 1. Amado A, Taylor JS, Sood A. Irritant
public education and mention of side effects and Contact Dermatitis. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith
LA, Katz SI et al., editors. Fitzpatrick’s
safety on the package. This condition may be Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed.
considered as one of the differential diagnoses of New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008. p 395-401.
anogenital ulceration acquired by sexual means.
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