Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPhysical EffectsPsychological EffectsSex and Eczema TriggersTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Physical Effects
Psychological Effects
Sex and Eczema Triggers
Treatment
Eczema(atopic dermatitis) is a common skin condition that causes an itchy, inflamed rash on different parts of the body. Symptoms often flare up in response to triggers such as certain product ingredients, temperature changes, foods, hormonal shifts, stress, and infection.
Eczema often interferes with a person’s sexual desire and/or arousal.One study found that more than 80% of people living with eczema reported that the skin condition affected their sexual health.
FG Trade / Getty Images
An eczema flare-up is when the affected skin is inflamed, painful, dry, itchy, and uncomfortable.This can cause physical discomfort during sexual activities and intercourse—especially if the rash is on or near the buttocks, thighs, genitals, or chest.
Changes in a person’s physical appearance can affect their emotional health, which in turn may contribute to sexual dysfunction or intimacy challenges.
People living with eczema may experience embarrassment, anxiety, or low self-esteem because of the appearance of their affected skin. Research has shown that these feelings can negatively affect a person’s sexual desire—and sometimes that of their partners as well.
Eczema and Sex Assigned at BirthWhile anyone can develop eczema, some research has found that the condition is slightly more common in people assigned female at birth than people assigned male.
Eczema and Sex Assigned at Birth
While anyone can develop eczema, some research has found that the condition is slightly more common in people assigned female at birth than people assigned male.
People With a Penis
Genital eczemacan appear on the penis, testicles, anus, buttocks, and surrounding areas.Research has shown a possible link between eczema and an inability to achieve or maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction).
One study found that people with erectile dysfunction were 60% more likely to have a history of eczema.Other research shows that severe eczema is connected to a higher risk of sexual dysfunction in people with a penis.
People With a Vagina
In addition to the anus and buttocks, eczema can also affect the vulva in people with a vagina.This can be painful during sexual intercourse, which can lead to a lack of sexual desire.
These factors can also trigger eczema symptoms in people with a vagina:
Can You Pass Eczema to Your Partner?No, you cannot transmit eczema to a partner because it is not contagious. It is safe to have sex when you have eczema.
Can You Pass Eczema to Your Partner?
No, you cannot transmit eczema to a partner because it is not contagious. It is safe to have sex when you have eczema.
While sex doesn’t aggravate eczema, it often involves triggers that can cause flare-ups.
Here’s how to minimize the effects of the following triggers during sexual activity:
Treatments
The following steps can help address eczema-related sexual health challenges:
Summary
Sex and intimacy can be challenging for people living with eczema. They may have physical discomfort from the rash and living with a visible skin condition can cause psychological effects as well.
It’s important to discuss any sexual health challenges related to eczema with a healthcare provider. They can recommend treatments, suggest lifestyle changes, or refer you to another provider who can help you manage both conditions.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sánchez-Pérez J, Daudén-Tello E, Mora AM, Lara Surinyac N.Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Health-Related Quality of Life in Spanish Children and Adults: The PSEDA Study.Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2013 Jan;104(1):44-52. English, Spanish. doi:10.1016/j.ad.2012.03.008Seneschal J, Ezzedine K, Reguiai Z, et al.Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: Impact on Sexuality.Value Health.2017;20(9):808. doi:10.1016/j.jval.2017.08.2415American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.Woo, Yu Ri.Real-World Prevalence and Burden of Genital Eczema in Atopic Dermatitis: A Multicenter Questionnaire-Based Study.Journal of Dermatology. 2021. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.15817Misery L, Seneschal J, Reguiai Z, Merhand S, Héas S, Huet F, Taieb C, Ezzedine K.The Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Sexual Health.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Feb;33(2):428-432. doi:10.1111/jdv.15223Ludwig CM, Fernandez JM, Hsiao JL, Shi VY.The Interplay of Atopic Dermatitis and Sexual Health.Dermatitis.2020 Sep/Oct;31(5):303-308. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000617Johansson EK, Bergström A, Kull I, et alPrevalence and Characteristics of Atopic Dermatitis Among Young Adult Females and Males-Report From the Swedish Population-Based Study BAMSE.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022 May;36(5):698-704. doi:10.1111/jdv.17929National Eczema Society.Male Genital Eczema.Chung SD, Keller JJ, Lin HC.Association of Erectile Dysfunction With Atopic Dermatitis: A Population-Based Case-Control study.J Sex Med. 2012 Mar;9(3):679-85. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02587.xSampogna F, et al.Impairment of Sexual Life in 3,485 Dermatological Outpatients From a Multicentre Study in 13 European Countries.Acta Derm Venereol. 2017 Apr 6;97(4):478-482. doi:10.2340/00015555-2561Linares-Gonzalez L, Lozano-Lozano I, Gutierrez-Rojas L, et al.Sexual Dysfunction and Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review.Life (Basel). 2021 Nov 29;11(12):1314. doi:10.3390/life11121314Kellogg Spadt S, Kusturiss E.Vulvar Dermatoses: A Primer for the Sexual Medicine Clinician.Sex Med Rev.2015 Jul;3(3):126-136. doi:10.1002/smrj.55National Eczema Society.Female Genital Eczema.National Eczema Association.How to Manage Intimacy and Physical Touch With Your Partner When Your Eczema is Flaring.Liu H, Waite L, Shen S, Wang D.Is Sex Good for Your Health? A National Study on Partnered Sexuality and Cardiovascular Risk Among Older Men and Women.J Health Soc Behav.2016 Sep;57(3):276–96. doi:10.1177/0022146516661597Clay, R.The Link Between Skin and Psychology: How Psychologists Are Helping Patients With Dermatological Problems.American Psychological Association. 2015;46(2):56.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sánchez-Pérez J, Daudén-Tello E, Mora AM, Lara Surinyac N.Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Health-Related Quality of Life in Spanish Children and Adults: The PSEDA Study.Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2013 Jan;104(1):44-52. English, Spanish. doi:10.1016/j.ad.2012.03.008Seneschal J, Ezzedine K, Reguiai Z, et al.Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: Impact on Sexuality.Value Health.2017;20(9):808. doi:10.1016/j.jval.2017.08.2415American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.Woo, Yu Ri.Real-World Prevalence and Burden of Genital Eczema in Atopic Dermatitis: A Multicenter Questionnaire-Based Study.Journal of Dermatology. 2021. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.15817Misery L, Seneschal J, Reguiai Z, Merhand S, Héas S, Huet F, Taieb C, Ezzedine K.The Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Sexual Health.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Feb;33(2):428-432. doi:10.1111/jdv.15223Ludwig CM, Fernandez JM, Hsiao JL, Shi VY.The Interplay of Atopic Dermatitis and Sexual Health.Dermatitis.2020 Sep/Oct;31(5):303-308. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000617Johansson EK, Bergström A, Kull I, et alPrevalence and Characteristics of Atopic Dermatitis Among Young Adult Females and Males-Report From the Swedish Population-Based Study BAMSE.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022 May;36(5):698-704. doi:10.1111/jdv.17929National Eczema Society.Male Genital Eczema.Chung SD, Keller JJ, Lin HC.Association of Erectile Dysfunction With Atopic Dermatitis: A Population-Based Case-Control study.J Sex Med. 2012 Mar;9(3):679-85. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02587.xSampogna F, et al.Impairment of Sexual Life in 3,485 Dermatological Outpatients From a Multicentre Study in 13 European Countries.Acta Derm Venereol. 2017 Apr 6;97(4):478-482. doi:10.2340/00015555-2561Linares-Gonzalez L, Lozano-Lozano I, Gutierrez-Rojas L, et al.Sexual Dysfunction and Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review.Life (Basel). 2021 Nov 29;11(12):1314. doi:10.3390/life11121314Kellogg Spadt S, Kusturiss E.Vulvar Dermatoses: A Primer for the Sexual Medicine Clinician.Sex Med Rev.2015 Jul;3(3):126-136. doi:10.1002/smrj.55National Eczema Society.Female Genital Eczema.National Eczema Association.How to Manage Intimacy and Physical Touch With Your Partner When Your Eczema is Flaring.Liu H, Waite L, Shen S, Wang D.Is Sex Good for Your Health? A National Study on Partnered Sexuality and Cardiovascular Risk Among Older Men and Women.J Health Soc Behav.2016 Sep;57(3):276–96. doi:10.1177/0022146516661597Clay, R.The Link Between Skin and Psychology: How Psychologists Are Helping Patients With Dermatological Problems.American Psychological Association. 2015;46(2):56.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sánchez-Pérez J, Daudén-Tello E, Mora AM, Lara Surinyac N.Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Health-Related Quality of Life in Spanish Children and Adults: The PSEDA Study.Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2013 Jan;104(1):44-52. English, Spanish. doi:10.1016/j.ad.2012.03.008Seneschal J, Ezzedine K, Reguiai Z, et al.Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: Impact on Sexuality.Value Health.2017;20(9):808. doi:10.1016/j.jval.2017.08.2415American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.Woo, Yu Ri.Real-World Prevalence and Burden of Genital Eczema in Atopic Dermatitis: A Multicenter Questionnaire-Based Study.Journal of Dermatology. 2021. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.15817Misery L, Seneschal J, Reguiai Z, Merhand S, Héas S, Huet F, Taieb C, Ezzedine K.The Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Sexual Health.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Feb;33(2):428-432. doi:10.1111/jdv.15223Ludwig CM, Fernandez JM, Hsiao JL, Shi VY.The Interplay of Atopic Dermatitis and Sexual Health.Dermatitis.2020 Sep/Oct;31(5):303-308. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000617Johansson EK, Bergström A, Kull I, et alPrevalence and Characteristics of Atopic Dermatitis Among Young Adult Females and Males-Report From the Swedish Population-Based Study BAMSE.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022 May;36(5):698-704. doi:10.1111/jdv.17929National Eczema Society.Male Genital Eczema.Chung SD, Keller JJ, Lin HC.Association of Erectile Dysfunction With Atopic Dermatitis: A Population-Based Case-Control study.J Sex Med. 2012 Mar;9(3):679-85. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02587.xSampogna F, et al.Impairment of Sexual Life in 3,485 Dermatological Outpatients From a Multicentre Study in 13 European Countries.Acta Derm Venereol. 2017 Apr 6;97(4):478-482. doi:10.2340/00015555-2561Linares-Gonzalez L, Lozano-Lozano I, Gutierrez-Rojas L, et al.Sexual Dysfunction and Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review.Life (Basel). 2021 Nov 29;11(12):1314. doi:10.3390/life11121314Kellogg Spadt S, Kusturiss E.Vulvar Dermatoses: A Primer for the Sexual Medicine Clinician.Sex Med Rev.2015 Jul;3(3):126-136. doi:10.1002/smrj.55National Eczema Society.Female Genital Eczema.National Eczema Association.How to Manage Intimacy and Physical Touch With Your Partner When Your Eczema is Flaring.Liu H, Waite L, Shen S, Wang D.Is Sex Good for Your Health? A National Study on Partnered Sexuality and Cardiovascular Risk Among Older Men and Women.J Health Soc Behav.2016 Sep;57(3):276–96. doi:10.1177/0022146516661597Clay, R.The Link Between Skin and Psychology: How Psychologists Are Helping Patients With Dermatological Problems.American Psychological Association. 2015;46(2):56.
Sánchez-Pérez J, Daudén-Tello E, Mora AM, Lara Surinyac N.Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Health-Related Quality of Life in Spanish Children and Adults: The PSEDA Study.Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2013 Jan;104(1):44-52. English, Spanish. doi:10.1016/j.ad.2012.03.008
Seneschal J, Ezzedine K, Reguiai Z, et al.Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: Impact on Sexuality.Value Health.2017;20(9):808. doi:10.1016/j.jval.2017.08.2415
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.
Woo, Yu Ri.Real-World Prevalence and Burden of Genital Eczema in Atopic Dermatitis: A Multicenter Questionnaire-Based Study.Journal of Dermatology. 2021. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.15817
Misery L, Seneschal J, Reguiai Z, Merhand S, Héas S, Huet F, Taieb C, Ezzedine K.The Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Sexual Health.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Feb;33(2):428-432. doi:10.1111/jdv.15223
Ludwig CM, Fernandez JM, Hsiao JL, Shi VY.The Interplay of Atopic Dermatitis and Sexual Health.Dermatitis.2020 Sep/Oct;31(5):303-308. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000617
Johansson EK, Bergström A, Kull I, et alPrevalence and Characteristics of Atopic Dermatitis Among Young Adult Females and Males-Report From the Swedish Population-Based Study BAMSE.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022 May;36(5):698-704. doi:10.1111/jdv.17929
National Eczema Society.Male Genital Eczema.
Chung SD, Keller JJ, Lin HC.Association of Erectile Dysfunction With Atopic Dermatitis: A Population-Based Case-Control study.J Sex Med. 2012 Mar;9(3):679-85. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02587.x
Sampogna F, et al.Impairment of Sexual Life in 3,485 Dermatological Outpatients From a Multicentre Study in 13 European Countries.Acta Derm Venereol. 2017 Apr 6;97(4):478-482. doi:10.2340/00015555-2561
Linares-Gonzalez L, Lozano-Lozano I, Gutierrez-Rojas L, et al.Sexual Dysfunction and Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review.Life (Basel). 2021 Nov 29;11(12):1314. doi:10.3390/life11121314
Kellogg Spadt S, Kusturiss E.Vulvar Dermatoses: A Primer for the Sexual Medicine Clinician.Sex Med Rev.2015 Jul;3(3):126-136. doi:10.1002/smrj.55
National Eczema Society.Female Genital Eczema.
National Eczema Association.How to Manage Intimacy and Physical Touch With Your Partner When Your Eczema is Flaring.
Liu H, Waite L, Shen S, Wang D.Is Sex Good for Your Health? A National Study on Partnered Sexuality and Cardiovascular Risk Among Older Men and Women.J Health Soc Behav.2016 Sep;57(3):276–96. doi:10.1177/0022146516661597
Clay, R.The Link Between Skin and Psychology: How Psychologists Are Helping Patients With Dermatological Problems.American Psychological Association. 2015;46(2):56.
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