What is Phimosis : Causes, Symptoms and Treatment?

Phimosis is a prevalent disease in infants and adults. Phimosis happen is when the foreskin is incapable of being retracted (drawn back) from the penis tip. Baby boys without circumcision may have a tight foreskin because the glans are still connected to the foreskin for the first few years. Moreover, it is a common occurrence, and it usually ceases to be a problem after three years. 

Experiencing Phimosis isn’t always a problem, and it is when it creates symptoms that it becomes a concern. This might happen if Phimosis is extreme and leaves a pinhole-sized aperture.

Unless it makes peeing difficult or produces other symptoms, young males may not require care for Phimosis. As these boys mature, their treatment needs may arise.

Physiologic and pathologic Phimosis are two forms of Phimosis. The physiologic type relates with childhood and often declines as you age. Balanitis xerotica obliterans is a pathologic condition associated with this type (BXO).

Let’s check out phimosis symptoms and causes below.

Symptoms of Phimosis

Phimosis disease has not had any specific symptoms. Generally, people get redness, itchiness, and swelling due to Phimosis. Often the tight foreskin of the penis creates many problems while urinating. A person with severe Phimosis can have many issues clearing his bladder thoroughly. Due to poor hygiene, men also suffer from balanitis, Posthitis and balanoposthitis conditions. Here some common phimosis symptoms are described below.

• You may find redness and discoloration in the penis area, which may occur due to infection of Phimosis.
• Swelling and inflammation
• Soreness and itching
• You also see the build-up of thick fluid
• Foul odor from the penis is also a symptom of Phimosis
• Many youth and children also feel pain while urinating.
• The adults feel the pain with erections and with sexual activity.

Causes of Phimosis

Usually, the foreskin is connected with the glans in babies, and after two years to 6 years, the foreskin detaches from glance naturally. But due to different causes, toddlers and adults face the problem of Phimosis.

Here are some phimosis causes described below.

Causes of older boys from the age group of 16 to 18 and adults:

• They face the problem of Phimosis due to urinary tract infections.
• Boys suffering from foreskin infection can also have chances of getting Phimosis.
• If a boy repeatedly roughly handles the foreskin of the penis, he has the possibility of this disease.
• Boys having foreskin trauma also have this disease.
• Unprotected sex and sexually transmitted diseases can lead to this disease in the case of adults.

Several skin conditions also cause Phimosis, such as:

1. Eczema: When a boy or adult gets this skin disease, and his skin becomes itchy, red, dry, and cracked, he has the chance of getting Phimosis.
2. Psoriasis: Psoriasis skin condition creates patches on the skin, and the skin becomes red, flaky, and crusty, so there is a high chance of getting Phimosis.
3. Lichen planus: In Lichen planus, people get rashes and itchiness all over the body, so men can suffer from Phimosis.
4. Lichen sclerosus: Boys and adults with this problem develop scarring on the foreskin, which can progress to Phimosis.

It is probable to occur in younger men with:

• continual UTIs
• foreskin contamination
• continual harsh handling of the force
• foreskin injury

The risk factors for Phimosis in adults includes STIs.

Phimosis can prompt penis irritation called balanitis. Further, it may cause glans and foreskin aggravation, called balanoposthitis. These circumstances will more often be a cause of lack of personal hygiene.

Balanitis signs include:

• irritation, soreness, and odor
• redness and enlarging
• development of thick liquid
• discomfort while urination

When should a person seek medical attention?

In most cases, Phimosis cannot need any treatment. In the case of young boys, the problem naturally resolves when they get older. But when adults feel penis pain from erection and urinating, it is a very severe case of Phimosis.

It will help you if you seek the immediate consultation of doctors for phimosis treatment. If you have seen any changing color of your glans and foreskin, consult your doctor quickly. Besides this, spots in the foreskin, pain, itching, and swelling are also signs for consulting a doctor.

With the latest treatment options, Phimosis is treatable, but you need surgical methods in severe cases. The phimosis surgery cost depends on the condition severity. Additionally, phimosis surgery recovery time is about ten days. After the surgical method, you can recover from this condition and resume your normal activities.

Diagnosis Of Phimosis

A specialist will get a complete history from the individual, getting some information about any past penis contamination or wounds they could have had. They may likewise ask about the effect of any side effects on sexual activity. An actual assessment will incorporate them checking out at the penis and foreskin.

The specialist might prescribe urine tests to check for urine contaminations or swabs from the foreskin region to check for microscopic organisms.

Phimosis has an increased chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Adults having a tight foreskin might require blood and urine tests to check their sugar levels.

After diagnosis, the doctor will recommend any phimosis treatment.

Phimosis Treatment

The treatment for phimosis relies upon the symptoms that happen. Most instances of balanitis treatment involve good personal cleanliness, ointments, or creams.

Additionally, the individual must clean the penis everyday with lukewarm water and gently dry it to maintain cleanliness. Further, try not to utilize cleanser, bubble shower, or soap on their privates. Additionally, dry under the foreskin following urination.

A specialist might suggest utilizing a steroid cream or treatment to assist with the aggravation.

In the case of balanoposthitis due to bacterial or fungal infection, the specialist might suggest utilizing a steroid cream or antibiotics medication.

In extreme or recurring balanitis or balanoposthitis, specialists might suggest treating phimosis. Additionally, they might prescribe steroid creams to assist with softening of the foreskin, and this will make it easier to withdraw, or a medical procedure might be a choice.

Specialists might recommend circumcision, in which removal of all or a part of the foreskin takes place. However, the medical procedure carries a risk of bleeding and contamination.

A surgery to precisely release the regions where the foreskin remains stuck to the glans may likewise be conceivable. Hence, this will retain the foreskin. However, there are chances that phimosis may likewise occur.

Phimosis vs. Paraphimosis

Phimosis is when the foreskin is incapable of being retracted (drawn back) from the penis tip. Moreover, this is a typical issue in young males.

Paraphimosis is when the foreskin may be withdrawn but cannot be placed back. This can forestall the typical bloodstream in the penis and lead to significant issues.

Prevention & After-Care Tips

Preventing phimosis isn’t possible, and it’s present in all infants. However, maintaining personal cleanliness is vital. Parents/caregivers must receive instructions on the ideal way to clean a penis. Further, they need not be concerned if retracting the foreskin for the first initial years isn’t possible.

Most uncircumcised baby boys have a foreskin that does not retract since it is attached to the penis. It will begin to detach normally somewhere between 2 and 6 years old, even though it could take longer.

Further, parents shouldn’t attempt to pull back the foreskin before it is prepared, as this might cause and harm the foreskin.

Whenever the youngsters are mature enough to care for themselves, they should get instructions on the best and safe ways of cleaning their penis.

The doctor would advise any individual with an uncircumcised penis to pull back the prepuce and wash it under with warm water. Moreover, utilizing a gentle or non-perfumed cleanser will lessen the risk of aggravation. Further, avoid utilization of powder or perfume on the area.

Bottom Line

While the signs of phimosis might be uncomfortable, the actual condition isn’t serious. Phimosis treatment is effective.

Now and again, however, you could require treatment, and a typical idea is a medical procedure. Discuss with your doctor or your infant’s healthcare giver to settle on the ideal decision.

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FAQs

What causes phimosis?

Anyone with an uncircumcised penis may develop phimosis. You can’t retract (pull back) the foreskin to uncover the glans because it’s too tight. The majority of the children overcome it.

What is the fastest way to cure phimosis?

Doctors may administer topical steroids to cure a tight foreskin (corticosteroid creams, gels, or ointments). They can loosen the foreskin’s skin and make it easier to pull back.

Why do adults get phimosis?

Adult phimosis can develop as a result of repeated balanitis or balanoposthitis. Inadequate personal grooming is a frequent cause of such condition. Additionally, it can be a sign of diabetes mellitus in its early stages.

Does phimosis go away in adults?

Unless any surgery is performed or the infection doesn’t receive treatment, phimosis won’t disappear.

Reference  – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3329654/