Even guys who are not easily embarrassed can turn a bit red in the face when they have dry male organ skin on display for others – especially bed mates – to see. In most cases, taking some careful male organ health steps can alleviate the problem in short order, but sometimes the cause of the dry male organ skin may be more difficult to treat. That may be the case when the culprit causing the dry skin is a condition called ichthyosis.

What is it?

Actually, ichthyosis isn’t just one condition; it’s the name of a group of skin conditions. There are 28 skin diseases that fall under the classification “ichthyosis,” most of which are genetic – meaning that a person inherits them rather than “contracts” them from someone (or something) else.

Every form of ichthyosis is characterized by dry skin; in many cases, it is also cracked, flaky or scaly. (Ichthyosis is derived from a Greek word that means “fish,” mainly because some forms of the disease make the skin exceptionally scaly.)

But just because a guy has ichthyosis doesn’t automatically mean that his manhood resembles some creature from the Black Lagoon. There can be a huge variance in the degree of severity from one kind of ichthyosis to the next and from one person to the next. As a matter of fact, the most common form, ichthyosis vulgaris, is generally very mild and often indistinguishable from common everyday dry skin.

Symptoms

The symptoms of ichthyosis are familiar to anyone with dry skin. There is often itchiness, redness, cracking, and dryness. In severe cases, blistering and infection are common. Fortunately, severe cases are relatively rare and most of the time they do not manifest directly on the member.

If a man has ichthyosis that is affecting his manhood, it is most likely going to be similar to regular dry male organ skin. However, whereas dry male organ skin tends to go away with treatment, ichthyosis can create a more stubborn dryness in the member skin. That’s because the genetic nature of most cases of ichthyosis mean that a person tends to treat the symptoms rather than the disease itself. Because of this, dry manhood skin due to ichthyosis tends to require more regular and consistent treatment in order to keep the dryness at bay.

Treatment

Except in severe cases, treatment typically requires keeping the skin hydrated. Individuals with dry skin should drink plenty of water, especially on hot days when they have been sweating or when they have been in heavily air conditioned areas. (Air conditioning can dry out skin.) They should also be sure that any soaps and detergents used are gentle and do not contain harsh ingredients that can add to dry skin issues.

With dry male organ skin, whether due to ichthyosis or not, men need to regularly use a top notch male organ health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The best crèmes can significantly aid in continued hydration of the member. For example, a crème that contains a combination of a high end emollient (such as Shea butter) and a natural hydrating agent (such as vitamin E) can create a “moisture lock” that battles dry male organ skin and keeps it supple and stretchy. It also helps if the crème contains a range of other vitamins (such as A, B5, C and D) and a potent antioxidant (like alpha lipoic acid), as these all work together to ensure the continued health of delicate manhood skin. Alpha lipoic acid is known to help battle free radicals, which cause oxidative stress and which can severely traumatize male organ skin, adding to dry skin woes. Use of a male organ health crème is de rigeur for any man whose member skin needs help.

Visit http://www.menshealthfirst.com for additional information on most common male organ health issues, tips on improving manhood sensitivity and what to do to maintain a healthy member. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous websites.