Redness, soreness, itching or swelling around the head of the penis can be uncomfortable and worrying. It's even worse when it keeps coming back, or when you are not sure what is causing it. Balanitis means inflammation of the head of the penis. It can have several causes, including irritation, infection and underlying skin conditions, so the right treatment depends on finding out which one applies.
At Gentle Procedures UK, our doctors provide private and discreet consultations for men with penile and foreskin conditions. We will assess your symptoms, examine the area and explain the appropriate next steps.
Balanitis is inflammation of the glans, the head of the penis. It can cause redness, soreness, itching or swelling, and it can affect boys and men of any age.
Sometimes the foreskin is inflamed too. Doctors call inflammation of both the head and the foreskin balanoposthitis. You may hear either word used.
Other skin conditions, including lichen sclerosus, can cause similar symptoms. That is why a doctor should assess persistent or recurring symptoms rather than treat them without a firm diagnosis.
Eczema, psoriasis, lichen planus and lichen sclerosus can all inflame the head of the penis. They often cause symptoms that last or keep returning.
When the foreskin is hard to pull back, it is harder to clean underneath. Moisture and debris can collect and irritate the skin.
High blood sugar makes infections more likely. If balanitis keeps coming back, a blood test can check for diabetes.
Soaps, shower gels, bubble bath, wipes and some laundry products can irritate the skin of the head of the penis. Washing too often, or too hard, can do the same.
Yeast (thrush) and bacteria can grow in the warm, moist area under the foreskin. This can cause redness, soreness, itching and sometimes discharge.
Some sexually transmitted infections can cause inflammation of the head of the penis. If you think you may have one, a sexual health clinic may be the right place to start.
At Gentle Procedures UK, you will be seen by one of our doctors in a private consultation room at our CQC-registered Birmingham clinic. Your consultation is private, discreet and unhurried. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, how long they've been present, whether they've happened before and anything you've already tried.
They'll examine the area and consider whether the inflammation is likely to be caused by irritation, infection, a tight foreskin, an underlying skin condition, or something else. Where appropriate, they can explain whether further investigation or treatment is required.
Balanitis describes the inflammation. It does not tell us what is causing it. That is why there is no single treatment, and why your doctor will decide what is appropriate after examining you. If balanitis has come back more than once, they will also look at why, so you are not left treating the same symptoms again and again.
Private. Discreet. Doctor-Led.
Men can understandably feel uncomfortable discussing redness, discharge, smell, irritation or changes to the penis. Our doctors regularly assess intimate penile and foreskin concerns in a professional and discreet environment.
Balanitis is inflammation of the head of the penis. It can cause redness, soreness, itching or swelling. It has several possible causes, so a doctor needs to examine you to find out which applies.
Balanitis itself is not an STI. However, some sexually transmitted infections can cause it. If you think you may have an STI, a sexual health clinic may be the right place to start.
No. Treatment depends on the cause, and many causes are treated without surgery. Circumcision may be considered only in selected cases where balanitis keeps coming back.
Repeated episodes may be caused by ongoing irritation or repeated infection. Difficulty cleaning beneath a tight foreskin, diabetes or an underlying skin condition may also be responsible. If you have treated balanitis before but it keeps returning, it is worth looking at why, rather than repeatedly treating the symptoms. A doctor can examine you and look for the cause.
Yes. A tight foreskin can make it harder to clean underneath, so moisture and debris collect and irritate the skin. This can lead to repeated episodes. A doctor can tell you whether your foreskin is playing a part.
Yes. High blood sugar makes infections of the penis more likely, so balanitis that keeps returning can be a sign of diabetes. A blood test can check for it.
See a doctor if symptoms don't settle, keep coming back, or are getting worse. The same applies if you have discharge, pain, or a foreskin that is becoming tight. If you are unsure what is causing it, it is worth getting it checked.
Yes. Balanitis can affect boys and men. If your son has a red, sore or swollen foreskin or head of the penis, a doctor can examine him and advise on the cause.
