Uncircumcised boys are often instructed to clean carefully around the foreskin and the area underneath it. One major reason is that bacteria trapped beneath the foreskin can lead to balanitis, a painful inflammation of the head of the penis. Men with this condition often experience pain, itching, redness, and foul-smelling discharge. Experts say that balanitis is a common condition, affecting up to 11 percent of men who are treated in urology clinics.

Balanitis is often accompanied by inflammation of the foreskin (posthitis), in a double-duty infection called balanoposthitis. Although painful, these conditions aren’t serious health threats if they’re caught early. Most cases can be easily treated with antibiotic creams or pills, as well as steroid creams. But when the inflammation rages on for an extended period of time, it may cause permanent damage. It could scar and narrow the opening of the urethra or lead to phimosis, in which the foreskin becomes too tight to pull over the tip of the penis. Paraphimosis, in which the head of the penis swells and the foreskin can’t be retracted, may also occur. When the foreskin cannot retract, erection becomes painful. In the latter two conditions, circumcision may be in order. To prevent these complications, the ultimate line of prevention is to do as your parents instructed: Wash and rinse the penis frequently, and thoroughly clean beneath the foreskin.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. Some sexually transmitted infections can raise the risk of balanitis.
  2. Balanitis may be caused by certain diseases, such as gonorrhea, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus, and uncontrolled diabetes.