I think I'm getting balanitis or something similar. What should I do?

26 -year-old man3 years ago
I have no allergies.
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a day

Alexandre Chagnon · 3 years ago
Hello sir,
Balanitis is irritation/inflammation of the tip of the penis (also known as the glans) and/or the prepuce (the skin that covers the glans in uncircumcised men). In the vast majority of cases, balanitis is benign although its symptoms can be quite inconvenient and annoying:
  • Redness/irritation/mild pain at the tip of the penis or under the foreskin;
  • Itching/mild swelling;
  • Thick white or slightly yellowish secretion with lumps under the foreskin.
The causes can be multiple, but the most common is poor hygiene of the genital area and particularly of the prepuce and/or glans penis. This closed and constantly moist area can quickly become an ideal environment for the growth of yeast (fungi) and bacteria. The use of irritating/scented intimate products is also recognized as a common cause of balanitis. 🦠
So, as a first step, here's what I would recommend to treat your balanitis:
  • Clean your foreskin and glans daily, bypulling your foreskin tightly to fully clear your glans, with a gentle fragrance-free soap(ex: Dove Fragrance Free, Cetaphil Fragrance Free) --> there's no point in washing the area too frequently (it only increases irritation), once a day is enough; 🧼
  • Avoid any scented products (e.g. soaps, lotions, creams) around your genitals;
  • Dry your penis well after showering (again, adequately clearing your glansed glans from your foreskin). 🚿
If, despite applying these measures for a few days (2-3 days), the symptoms persist, you can try an over-the-counter antifungal cream at the pharmacy (ex: clotrimazole/Canesten) to apply 2-3 times a day for 7-10 days, as balanitis may be caused by a fungus/yeast.
If, despite all this, the symptoms still persist, a medical consultation is in order. Also, if you have any (or all) of the following characteristics, I would also advise you to seek medical attention:
  • Fever;
  • Sores/redness elsewhere than on the penis (or spreading elsewhere);
  • Whitish or greenish secretions flowing from the urethra;
  • Very intense pain in the penis, testicles, or general genital area.
I hope this information helps you relieve your symptoms and heal from your balanitis. Please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions! ☺️
Marc-Antoine Dufresne, pharmacy intern (Pharm.D), supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist.

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