Balanitis is the inflammation of the head of the penis – the glans penis. While it’s very common and often not serious, the inflammation is usually accompanied by other uncomfortable symptoms.

While it may occur in any man, it usually affects those who are uncircumcised, typically also causing inflammation of the foreskin.

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Causes

Balanitis is a general term comprising specific infections and skin conditions that may affect the penis including:

  • Scabies
  • Syphilis
  • Penile intraepithelial neoplasia
  • Fixed drug eruption
  • Plasma cell balanitis
  • Lichen planus
  • Lichen sclerosis
  • Reiter syndrome
  • Flexural psoriasis
  • Dermatitis of different kinds, including contact allergy, for instance, to medicament, fragrances, or rubber condoms.

Specific tests can help in the diagnosis of this condition. When these aren’t positive, the origin of balanitis is considered ‘nonspecific’—It’s a kind of intertrigo.

Nonspecific balanitis appears to be an irritant reaction related to the proliferation of yeasts (candida) and bacteria (anaerobes, pseudomonas). Normally, these may be found in small numbers on healthy skin.

Predisposing factors comprise:

  • Obesity
  • Minor trauma – this may include friction during sexual intercourse
  • Chemical irritants such as medicated creams and lubricating gel
  • Sexual partner suffering from vaginal thrush (in which case it’s the yeasts of the partner that lead to the irritation instead of a sexually transmitted infection)
  • Diabetes mellitus, which raises the probability of Candida Albicans infection
  • Drying vigorously with a harsh towel or over-frequent washing, especially with standard alkaline soap
  • Failure to dry the glans after washing and/or infrequent washing
  • Sweat (moisture) allows the microorganisms to thrive. Non-specific balanitis almost always affects uncircumcised men, as the tissue under the foreskin may not dry out properly.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of balanitis are variable. They may consist of:

  • Discomfort and itching
  • Oozing and discharge
  • Swelling, redness, and tenderness of the glans
  • A red or pink rash, which may be patchy, spotty, scaly, or smooth
  • In critical cases, retracting the foreskin (phimosis) may be difficult
  • Balanitis may be accompanied by skin problems like urethritis (inflammation of the urethra).

If you have these symptoms, schedule an appointment with MedTell now!