Balanitis treatment

Medically Reviewed by Dr Sravya, MBBS, MS

Balanitis: What Is It?

Belanitis is a painful and flaming condition that affects the penile head. The tip of your penis and the loose flap of skin that covers it can make you uneasy because they are among the most delicate parts. It is treatable and frequently simple to avoid.

Balanitis can strike anyone at any age. You're not likely to acquire it if you were circumcised. However, you should give your penis head special attention if you still have your foreskin.

Table of Contents

What kinds of balanitis are there?

Balanitis is typically brought on by an infection (fungal, bacterial, viral, or parasitic). There are additionally several non-contagious forms, such as:

Zoon’s balanitis: Uncircumcised adults in their middle years are susceptible to this chronic (long-lasting) form, which results in an inflamed, discolored penis head. Up to 10% of instances of balanitis are caused by it..
Balanitis circulate: Reactive arthritis is the cause of this kind of balanitis. A form of arthritis known as "reactive arthritis" arises in response to an infection in your body. Circumferential balanitis results in tiny lesions (sores) on the head of your penis in addition to swelling and redness.
Micaceous and pseudoepitheliomatous keratotic balanitis (MPKB): On the head of your penis, scaly warts or pimples are brought on by this extremely uncommon balanitis. People over 60 are affected.
fixed Drug eruption: This occurs when certain drugs or chemicals cause skin lesions to develop on certain parts of your skin.
Planus lichen: This skin disorder results in the development of a rash in one or more places of your body.

Balanitis is closely related to the following two conditions

Additionally, there is a connection between some types of balanitis and precancerous or cancerous diseases, including:

Cancer of the basal cells: The basal cells in your skin's outer layer are where this particular sort of skin cancer develops. It results in lumps or bumps developing. The most typical form of skin cancer is it.
Carcinoma of the squamous cell: This type of skin cancer develops in the squamous cells that make up your skin's outer layer. Lesions, lumps, or markings appear as a result. The second most typical kind of skin cancer is it.
The Kaposi sarcoma: This rare cancer can strike those with compromised immune systems.
Extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD): The skin surrounding your genitals becomes discolored, scaly, and itchy due to this uncommon illness.

Symptoms

There are several symptoms that you could face if you acquire balanitis. Balanitis may be indicated by foreskin swelling and redness.

Additional typical balanitis signs include:

Redness
Swelling
Sores
Restricted foreskin
Discharge
Unwelcome odor
Itchiness
Pain
Bleeding

Additionally, you can feel discomfort while peeing and notice white, glossy skin on your penis.

Reasons

You increase your probability of contracting the infection if you don't keep that area clean. Use a gentle soap because strong chemicals irritate your penis's skin and lead to balanitis.
Additionally, it may occur if your type 2 diabetes is not under control or as a side effect of specific medications. For instance, dapagliflozin (Farxiga), which removes sugar from your body through urine, increases your risk of developing balanitis. As a result of sugar, yeast can flourish.
Bacteria can also cause an infection. After using the restroom, remember to keep your penis clean.
Reactive arthritis, commonly known as Reiter's syndrome, is another potential culprit because it can impact your eyes and joints.
Tetracycline and aspirin-like drugs are pharmaceuticals that might trigger adverse responses that can result in balanitis.

Additionally, if you are overweight or suffer from a medical condition like heart, liver, or renal illness, which causes your body to retain water, you are more prone to contract the infection.

Risk Elements

For balanitis or balanitis infection, there are several established risk factors.

Risk elements for balanitis:

Diagnosis

Your doctor will conduct a standard physical examination and review your health and family history. Your doctor will probably identify balanitis based on palpable physical symptoms during the examination. Your doctor may do a balanitis test to confirm a balanitis diagnosis, depending on your symptoms and your type of balanitis.

Balanitis test types:

Urine: Your doctor will examine this sample for microorganisms that may be to blame for your balanitis.
Swab: To check the discharge for microorganisms, your doctor could do a swab test.
Blood: Your doctor might perform a sex-related disease check.
Diabetes: Using a test for serum glucose, your doctor can look for diabetes.
Biopsy: Your doctor will take a small tissue sample from your penis and analyze it. This enables your doctor to search for disease symptoms.

What are the balanitis treatments?

The cause of balanitis will determine the course of treatment. Treatments may consist of:

Anti-fungal creams: Your doctor would advise using an antifungal cream, such as clotrimazole, to treat the infection if a yeast infection is the cause of your balanitis. The cream must be applied to the foreskin and penis head.
Antibiotics: Your doctor will administer antibiotics to treat the illness if it is a sexually transmitted infection that is the root of your symptoms. The antibiotic will vary depending on the infection type.
More frequently cleansing your penis thoroughly: As advised by your healthcare practitioner, you should wash and dry your underarms frequently to lower your risk of developing balanitis again. Avoid extensively scrubbing or washing your penis with strong soaps. Warm water is usually sufficient.
Management of diabetes: Your doctor will teach you how to manage your diabetes if you have it.
Circumcision: Your healthcare professional might advise circumcision if you experience recurrent balanitis symptoms. Circumcision is a medical operation in which the foreskin that covers your penis is removed. The majority of the time, surgeons will advise this course of action for patients with particularly tight foreskins. Your doctor might advise a dorsal slit if you don't want a complete circumcision. The tight ring around your foreskin will be loosened by a dorsal slit, allowing you to see the top of your penis.

Balanoposthitis treatment

Non-surgical

Each person with balanoposthitis displays a particular set of symptoms. The extent of the treatment for this condition depends on how serious it is. Non-surgical treatments are generally effective, especially when the condition is in its early stages. Following that, the following are some common non-surgical treatments for balanoposthitis:

Antibiotics: Your doctor may recommend antibiotics for the treatment of balanoposthitis if the condition was brought on by STD infections. The type of infection will determine the type of antibiotics.
Antifungal creams: Another common cause of Balanoposthitis is yeast infections. Your doctor will prescribe anti-fungal medications to ease your suffering if yeast infections are the underlying cause of this problem.
Managing Diabetes: Balanoposthitis is another prevalent complication of diabetes, according to diabetes management. In these situations, managing diabetes is part of the balanoposthitis treatment.

Surgical

Surgery is necessary in cases of Balanoposthitis that are chronic or recurring. For the treatment of balanoposthitis and other common disorders such as balanitis, phimosis, paraphimosis, and foreskin infections, circumcision is a popular surgical operation. The three most common procedures for performing circumcision include using a laser, a stapler, and an open procedure in which the foreskin covering the penile (glans) head is removed. The following techniques are typically used for this surgery:

Open Balanoposthitis Surgery: In open balanoposthitis surgery, the foreskin is removed using the conventional technique. A local or general anesthetic is used to sedate the patient. The skin to be removed is measured, cut with a scalpel, and then cauterized or stitched back on.
Laser circumcision surgery: Laser circumcision surgery is a 20-minute, minimally invasive procedure that guarantees less discomfort. The foreskin is cut by the doctors using a high-beam laser. No stitches are needed for this treatment, and there is just a small amount of blood loss.
Laser circumcision surgery: Laser circumcision surgery is a 20-minute, minimally invasive procedure that guarantees less discomfort. The foreskin is cut by the doctors using a high-beam laser. No stitches are needed for this treatment, and there is just a small amount of blood loss.

Prevention

Make an extra effort to keep your intimate areas clean to ensure that your balanitis won't return or develop in the first place. To complete this properly:
Pull back gently, then wash your foreskin area with warm water.
Use a gentle soap; do not use shower gel or soaps containing abrasives.
Completely dry the area.
Like brushing your teeth, include this in your everyday regimen.

Other beneficial routines to follow:

If you are experiencing balanitis symptoms, avoid having sex.
Use condoms that are comfortable to wear and are constructed of materials that won't irritate your skin.
Before you urinate, wash your hands.
Wash your penis after sex if it causes your symptoms.

Balanitis consequences can be reduced with early evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Complications

Common side effects of balanitis and infection with balanitis include:

Scarring around the penis' entrance.
Discomfort or pain while urinating.
Urinary retention in the bladder.
Foreskin retractions are painful.
Inadequate blood flow to the penis.
Extreme irritation or rash.
Phimosis is the foreskin’s inability to retract.

Conclusion

Inflammation of the penis head is known as balanitis, and it is often brought on by bad hygiene and an uncircumcised penis. Cleaning daily and staying away from harsh chemicals can help someone avoid the ailment. When making a diagnosis, a physician will probably look for any underlying diseases and treat them to hasten the healing of the balanitis.