{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T22:25:51Z","timestamp":1787005551828,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":18,"publisher":"CSIRO Publishing","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756425600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":4368,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1071\/journalslicense"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2013,10,14]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Red scrotum syndrome (RSS) is not infrequent but is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, and seldom reported. The exact etiopathogeneis is still unknown but it almost always follows the prolonged application of topical corticosteroids and is characterised by persistent erythema of the scrotum, associated with severe itching, hyperalgesia and a burning sensation. Objective: To evaluate the clinicoepidemiological profile and assess the efficacy of various treatment modalities in addition to corticosteroid abstinence in the treatment of RSS. Methods: Twelve patients with RSS, who presented to us during 2010 and 2011, were identified, and various aspects of their illness and treatment were studied. Patch testing was performed in all patients. A skin biopsy was done in seven patients. Results: The average age of the patients was 45.83 years (26\u201362 years). The average duration of illness or the duration of topical steroid use was 27.41 months (6\u201356 months). Psychiatric comorbidities were seen in 9 (75%) out of 12 patients. Histopathology revealed features resembling erythematotelengiectatic rosacea in four of the biopsied patients. Patch test results were negative. All patients reported improvement of their symptoms within 4 weeks of starting doxycycline with amitriptyline or pregabalin; the treatment had to be continued for 3\u20134 months. Conclusions: RSS appears to be a manifestation of corticosteroid misuse rather than a primary disease. We suggest that RSS is a rosacea-like dermatosis or steroid-induced rebound vasodilation based on clinical and histopathological features. Our patients responded to cessation of steroids and doxycycline in combination with amitryptaline or pregabalin.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1071\/sh13052","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2013,9,13]],"date-time":"2013-09-13T02:05:40Z","timestamp":1379037940000},"page":"452-455","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":38,"title":["Red scrotum syndrome: idiopathic neurovascular phenomenon or steroid addiction?"],"prefix":"10.1071","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Tarun","family":"Narang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"ADepartment of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Muthu Sendhil","family":"Kumaran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ADepartment of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sunil","family":"Dogra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ADepartment of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India."},{"name":"DCorresponding author. Email: sundogra@hotmail.com"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Uma Nahar","family":"Saikia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BDepartment of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bhushan","family":"Kumar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CConsultant Dermatologist, Silver Oaks Hospital, SAS Nagar, Punjab 160055, India."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"67","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2013,9,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025102617080590900_R1","first-page":"139","article-title":"The red scrotum syndrome.","volume":"60","author":"Fisher","year":"1997","journal-title":"Cutis"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.1080\/09546630802033858","article-title":"Red scrotum syndrome: successful treatment with oral doxycycline.","volume":"19","author":"Abbas","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Dermatolog Treat"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1016\/S0738-081X(02)00365-6","article-title":"Corticosteroid addiction and withdrawal in the atopic: the red burning skin syndrome.","volume":"21","author":"Rapaport","year":"2003","journal-title":"Clin Dermatol"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1013","DOI":"10.1586\/17469872.1.4.547","article-title":"Serum nitric oxide levels in \u201cred\u201d patients: separating corticosteroid-addicted patients from those with chronic eczema.","volume":"140","author":"Rapaport","year":"2004","journal-title":"Arch Dermatol"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-4632.2010.04548.x","article-title":"Red scrotum syndrome: successful treatment with oral doxycycline.","volume":"51","author":"Byun","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int J Dermatol"},{"issue":"5","key":"2025102617080590900_R6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.3315\/jdcr.2011.1072","article-title":"Red scrotum syndrome.","volume":"21","author":"Wollina","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Dermatol Case Rep."},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R7","first-page":"935","article-title":"Case reports: red scrotal syndrome: a localized phenotypical expression of erythromelalgia.","volume":"6","author":"Prevost","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Drugs Dermatol"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R8","first-page":"128B","article-title":"Red scrotum syndrome.","volume":"61","author":"Rapaport","year":"1998","journal-title":"Cutis"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R9","first-page":"28D","article-title":"Red scrotum syndrome.","volume":"61","author":"Rubin","year":"1998","journal-title":"Cutis"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"483","DOI":"10.1258\/ijsa.2011.010451","article-title":"Dysaesthetic penoscrotodynia: nomenclature, classification, diagnosis and treatment.","volume":"22","author":"Markos","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int J STD AIDS"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"830","DOI":"10.1258\/095646205774988154","article-title":"Simultaneous occurrence of dysaesthetic peno\/scroto-dynia and stomatodynia.","volume":"16","author":"Mancuso","year":"2005","journal-title":"Int J STD AIDS"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"264","DOI":"10.1001\/archderm.143.2.268-b","article-title":"Rebound vasodilation from long-term topical corticosteroid use.","volume":"143","author":"Rapaport","year":"2007","journal-title":"Arch Dermatol"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1013","DOI":"10.1001\/archderm.140.8.1013","article-title":"Serum nitric oxide levels in \u2018red\u2019 patients: separating corticosteroid-addicted patients from those with chronic eczema.","volume":"140","author":"Rapaport","year":"2004","journal-title":"Arch Dermatol"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"258","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2005.10.004","article-title":"Tetracyclines: nonantibiotic properties and their clinical implications.","volume":"54","author":"Sapadin","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Am Acad Dermatol"},{"key":"2025102617080590900_R15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"C539","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpcell.00047.2010","article-title":"Tetracyclines: a pleitropic family of compounds with promising therapeutic properties. 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