CARNAL NATION

The sex went fine. But now I've got this nasty itchy rash.

Well, this could be a number of things. Most likely is that you're mildly allergic to either the condoms or the lube. It's less likely, but still possible, that you're allergic to some cosmetic or soap that you or your partner has been using. Or you could just be allergic to sex, in which case you need a lot more help than we can give you in this column.

If you suspect you're allergic to the latex in the condoms (or gloves, or dental dams, or whatever barrier you've been using), switch to a non-latex alternative from now on—mild latex allergies occasionally become more severe, in which case you're in anaphylaxis-land and in serious trouble. If you think the lube is the culprit, try some different lubes, especially some that don't contain nonoxynol-9, a detergent which irritates many people's skin.

Meanwhile, you're still scratching in places that aren't socially acceptable. Start by washing the affected area with mild soap and water, just to get rid of any lingering traces of the allergen. For rashes that aren't on your face or genitals, you can buy cortisone cream and/or diphenhydramine (Benadryl™) cream over the counter that will help get rid of the itching. For itching anywhere, oral diphenhydramine will calm it down, but may also make you pretty drowsy.

If you try all this and you're still rashy after a couple of days, try washing your clothes in hypoallergenic detergent. And if that doesn't help, the problem may not be an allergy. It could just be a razor rash or ingrown hairs from your attempts to shave. Or it could be an STD or other ailment such as scabies or lice—get to a clinic or doctor just to be on the safe side.