Dirty skin? Need help!

Howdythere · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1

Hello all, I am new here. I am a 22 year old Male.

I have recently became VERY aware of how dirty my skin is on the buttocks, the part of the skin where the buttocks and leg meets, and the skin between the buttocks. I also have dirty skin on my private part and scrotum. I am ashamed to say this but I must, I have not used soap on these areas for around 10 years or so, I may have washed the area with soap a couple of times during that entire time period, but thats about it.

Just today, I vigorously scrubbed the areas I mentioned using my regular soap (Dove brand) and a cheap scrubber I bought from a 99 cent store. I did not see any results, I am now very worried that I may be stuck with this dirty skin indefinitely. Should I be worried? If I keep up a vigorous scrubbing everyday will I see results soon? Do I need to get another kind of soap? Do I need to get some kind of cream? I am mainly worried that my skin may be permanently dirty, if it is indeed mainly dirt shouldn't it come off? I assume it is dirt because those areas is pretty much the only areas I neglected.

I really hope I can do something about it, and I would appreciate any help from here.

Thank you.

amberc44 · Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 7

It's probably not dirt, it's probably an accumulation of dead skin cells that just make the area appear darker. if you weren't washing it, then the skin cells weren't shed like they normally do. Buy a good exfoliating body wash, or use something like cornmeal or coffee or sugar, all of them exfoliate (remove dead skin cells).

Depending on the amount of dead skin cells, it may take up to a month to see an improvement, but if you keep it up, it will make a difference, I promise you. And there is no way that 'dirt' or anything else can stay on your skin and not come off.

You should see a dramatic improvement but I can't promise you that your skin there will be the same color as the rest of you. There are lightening creams and various other things, but I would not reccommend them for you because they would not be safe for those areas. There is one thing that would be safe but i've never used it so I can't be sure that it works. But it's worth a try. Pearl powder has been used in china to lighten complexions: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250011996374&category=29619

orangehrzn · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 1005

If it doesn't come off with a few baths its NOT dirt. Go see your dermatologist - it maybe fungus that needs special treatment.

MissTex · Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Texas USA...oh YEAH!

May not be dirt at all. If you are of any ethnicity or even a hint in you, it's probably just your skin tone. I am of hispanic descent and am darker in those areas as well, but i wash. After i had children it got darker, and has lightened over the years some.
So.....I wouldn't worry. If you look at other people pics online, I'm sure you'll see some that are dark down there too!