Balanitis is an inflammation of the glans, the end of the penis, relatively common in adult men. The glans become red when this infection occurs, and rashes and other symptoms may also appear.
The inflammation can be due to multiple causes, generally infectious or hygienic. Balanitis is usually temporary and of mild severity, but it can lead to worse pathologies in some instances, so it is essential to treat it in time. Here at FastlyHeal we, explain balanitis’s causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Table of Contents
Causes of balanitis
Balanitis occurs for different reasons, which we can classify into the following groups:
- Intimate hygiene: lack of genital hygiene, especially in uncircumcised men, is the most common cause; Dirt, such as urine or sperm, quickly accumulates in the area and causes inflammation.
- Infections: humidity favors the appearance and growth of fungi such as Candida Albicans and different types of bacteria such as streptococci, T. vaginalis, or G. vaginalis. Sometimes the human papillomavirus or herpes also causes the infection.
- Dermatological problems: lichen sclerosus, psoriasis, reactive arthritis, or pemphigus are skin diseases that can lead to balanitis if they affect the genital area.
- Irritants: certain soaps, creams, perfumes, or condoms may contain chemicals that irritate the glans and cause balanitis in more sensitive or atopic skin.
Symptoms of balanitis
There are as many types of balanitis as there are causes of it. Most cases show the same symptoms in different intensity and severity, but there are often certain peculiarities depending on the reason for the infection.
- In virtually all patients, the glans is red and wet, often accompanied by itching, itching, pain, and certain minor rashes and spots, called macules and papules.
- In more severe cases, primarily caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses, the eruptions can even lead to fissures, blisters, and ulcers or produce the emission of foul-smelling secretions.
- When dermatological diseases cause inflammation, white spots on the glans and foreskin, blisters, and grayish-white or orange lesions, depending on the cause, with well-defined edges, may appear, along with all the above symptoms.
Balanitis treatment
Diagnosis of the disease can only be made with a physical exam, but skin tests for fungi, viruses, bacteria, or a skin biopsy are often needed.
In the same way that it happens with the symptoms, the treatment will be applied depending on the balanitis cause. However, there is a general measure based on washing the area with warm water or physiological saline a couple of times a day, especially avoiding soaps or substances that may be irritating. Proper hygiene is essential to treat and prevent this type of infection. On the other hand, the specific treatments will be the following:
- In cases of fungi, bacteria, and viruses, it will be decided to administer antifungals, antibiotics, or antiherpetics in the area.
- When the cause is a dermatological disease, topical corticosteroids will be applied until the lesion subsides.
- Depending on the degree of involvement of the glans or foreskin, you may choose to perform circumcision or other surgical interventions.
- If irritating agents produce it, you have to stop using the product in question and keep the area clean and hydrated.
In particular cases, the disease can lead to invasive cancer that requires surgery and follow-up. It is imperative to take preventive measures that keep us away from inflammation: proper penis hygiene and contraceptive methods can prevent many cases of balanitis.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Balanitis: causes, symptoms, and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Male reproductive system.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.