Sexual activity develops from puberty through masturbation and continues into adult life with sexual intercourse with other people. It is important for every man to have knowledge, albeit basic, regarding the different diseases that could affect the penis, many of which involve inflammation and irritation of the glans penis , which is the final part of the organ and is accompanied by the appearance of red zones.
If you have ever wondered why I have a red glans , in this FastlyHealarticle, we will present the most frequent causes of inflammation and irritation of the glans so that you have a reference of what you can do about it.
Table of Contents
Glans red and swollen from balanitis
Balanitis is a term used to refer to inflammation of the glans penis . One of the characteristic symptoms of an inflammatory process of any part is the redness of the glans , as well as its:
- Swelling
- Pain
- Increase in temperature of the area
- Itching
There is no single cause of balanitis, as inflammation is a response to many types of stimuli, and is itself more of a symptom . Some examples of conditions that can cause balanitis are skin diseases such as psoriasis or pemphigus, infections by different types of microorganisms, trauma, and allergic reactions.
Red and irritated glans from poor hygiene
As in any other part of our body, the skin of the penis is constantly changing to keep its surface healthy and well protected, and as a consequence of this change, dead cells are shed from the skin and fall off, but the help of good hygiene so that no residue remains.
In those who have poor hygiene , the accumulation of dead cells together with other substances form a material known as smegma , white in color, strong odor and located particularly on the glans and the skin of the foreskin, and can cause irritation of the penis and, therefore hence its redness.
The presence of smegma has been linked to infections. To avoid this, it is enough to have an efficient hygiene on the penis, making sure to retract the skin of the foreskin to wash the glans and said skin properly.
Redness and irritation of the glans due to sexual frequency
The skin is a very sensitive organ to friction, which causes it to become irritated or broken due to the loss of its most superficial layers, causing red areas, wounds and scabs to appear. The skin of the penis and glans is no exception, which can be exposed to excessive friction due to a high frequency of masturbation or sexual intercourse and can worsen if these acts of strong intensity.
To avoid this, it is necessary to take into account the appearance of the wounds and allow them to heal, in addition to reducing the intensity of the sexual act. The use of moisturizers can promote rapid wound healing.
Itching and burning in the glans due to allergic reactions
One of the characteristic symptoms of allergic reactions is redness in the affected area. Generally, it is due to contact with a material to which a person produces an abnormal response. In most cases in which the penis is the affected organ, the culprit is a reaction to the latex in condoms , although it can also be caused, for example, by personal hygiene products or those of the partner.
The use of the product that has caused the allergic reaction should be avoided, opting for latex-free condoms if this is the cause, and if a reaction occurs, it should be controlled with antihistamines, corticosteroids or other medications depending on the severity of the disease. answer.
Red spots on the glans due to candidiasis balanitis
In all our skin there are different types of bacteria and fungi that do not cause us any harm and that can even give us certain benefits, however, when for some reason there is an imbalance between these microorganisms, infections such as, for example, candidiasis can appear. affect the penis.
The genital candidiasis male manifests with the appearance of red areas and white patches on the skin, and itching on the glans and can occur due to imbalances of the system immune from the action of antibiotics and diseases such as diabetes , although it can also be considered a sexually transmitted disease. It should be treated with antifungal drugs that act against candida.
Balanoposthitis due to sexually transmitted diseases
There are many different sexually transmitted diseases that can affect the penis, of which the vast majority have an inflammation of the glans and foreskin that cause redness. They are caused by the transmission of viruses and bacteria during sexual intercourse and the symptoms will depend on the type of condition.
Some of the most frequent are genital herpes , caused by a virus, which causes the appearance of red spots as well as pain and intense itching, and gonorrhea , due to infection by bacteria, which causes inflammation of the glans and the production of secretions.
The treatment of each of the sexually transmitted diseases will depend on which disease is diagnosed, which is why consultation with a specialist doctor is necessary , which in this case is the urologist.
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 Why do I have the red glans , 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.