Do you have soreness or inflammation in one of the most sensitive areas in your body? And how a condition like balanitis won’t go away? Are you wondering what causes this?
Balanitis is an inflammatory condition of the glans or penis head resulting from infection or another factor. Balanitis can be painful and unpleasant at times, but it is generally not serious. It is treatable with topical medication.
Balanitis can strike at any age. You’re unlikely to get it if you’re circumcised. However, if you still have your foreskin, you must take special care of the head of your penis.
Balanitis, which is an inflammation of the clitoris, can affect women as well. This topic, however, will concentrate on the glans of the penis.
Table of Content
Balanitis (Inflammation of the Head of the Penis)
Balanitis is an issue in which the glans penis, or head of the penis, of a man, becomes inflamed. Balanitis develops when yeast and bacteria colonize the skin crease around the foreskin and cause an infection. Soreness, inflammation, and pain are then caused by the infection.
Balanitis is a condition that affects about 11% of adult men and is most common in men over the age of 40, though it can affect men of any age. Uncircumcised boys aged four and younger may develop balanitis (but it can happen at any age) if their genital areas are not well sanitized. Truly infected balanitis affects roughly 5% of the population of boys under the age of five.
Balanitis is a common condition that affects about one in every twenty-five boys. And it also affects one in every thirty uncircumcised males at some point in their lives.
It is more probable if there is phimosis, a condition in which the penis’ foreskin is too tight. When boys reach the age of five, the foreskin becomes more easily retractable, and the risk of balanitis decreases.
The frequent and typical cause of balanitis is lack of proper hygiene in uncircumcised males. Other causative factors include:
- Genital yeast infection or candidiasis
- STDs (sexually transmitted diseases)
- Scabies infection
- Sensitivity strong soaps or chemicals
- Skin conditions that can cause itchy, dry, scaly skin like psoriasis and eczema
- Diabetes
- Reactive arthritis, a type of arthritis that transcends in a reaction to an infection somewhere in the body
What are the Symptoms of Balanitis?
The length of time expected for symptoms to come out after exposure, or the incubation period varies upon the type of the virus, bacteria, or fungus. Balanitis is distinguished by a bright red or reddish-orange region. Nevertheless, the following are the first clinical signs of balanitis:
- Soreness
- Prickling sensation
- Inflammation
- Tenderness of the penis head and the adjacent foreskin
- Penile discharge (smegma) – foul-smelling
- Erectile dysfunction
- Urination is excruciatingly painful
- Trouble passing urine due to foul odor
- Unable to retract the foreskin (phimosis)
- Failure to bring the foreskin back over the glans penis (paraphimosis)
- Foul scent
Other manifestations may emerge based on the viruses or bacteria transmitted. Clinical manifestations of sexually transmitted diseases include discharge from the urethra, ulcerations, and enlarged lymph nodes.
STD tests, as well as examinations for specific bacteria and viruses, can help differentiate balanitis from the other illnesses that resemble it (e.g., herpes and gonorrhea).
Stubborn Balanitis Won’t Go Away – What’s Next?
It helps to be careful when it pertains to your most sensitive parts. If you have any of the symptoms of balanitis, you should see your doctor right away. If you see your physician in the initial stages of balanitis, they will be able to help you get rid of it before it becomes a more painful problem. If balanitis won’t go away, please consult your doctor to prevent any serious issues that may arise.
Balanitis symptoms are similar to those of a few other conditions, making diagnosis difficult. So, when balanitis won’t go away, the only way to be sure that you have the condition and be given an appropriate treatment is to talk to your doctor. Your physician will perform a physical assessment and run some exams to ascertain diagnosis, form, and cause.
When should I call my healthcare provider about balanitis?
If you notice any redness, inflammation, or soreness of the penis or foreskin, and if your balanitis won’t go away, visit your physician. Clinicians can assist you in the regimen including both noncontagious and infectious balanitis, as well as in defining the source of the infection.
Balanitis that won’t go away and manifestations that continue to propagate should be assessed by a medical professional.
Balanitis complications include urethral opening constriction (phimosis) and chronic urinary blockage. These problems may necessitate immediate medical attention. Some people with balanitis may need to see a urologist.
Balanitis caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, yeast, or other organisms may be difficult to treat.
What are the treatments for balanitis?
Balanitis is a non-life-threatening condition managed with antibiotic creams and tablets. Many other cases of balanitis resolve within three to five days of beginning therapy.
Even so, if left untreated, it could become more uncomfortable or end up causing other health issues. A doctor may also prescribe a gentle steroid cream or balm, an antifungal cream, or ointment.
Antifungal Creams
If a yeast infection is a causative agent for balanitis, your physician will give you an antifungal cream such as clotrimazole to target the issue. You will need to administer the cream to the glans (head of the penis) and foreskin as directed.
Antibiotics
If an STD (sexually transmitted disease) is the cause of your manifestations, your clinician will provide treatment for the infection with antibiotics. The antimicrobial will vary on the type of infection.
Improved hygiene
Your physician will advise that you regularly cleanse and dry the foreskin underneath to minimize the risk of having balanitis won’t go away.
Circumcision
If the balanitis won’t go away, your specialist may opt for circumcision. Circumcision is surgical management in which a physician takes away the foreskin which covers the penis. Clinicians recommend this management commonly for male patients who have an especially constricted foreskin (phimosis).
Tight foreskin (phimosis and paraphimosis)
Phimosis is a disorder in which the foreskin is too narrow to be drawn back over the penis head (glans).
In infants and kids, phimosis is common; however, in older children, it may be the consequence of a skin disease that has resulted in scarring. Until it creates symptoms, it is generally not an issue.
In instances where phimosis creates issues such as difficulty urinating, urgent treatment is necessary. Since the foreskin will still be connected to the glans, many uncircumcised male babies have glans that will not pull back (retract). This is normal for the first 2 to 6 years. From around the age of two, the glans should begin to generally detach from the glans.
There are instances and cases of the foreskin in boys that may take longer to split, but this does not signify a problem; it will simply detach afterward. Don’t ever try to pull your child’s foreskin back until he is ready, as this can be hurtful and harm the foreskin. Only if it induces symptoms such as redness, irritation, or inflammation, phimosis is simply not an issue.
Balanitis can occur if the kid’s foreskin is painful and edematous (inflammation of the head of the penis). A thick discharge may also be present beneath the foreskin. Balanoposthitis occurs when both the glans and the foreskin become inflamed.
If your child displays these signs, take them to the doctor. The general practitioner will be able to advise you on the best course of action.
The vast number of cases of balanitis are easily treated with a combination of proper hygiene, creams, or topical agents, and preventing materials that can irritate the penis. The foreskin that cannot be restored to its initial location after being retracted is due to a condition called, paraphimosis.
Paraphimosis induces the foreskin to become distressing and inflamed, necessitating immediate medical attention to prevent severe complications such as increased pain, swelling, and reduced blood flow to the penis.
Putting a local anesthetic gel to the penis and pushing on the glans while pressing the foreskin forward may help to relieve pain and swelling. In complex cases, a tiny slit in the foreskin may be essential to alleviate the pressure.
Circumcision may be advised in serious forms of paraphimosis. In extreme situations, a reduced blood flow to the penis can result in tissue death (gangrene), necessitating surgical removal of the penis.
Foreskin care and penis care
It is critical to wash your penis regularly to avoid problems arising. You should do the following:
- Every day, delicately clean your penis with warm water while bathing or showering
- Lightly pull back your foreskin (if you do have one) and sanitize beneath; Do not lift a baby’s or young boy’s foreskin since it could be hurtful and cause damage
- To minimize the risk of skin irritation, use mild or unscented soap (if you prefer to use soap)
- Prevent using talc or deodorants on your penis because they may irritate it
- Circumcised men should also clean their penis daily with warm water and mild soap (if you choose to use soap)
FAQ about Balanitis Won’t Go Away
How long does male balanitis last?
Most cases of balanitis resolve within three to five days of beginning treatment. However, if left unaddressed, the balanitis won’t go away and it can be extra hurtful or cause other health issues. The appropriate therapeutic time ranges from 2 weeks to 1 month. Lotrisone, a betamethasone and clotrimazole mixture, is the commonly prescribed drug.
How do I get rid of persistent balanitis?
If the patient has a rigid foreskin and the balanitis won’t go away, the physician may recommend circumcision.
Conversely, a slit along the edge of the glans can be cut to detach it from the penis. Because warm water can alleviate discomfort, a sitz bath may aid in symptom management.
What can be mistaken for balanitis?
Balanitis is characterized by pain, irritation, and redness on the penis. If you are not circumcised, your risk rises. Consult your doctor for therapies and to find out what’s affecting your manifestations.
Other circumstances, such as HIV and other sexually transmitted illnesses, can result in a rash and swelling on the penis. It is critical to see your provider to be tested.
Is Vaseline good for balanitis?
Utilizing a bland ointment like plain Vaseline) to the glans penis and foreskin regularly may help to provide a protective barrier.
It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your skin. Anything out of the ordinary, such as deeper sores that do not heal or lumpy areas, must be mentioned to your physician.
What is the best ointment for balanitis?
If you have a yeast infection, you will be recommended to use an antifungal ointment. Clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex) is an over-the-counter antifungal med that is also used to cure vaginal yeast infections and athlete’s foot. For ten days, implement it in the area affected two to three times per day.
A prescription antifungal therapy, either cream or pill, may also be recommended by your physician.
If you have a skin bacteria infection, you will be advised to use an antibiotic cream and to thoroughly clean the affected area. Antibiotic pills may be required on occasion.
When the skin is swollen and painful but not compromised, you should keep the area clean and dry and avoid using soaps or skin creams that may aggravate the condition. A cortisone cream could sometimes help to alleviate the issue more rapidly. Cortisone, on the other hand, can exacerbate certain infections, so it is better to avoid this form of a drug unless directed by the doctor.
Conclusion
Untreated balanitis won’t go away, it can lead to serious problems other than chronic discomfort. Balanitis clinical manifestations alleviate within a few days, and medications and recommended creams can help decrease recovery time.
Balanitis becomes much harder to treat when left untreated, and scarring can occur within the sensitive tissue on your genitals. Cleanliness and hygiene can effectively block balanitis. If it does develop, the earlier you receive therapy, the better the prognosis.
The majority of men with balanitis recover with treatment. Balanitis frequently recurs after therapies in men who are not circumcised. When men do not perform good hygiene, such as cleaning under the foreskin, the risk goes up.
