It is difficult not to worry if you feel burning in the penis but don’t worry; most of the time, these are benign issues that simple treatments can improve. The problem may be irritation from a product you are using in the area, urinary infection, or even a sexually transmitted disease. Therefore it is essential that, even if the symptoms improve, you consult your trusted doctor.
If you want to know what can be all the causes of burning in the penis and its treatment, continue reading the following article from FastlyHeal.
Table of Contents
Burning when urinating from urine infection
It is not something familiar, urinary infections are much more frequent in women, but it is possible that due to bacteria, inflammation of the urethra (it is the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis). It may be associated with an infection of the prostate ( prostatitis ).
Apart from burning in the penis, there may be a sensation that you are urinating little, the urge to urinate, pain in the lower abdomen, and discomfort with a fever. It is advisable before taking an antibiotic to perform a urine analysis with urine culture to know which microorganism it is due to and that, thus, the treatment is appropriate.
In addition to antibiotics for the urine infection, your doctor will prescribe pain relievers to tolerate the discomfort, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. It is advisable to drink enough water, avoid other drinks with sugar, coffee, or alcohol and maintain a healthy diet with lots of raw fruits and vegetables, which will ensure a faster recovery.
You can expand this information by consulting the article Urine infection in men: causes and treatment.
Burning in the penis from irritants
Urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) may be caused by contact with irritants such as spermicidal creams, jellies, or contraceptive foams.
It is often enough to avoid contact with these types of substances again. You can also help yourself with painkillers if the pain is extreme. It is essential to corroborate the diagnosis with your trusted doctor since if the cause is another, you will be wasting time, and the discomfort will persist.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
If you’ve had sex without a condom, your penis burning may be caused by a sexually transmitted disease. The problem with these is that if you give rise to the contagion, you can suffer another one, so discarding them is mandatory. The burning may be caused by:
If the diagnosis is confirmed, syphilis or HIV, among others, should also be ruled out.
You can take a pain reliever if the discomfort is excellent as a first measure. Once your doctor gives you the diagnosis, you may require an antiviral cream, antivirals by mouth, or antibiotics, but, remember, you must rule out other diseases and, in the meantime, do not have unprotected sex since you can infect someone else.
Burning in the penis from balanoposthitis
Balanoposthitis is the inflammation of the glans and foreskin. Balanitis is the inflammation only of the glans and posthitis only that of the foreskin. Often in those who are not circumcised, inflammation of both structures occurs.
There are different causes of balanoposthitis:
- Candida: it is a fungus that causes inflammation in the area. There may be redness, white patches, burning, itching on the glans, and a whitish discharge. There may be a certain predisposition in those who wear tight clothing, have poor hygiene, or suffer from diseases that lower the defenses, such as diabetes. The solution is to keep the area clean and avoid humidity, and antifungal creams or talcum powder can be applied.
- Seborrheic dermatitis: While it is most common on the face, chest, and scalp (such as dandruff), lesions may also appear on the penis. The skin will be red and with dry or oily scales. The cause is unknown, but it seems related to psoriasis and some neurological and low-defense diseases. The treatment can be carried out with antifungal creams, corticosteroids, and, above all, avoiding humidity.
- Lichen planus: these are ulcerated lesions both in the mouth and on the penis; it is benign and usually resolve on their own. The problem is that in the meantime, it hurts a lot. Sometimes corticosteroid creams may be prescribed to relieve symptoms.
- Psoriasis: this skin disease, in which reddened areas with dry scales can also affect the genital region. The site can itch and, by scratching, become superinfected. There are a variety of treatments: creams, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and therapy with ultraviolet light.
Contact dermatitis or allergy
Contact dermatitis can occur in different body areas, especially when the skin is subjected to moisture and irritating substances. In the penis, it is usually related to latex condoms. It is not a specific allergy, but there may be some irritation that can improve if the material of the condom is changed.
Latex allergy
In this case, there is a predisposition of hypersensitivity to latex, which means that every time the person comes into contact with this material, lesions, redness, and itching appear. In some cases, the allergy is much more severe.
If that is the diagnosis, the use of latex should be avoided directly. They can also be indicated as antiallergic creams or oral corticosteroids; everything depends on the severity of the picture.
Burning and itching on the penis from scabies
The mange or scabies is not an exclusive disease of poor sanitary conditions. It is a parasite that generates skin lesions in different areas of the body (forearms and wrists, elbows, armpit, waist, buttocks, hands or feet, genitals). It is very itchy and uncomfortable.
The treatment is carried out with specific drugs for this disease, the most used is permethrin topically, but there are other options by mouth.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Burning in the penis: causes 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.