Balanitis

Balanoposthitis

Balanitis is most often caused by poor hygiene in uncircumcised men. Other possible causes include:

• Diseases such as reactive arthritis and lichen sclerosis atrophicus
• Infection
• Harsh soaps
• Not rinsing soap off properly while bathing
• Uncontrolled diabetes

Symptoms include:

• Redness of foreskin or penis
• Other rashes on the head of the penis
• Foul-smelling discharge
• Painful penis and foreskin

Your health care provider may diagnose the problem with only an exam. However, you may need skin tests for viruses, fungi, or bacteria. A skin biopsy may also be needed.

Treatment depends on the cause of the balanitis.

• Antibiotic pills or creams are used to treat balanitis that is caused by bacteria.
• Steroid creams may help balanitis that occurs with skin diseases.
• Anti-fungal cream will be prescribed if it is due to a fungus.

In severe cases, circumcision may be the best option. If you cannot pull back (retract) the foreskin to clean it, you may need to be circumcised.

Most cases of balanitis can be controlled with medicated creams and good hygiene. Surgery is not needed most of the time.

Long-term inflammation or infection can:

• Scar and narrow the opening of the penis (meatal stricture)
• Make it difficult and painful to retract the foreskin to expose the tip of the penis (a condition called phimosis)
• Make it difficult to move the foreskin over the head of the penis (a condition called paraphimosis)
• Affect the blood supply to the tip of the penis
• Increase the risk of penile cancer

Tell your provider if you have any signs of balanitis, including swelling of the foreskin or pain.

Good hygiene can prevent most cases of balanitis. When you bathe, pull back the foreskin to clean and dry the area under it.