Do you experience constant redness, soreness, or irritation on your penis? Not able to figure out what your foreskin rash means? If your answer to the above questions is yes, you might have balanitis. Also known as penis inflammation, it is a condition where men get significant inflammation on their glans or at the head of the penis.
It mostly occurs due to an infection and can be rather painful. Inflammation of penis affects roughly 1 in every 25 males. It can occur at any age and is extremely common. But uncircumcised men are at the highest risk of Balanitis.
Although this condition isn’t excessively severe, and can be relieved using a balanitis cream and home remedies for balanitis, in most cases, it’s always beneficial to take timely action.
Balanitis Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of balanitis include:
- Thick clumpy discharge from under the foreskin
- Redness and soreness in the genital area
- Tightened foreskin
- Feeling pain while urinating
- Swollen glands near the penis
- Formation of an unpleasant smell
Types of Balanitis
1. Circinate Balanitis
It is usually caused due to an infection, and happens in men with reactive arthritis.
2. Zoon’s Balanitis
Did you know that balanitis can also affect middle-aged or older men? In such a scenario, it is called Zoon’s Balanitis. It mostly affects uncircumcised men, and troubles the foreskin and head of the penis.
3. Pseudoepitheliomatous keratotic and micaceous balanitis
This type of balanitis is known to cause scaly skin lesions on the head of the penis. It is a rare condition, and affects men over the age of 60.
Read on to know more about the causes, cure, and prevention of balanitis.
Balanitis Causes
As mentioned above, balanitis is usually caused by an infection. It can also occur due to long-standing skin conditions. Let’s understand some of the causes in detail.
Poor Hygiene
One of the most common causes of balanitis is irregular hygiene, as it promotes skin irritation in men. As penis inflammation is caused by an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria, good hygiene plays a pivotal role. However, overdoing it can also be a problem and lead to penis inflammation. Irregular hygiene, along with tight red foreskin, can cause immense irritation.
Irritants or Allergic Reactions
The penis is a sensitive part of a man’s body. It can become inflamed if it comes in contact with an irritant or chemical. Using soaps loaded with chemicals, or using scented moisturisers and sprays can lead to severe irritation in your penis. The lubricant in condoms can also lead to irritation.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
STIs like trichomonas, genital herpes, or gonorrhoea can also lead to balanitis.
Apart from the causes mentioned above, using certain painkillers, sleeping pills, or antibiotics can also result in balanitis.
Balanitis Cure
Some of the cures for balanitis include:
- Not using perfumed soaps, lotions, and deodorants on your penis can help. As they cause foreskin irritation, it’s best to avoid them. Instead, use warm water for cleaning and dry gently afterwards.
Medication
Various doctors recommend balanitis medicine after doing a skin examination of their patient. Moreover, several ointments for balanitis and balanitis treatment cream can also be used. In case it’s candida balanitis, the doctor might recommend a topical balanitis antifungal cream. Homeopathic medicine for balanitis can also be a cure.
Managing Diabetes
High glucose level in the urine encourages fungal growth which can result in balanitis. If you’re someone who also has diabetes, it’s best to manage your diabetic condition.
Steroid cream for balanitis
Mild steroid creams can heal infection on penis head or foreskin rash. However, make sure you consult a doctor before.
Balanitis Ayurvedic treatment
Numerous herbal drugs and oils in Ayurveda are known to cure balanitis. For effective treatment, it’s best to consult an ayurvedic doctor.
Balanitis Prevention
Here are some techniques you can use to prevent balanitis.
Bathe daily
Make sure to clean your penis every day, especially after sexual intercourse or exercise. Pulling your foreskin back is essential to clean underneath.
Use bland soaps
Avoid using scented soaps as they can lead to irritation. Instead, make bland soaps your new friend.
Staying dry can help
Drying the area under the foreskin after urinating is vital. It ensures that your urine doesn’t get trapped under the foreskin.
- During sexual intercourse, use a condom designed for sensitive skin.
Conclusion
In the case of balanitis, taking timely action is a must. If it doesn’t get addressed for an extended period, it can be a cause of concern. The great thing is that the majority of the balanitis cases get cured with improved hygiene.
Just by avoiding scented soaps and lotions, and keeping your penis clean, you can resolve this issue. However, if these home remedies don’t work, you must consult a doctor.
They’d prescribe you with balanitis treatment tablets, bacterial balanitis medicines, antibiotic cream for balanitis, or cream for penis infection depending on your condition. Apart from that, checking for balanitis symptoms often is essential for timely cure.
