What does foreskin inflammation cause?

Foreskin inflammation may cause local redness, swelling and pain, discomfort during urination, increased secretions and other symptoms. In severe cases, it may lead to foreskin adhesion or urinary tract infection. Posthitis is usually caused by factors such as bacterial infection, fungal infection, poor hygiene, allergic reactions, or diabetes, and requires targeted treatment according to the cause.

1. Local redness, swelling and pain

In the early stage of foreskin inflammation, redness, swelling, burning or stinging of the foreskin and glans are common, which may be accompanied by an increase in skin temperature. The redness and swelling may spread during bacterial infection, while fungal infection is often accompanied by red patches with clear edges. It is necessary to keep the perineum clean and dry daily and avoid scratching. You can use erythromycin ointment or clotrimazole cream and other topical drugs as directed by your doctor.

2. Discomfort in urination

Inflammatory stimulation may cause burning pain during urination, frequency or urgency of urination, and in severe cases, difficulty in urination due to foreskin edema. Cloudy urine may occur if combined with a urinary tract infection. It is recommended to increase the amount of water consumed to dilute the urine and reduce irritation. If necessary, antibiotics such as cefixime dispersible tablets or levofloxacin tablets should be taken orally.

3. Increased secretions

White or yellow secretions tend to accumulate between the inner plate of the foreskin and the glans. Bacterial infections are mostly purulent, and fungal infections often appear like tofu. It is necessary to wash it with warm water every day and turn over the foreskin to clean it thoroughly. Avoid using irritating lotions. Repeated attacks require checking blood sugar levels, as diabetic patients are more likely to develop secondary infections.

4. Foreskin adhesion

Long-term chronic inflammation may cause partial or complete adhesion of the foreskin and glans, affecting the normal expansion and contraction of the penis. Pediatric patients need the help of their parents to gently separate the adhesions. Severe adhesions in adults require circumcision. For daily care, you can apply Vaseline to keep it lubricated and reduce friction damage.

5. Secondary infection

Posthitis that is not treated in time may lead to urethritis, prostatitis, or even infect your partner through sexual contact. Spouses with fungal periposthitis need simultaneous treatment to avoid cross-infection. Sexual intercourse should be suspended during the acute phase and loose cotton underwear should be worn to reduce local compression.

To prevent dermatitis, you need to pay attention to daily cleaning, clean off smegma every day, and avoid using alkaline bath products. Obese people need to control their weight to reduce skin friction, and diabetic patients should stabilize their blood sugar. If symptoms such as persistent redness, swelling, ulceration or fever occur, you must seek medical advice promptly to avoid using hormonal ointments on your own to aggravate the infection. Eat a light diet, limit spicy and irritating foods, and properly supplement vitamin B to enhance skin resistance.