Urological Health Penis Health Inflammation of the Penis Head and Foreskin, or Balanitis By Jerry Kennard Jerry Kennard, PhD, is a psychologist and associate fellow of the British Psychological Society. Learn about our editorial process Jerry Kennard Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Matthew Wosnitzer, MD on February 17, 2020 twitter linkedin Matthew Wosnitzer, MD, is a board-certified urologic surgeon and physician scientist. He specializes in male infertility. Learn about our Medical Review Board Matthew Wosnitzer, MD Updated on February 17, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Treatment Complications Balanitis is an inflammation that affects the head of the penis (glans penis). When the foreskin (prepuce) is affected, it is referred to as balanoposthitis. Balanitis and balanoposthitis occur primarily in uncircumcised men. Most common in men over 40 years old, though it can affect males of any age, balanitis is a condition affecting about 11% of adult men and 4% of children. Balanitis is typically characterized by a shiny red or reddish-orange area. But it can also show up as a yellow patch with pinpoint spotting. Adam Hester / Stockbyte / Getty Images Balanitis Symptoms Occurring only in uncircumcised men, balanitis can cause the following symptoms: Redness of the glans penis Swelling and tenderness of the penile head Discharge from the penis (smegma) that may be foul-smelling Impotence Painful urination Foul odor Difficulty passing urine Inability to retract the foreskin (phimosis) Inability to return the foreskin over the glans penis (paraphimosis) Causes The exact causes of balanitis are not known for certain. Poor hygiene may lead to an accumulation of smegma (a buildup of dead cells and body oils on the genitals) that reduces aeration and irritates the skin of the penile head, ultimately causing inflammation and swelling. Possible contributors to balanitis include: Poor hygiene in an uncircumcised male (the most common cause) Diabetes (a common underlying cause of balanitis) Overwashing Friction Response to infection Lubricants and spermicides in condoms Scented soaps or shower gels Detergents and fabric softeners Not properly rinsing soap when bathing Antibiotic use Allergic reactions to some medicines or an allergen such as latex Penile cancer (a rare cause of balanitis) The Right Way to Care for an Uncircumcised Penis Infections Infections, whether viral, bacterial or fungal, can cause balanitis to develop. A common fungal infection that can cause balanitis is candida, which also causes thrush. Other viruses and organisms that may cause balanitis include HPV (human papillomavirus), strep, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. HPV Some studies have raised a question regarding a possible link between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and chronic balanitis and balanoposthitis, though HPV has not conclusively been shown as a cause and more study is necessary. Treatment If you experience the signs and symptoms of balanitis, you should seek medical attention. Proper hygiene and avoiding irritants is important. Depending on potential causes of the balanitis, such as bacterial or fungal infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic pills or creams, or anti-fungal cream. In cases of other skin diseases, your doctor may prescribe a steroid cream. For most cases, balanitis and balanoposthitis can be controlled with medication. In rare and severe cases, such as with phimosis or paraphimosis, circumcision may be recommended. Rarely, when balanitis does not respond effectively to treatment, a biopsy may be considered. Complications Though rare, the most common serious complication of balanitis is phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin from the glans penis) or paraphimosis (the inability to return the foreskin to cover the glans penis). Other rare complications that may develop with balanitis and balanoposthitis include: Cellulitis, a bacterial infection of the deeper layers of the skin Buried penis syndrome, a condition where the penis is buried beneath folds of skin (usually associated with obesity) Meatal stenosis, an abnormal narrowing of the opening at the tip of the penis Balanitis xerotica obliterans, chronic dermatitis of the glans penis and foreskin Scarring Reduced blood flow to the glans penis Increased risk of penile cancer Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Morris B, Krieger JN. Balanitis and related inflammatory conditions affecting the penis. In: Bjerklund Johansen TE, Wagenlehner FME, Matsumoto T, Cho YH, Krieger JN, Shoskes D, Naber KG, editors. Urogenital Infections and Inflammations. Duesseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2017. doi:10.5680/lhuii000027 Dayal S, Sahu P. Zoon balanitis: A comprehensive review. Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2016;37(2):129-138. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.192128 Rajiah K, Veettil SK, Kumar S, Mathew EM. Study on various types of infections related to balanitis in circumcised or uncircumcised male and its causes, symptoms and management. Afr J Pharm Pharmacol. 2012;6(2):74-83. doi:10.5897/AJPP11.651