Treatment FAQ

what is phimosis treatment

by Rafael Jerde DDS Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Full Answer

How do I choose the best phimosis treatment?

  • Poor hygiene. This could actually be a cause and a result of phimosis. ...
  • Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, lichen planus and lichen sclerosus. ...
  • Preputial adhesions, or scar tissue, that keep the foreskin attached to the tip (glans) of your penis.
  • Injuries.
  • Infections, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

How to treat phimosis naturally?

When it happens to older kids or adults, it’s typically the result of one of the following:

  • poor hygiene
  • infection, inflammation, or scarring (pathologic phimosis)
  • genetic predisposition (physiologic phimosis) that usually resolves itself by the time a child reaches 5 to 7 years old

How painful and serious is phimosis?

The pain involved in phimosis varies greatly, it isn’t serious unless the tissue tears, which isn’t overly common but remains a possibility. Removal of the INNER foreskin takes away the majority of the sexual nerve supply to the penis (inner foreskin containing ~20,000 nerve endings and the glans containing 4,000 nerve endings).

How can phimosis be treated?

The most widely used treatment for phimosis is circumcision surgery. Circumcision is now an operation that is performed in a day hospital, however, sometimes in public facilities there are waiting lists ranging from two weeks to two years. Post-operative recovery times range from three to four weeks.

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How to treat phimosis?

Most cases of balanitis are easily treated with good hygiene, creams, and ointments. People are advised to clean the penis daily with lukewarm water and to dry it gently to improve hygiene.

What causes a phimosis?

In adults, risk factors for phimosis include sexually transmitted infections. Phimosis may be caused by a skin condition, such as: Eczema: A long-term condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry, and cracked. Psoriasis: This skin condition leads to patches of skin becoming red, flaky, and crusty.

What are the symptoms of phimosis?

Symptoms of balanitis include: soreness, itchiness, and odor. redness and swelling. a buildup of thick fluid.

How old is too old to get phimosis?

Phimosis will occur in less than 1 percent of teenagers between 16 and 18. It is most likely to occur in older boys with: repeated urinary tract infections.

What causes a rash on the foreskin?

It is not contagious. Lichen sclerosus: This condition causes scarring on the foreskin that can lead to phimosis. It may be caused by a urinary irritation.

Can phimosis cause swelling?

A possible symptom of phimosis is an inability to urinate, or empty the bladder properly. Phimosis does not always lead to symptoms. When it does, however, these may include redness, soreness, or swelling. A tight foreskin may interfere with the normal passage of urine.

Is phimosis more common in boys or girls?

A diagnosis may be made based on the patient’s medical history. Phimosis only affects uncircumcised males and is more common in boys than men . Phimosis is normal in uncircumcised babies and toddlers, as the foreskin is still attached to the glans.

What is a phimosis?

What is Phimosis? Phimosis is defined as the inability to retract the skin (foreskin or prepuce) covering the head (glans) of the penis. Phimosis may appear as a tight ring or “rubber band” of foreskin around the tip of the penis, preventing full retraction.

How old is phimosis?

Phimosis is normal for the uncircumcised infant/child and usually resolves around 5-7 years of age, however the child may be older. Pathologic phimosis: Phimosis that occurs due to scarring, infection or inflammation.

Is circumcision necessary for phimosis?

Circumcision is often not required for treatment of phimosis. In some rare cases your pediatric urologist may recommend circumcision due to failure of steroid ointment, pathologic phimosis, paraphimosis (foreskin stuck in the retracted position behind the head of the penis), recurrent urinary tract infections, or severe/recurrent balanoposthitis.

What are the signs of phimosis?

Signs of an infection may include: changes in the color of the glans or foreskin. the presence of spots or a rash.

What is the difference between paraphimosis and phimosis?

Phimosis versus paraphimosis. A condition called paraphimosis can also result when the foreskin is retracted , but can’t be moved back into its normal position. This may require emergency medical attention. One complication of paraphimosis is a reduction in blood flow to the end of the penis.

How long does paraphimosis last?

Have the doctor recommend brands and types of ointments or lotions that are safe. If the paraphimosis continues for several hours , color changes occur, or there is pain, you need to get a medical evaluation immediately.

Is phimosis a serious condition?

Phimosis can be a serious and painful condition . However, it’s treatable, and outcomes are usually very good. The key is to seek medical attention when symptoms become obvious. You should also remember that each child develops at a different speed and in many subtly different ways.

Is circumcision a surgical procedure?

In more serious cases, circumcision or a similar surgical procedure may be necessary. Circumcision is the removal of the entire foreskin. Surgical removal of part of the foreskin is also possible. While circumcision is usually done in infancy, the surgery can be performed on a male of any age.

Can a tight foreskin be treated?

If there is no infection or other disease causing phimosis, and it appears that the tight foreskin is simply a naturally occurring development, there may be several treatment options available. Depending on the severity of the condition, daily gentle retraction may be enough to treat the problem.

Can a boy have phimosis?

Phimosis can occur naturally or be the result of scarring. Young boys may not need treatment for phimosis unless it makes urinating difficult or causes other symptoms. As these boys grow up, the need for treatment may increase.

Who will get Phimosis?

The uncircumcised penis is prone to get affected with Phimosis. It is observed more in boys than in men. The men who fall ill to Phimosis could have got it either by self disturbances or sexually transmitted diseases.

Treatment for Phimosis

The natural way of losing Phimosis is waiting till the penis comes back to its normal shape or condition. Most Phimosis occurs due to friction or imbalance arises during sexual intercourse. However, the elastic behavior of the penis in changing its shape and form from flaccid to erection gives it access to compromise from Phimosis-like conditions.

Take Away

The Phimosis that is out of control could be removed with the help of doctors in getting treatment through surgeries. Depending on the depth of Phimosis, surgery could be minor or major.

Is phimosis a stress disorder?

Phimosis is a common issue that does not require you to be stressed. Talk to your doctor if it is a recurring problem and seek their advice, hope we have been able to answer all the questions you were looking for.

Can a toddler get phimosis?

Phimosis is common in uncircumcised toddlers but the issue gets resolved with age on its own. If your kids are facing phimosis at a young age then you need not worry this will settle down with age and time, if you are facing phimosis at a much later age then these are some of the causes.

What is phimosis and what causes it?

Phimosis is a tight foreskin that cannot be retracted fully and comfortably below the glans. It can occur both in the flaccid state or be tight with erections. If the foreskin does retract and then become stuck this is called ‘paraphimosis’.

When does phimosis become a problem in men?

Phimosis can be a problem for men if it results in pain, discomfort, irritation or infections.

Can serious complications occur if it's left untreated?

Recurrent infections and pain are the most common complication. If the condition is due to BXO then there are risks of significant scarring and closure or stenosis of the urethral meatus (the opening at the tip of the penis), which can cause issues with the flow of urine. Very rarely tight inflamed foreskins can be related to cancers of the penis.

What non-surgical options are there?

If the foreskin is mildly tight daily retraction and sometimes steroid creams can be helpful. If one is treating an infection, antibiotics or antifungal creams are used.

What surgical options are available?

The options for surgery depend on the cause and the surgeon will be able to discuss this with you, but generally if the foreskin is healthy but tight, then a frenuloplasty or perputioplasty could be considered. Both of these procedures aim to preserve the foreskin while loosening the skin to allow retraction.

After circumcision, is foreskin restoration possible?

This is difficult if the skin has been excised, though there are devices on sale claiming to restore the foreskin. However, the evidence of these devices actually working is limited.

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Definition

  • Phimosis is defined as the inability to retract the skin (foreskin or prepuce) covering the head (glans) of the penis. Phimosis may appear as a tight ring or rubber band of foreskin around the tip of the penis, preventing full retraction. Phimosis is divided into two forms: physiologic and pathologic. Current incidence of phimosis is about 1% in 7th grade boys.
See more on urology.ucsf.edu

Prognosis

  • Physiologic phimosis: Children are born with tight foreskin at birth and separation occurs naturally over time. Phimosis is normal for the uncircumcised infant/child and usually resolves around 5-7 years of age, however the child may be older.
See more on urology.ucsf.edu

Treatment

  • Pathologic phimosis: Phimosis that occurs due to scarring, infection or inflammation. Forceful foreskin retraction can lead to bleeding, scarring, and psychological trauma for the child and parent. If there is ballooning of the foreskin during urination, difficulty with urination, or infection, then treatment may be warranted. Pathologic phimosis that does not resolve naturally or cause…
See more on urology.ucsf.edu

Prevention

  • No special care is required for foreskin in infancy. The foreskin should not be forcibly retracted, however gentle retraction is okay. In the first few years of life, gentle retraction with cleansing underneath the foreskin is sufficient during diaper changes or bathing and will result in progressive retraction over time. Once the child is older and the foreskin retracts fully, he will lea…
See more on urology.ucsf.edu

Appearance

  • Smegma is a collection of skin cells from the glans penis and inner foreskin that is often noted with retraction of the foreskin. This natural skin shedding helps to separate the foreskin from the head of the penis. Smegma may appear as white pearls underneath the skin, which can easily be washed off once the foreskin is retracted.
See more on urology.ucsf.edu

Overview

  • Male circumcision refers to the surgical removal of the foreskin. Circumcision is often not required for treatment of phimosis. In some rare cases your pediatric urologist may recommend circumcision due to failure of steroid ointment, pathologic phimosis, paraphimosis (foreskin stuck in the retracted position behind the head of the penis), recurren...
See more on urology.ucsf.edu

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