In this video, you'll learn key things that you need to know about a condition called balanitis, which is where the head of the penis becomes swollen and sore. Although it's not usually serious, it is important to see a doctor to determine what could be causing it. We'll cover the following topics, all of which are split into chapters and time-stamped for your convenience.

Firstly, what is balanitis? Balanitis describes inflammation of the head of the penis and the foreskin, which is the skin that covers the head of the penis if you're not circumcised. It usually affects middle-aged to elderly men who haven't been circumcised, but it can affect anyone of any age.

In terms of what causes it, sometimes the underlying cause of balanitis isn't fully known. However, potential causes can include not washing your penis properly, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, substances like soap, shower gels, or condoms that might irritate the skin of the penis, as well as diabetes. High levels of sugar in your urine can cause thrush, and increased blood sugar on the skin can stimulate bacterial and fungal growth, leading to irritation. Some young boys also have a very tight foreskin, called phimosis, which means they cannot pull it back to clean underneath it.

Now, let's discuss the signs and symptoms of balanitis. With balanitis, the head of your penis is usually swollen, itchy, and sore. It typically looks red, but this might be less obvious on brown or black skin, where discoloration might appear as red, purple, gray, or white patches. You might also notice shiny, swollen areas of skin. Other symptoms can include pain when peeing, a thick discharge from underneath your foreskin, bleeding around your foreskin, an unpleasant smell, and difficulty pulling back your foreskin. In children, it's normal to have a tight foreskin.

In terms of diagnosis, in the vast majority of cases, a health professional can diagnose balanitis by carefully examining your skin. Very occasionally, a small skin sample might be taken from the penis and checked under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis and check for possible underlying conditions. This is called a skin biopsy and typically requires a local anesthetic injection and possibly stitches to close the wound, which might result in a small scar. However, this decision will be made by your health professional.

So, how can balanitis be treated? The treatment of balanitis depends on the underlying cause. Generally, steroid creams or ointments of mild to potent strength, with or without the addition of antibacterial or anti-yeast agents, may be prescribed by your doctor. These can be used for short periods intermittently. For personal hygiene, it's recommended to use a soap substitute instead of regular soap to avoid irritating the skin. If you or your child keep getting balanitis and the medicine hasn’t helped, circumcision, which is surgery to remove the foreskin, might ultimately be recommended.

In terms of what you can do to try and prevent balanitis in the first place at home, the skin of the glans penis needs to be washed regularly after fully retracting the foreskin. Instead of using soap, washing with a soap substitute such as a bland moisturizing cream can be helpful. It may help to retract your foreskin whenever possible to allow moisture to dry out naturally, particularly before and after urinating. However, it's important to then replace the foreskin. Regularly applying a bland ointment to the glans penis and foreskin might help to provide a protective barrier. It's also good practice to keep an eye on your skin, and anything unusual, such as deeper sores that don’t heal or areas of lumpiness, should always be reported to your health provider.

If you use condoms, try to choose condoms for sensitive skin, and remember to always wash your hands before peeing or touching your penis. If your child has balanitis, gently wash their penis every day using warm water and then dry it gently. If they wear nappies, change them often, but it's really important not to use soap, bubble bath, or baby wipes, and don’t pull back your child’s foreskin if it’s fixed in place.

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