Treatment for sensitive areas

In 1977 at University, I developed my first fungal infection in my groin (probably as a result of not thoroughly washing the towel I used after rugby and other sport). When I first saw the GP on campus, before examining my groin he told me to take off my shoes and socks. . . . basically he surmised that I might have athletes foot, and had spread it to my groin with my towel. My groin was cleared up using nystatin cream. In Jan 1980 I suddently developed psoriasis all over my body. later that year , once my university exams were over, my psorias lessened. In 1982 I was working in SE Asia, and a itching rash again appeared in my groin, that would not clear up with over-the-counter antifungal treatment. A doctor prescribed Locasalen ointment ( I just checked online, it contains a steroid plus Salicylic acid). For a couple of year it would reappear from time-to-time, and I could buy Locaselen from local pharmacies to clear it. Then I was free of it for about 15-20 years. Then it reappeared and I found that it would reduce with a topical antifungal, but not actually clear up. I was working in Easern Europe and doctor gave me Triderm, that cleared it. I have been back in the UK for 12 years now, and about 6-7 years ago it came back. Finally I found that a combination of Trimovate and Elecon cleared it. I applied a thin coating of Elecon, then Trimovate. I would use the Elecon + Trimovate for 2 days, then Trimovate alone for a further 5 days until all traces disappeared. However it would regularly reappear after 4-6 weeks. This cycle of treating it, and it reappearing went on for a couple of years. In discussion with my GP, we deceided it was some sort of combination of inverse psoriasis and a fungal element. Once I could clear it, the key seemed to be to keep my groin as dry as possible. Finally I adopted the following: 1. After every shower, I always dry my feet and between toes with kitchen roll and not my towel. (I very occasionally get athlete foot, but other-the-counter treatments clear that). 2. If I get an outbreak on my groin, after a shower I dry it with kitchen roll or a hair-dryer, to avoid contaminating a towel, and to get the groin area as dry as possible before applying any ointment. 3. If an outbreak, treat it at this point with elecon and trimovate. Rub it in as much as you can, try not to leave the area moist (it can be painful, but do the best you can to get the ointment massaged in. 4. If no actual outbreak, omit step 3, but dust the now dry area with a medicated anti-fungal powder, along the lines of Cuticura or Daktarin. (I actually use Gold Bond, which I had to order via Ebay from the USA.) To be clear, once the rash has gone, get the groin as dry as possible after every shower and treat with an antifungal body powder. If feeling sweaty, I reapply the powder a couple of times a day. Doing this, I have not had any recurrance for over 2.5 years.

Thank you for the advice. I have been free of psoriasis for only 2 out of the past 30 years. Are these creams prescribed?

Most strong or moderately strong steroids are prescription-only in the UK. Trimovate is certainly prescription-only. I don't think that Locasalen is available in the UK, but I am not 100% certain. A few others have also posted in these forums that they found Trimovate to be effective in groin and genital area.