Itching on testicles

Sometimes my testicles (especially the underside) would become itchy and what i normally do to relive myself is to (surprise!) scratch them, oftentimes to the point of irritation (i.e when the area becomes red and painful to scratch already). My testicles would stop itching by that point and for the next couple of days the area would get healed (i normally scratch them quite hard, remember, so the upper skin would get 'wounded').

Once it gets healed i would notice dark patch of skin over the area and i would normally just peel it off; revealing a 'fresh' skin underneath.

At some point in time, my testicles would become itchy again and the process repeats itself.

Up until now i've thought nothing of this (i'm assuming this is normal among guys), but now i'm becoming paranoid that i might have some sort of infection.

Also, i don't know if this is related, but i've noticed a small pimple-like bump on my inner left thigh, about several inches away from my private area. The area is swollen and is bigger than a typical pimple. It doesn't hurt when i touch it, though, unless i put in extra pressure. The middle is noticibly red, by the way, so i don't think this is a cyst.

I'm not sure when the above 'problems' appeared but i think its safe to say i only 'got' them lately (or maybe during a year's time).

I only have one sex partner and i'm sure she's clean. Besides, i think i've had these even before i met her.

I'm fond of wearing boxer-briefs, by the way, sometimes boxer shorts, and on few occassion the typical brief. I don't wear anything but shorts when i go to sleep.

I know going to the doctor is the best advice but I'm hoping someone might point me in the right direction. (umm.. i don't even know what i should call the above symptoms)

PS-> i took pictures of the swollen area in my thigh, if that might help.

Thats a lot for taking the time to read this.