Treatment of Phimosis at Home. Phimosis in Boys – What Is It and How Dangerous Is It?
Most mothers of infants face phimosis in boys. What is it? This anomaly occurs because the glans and the foreskin of the penis are fused during the first few years of life.
In adults, there are a number of risk factors and causes of phimosis. However, it only becomes a problem when different symptoms appear. Phimosis in boys – what is it? How dangerous is it? How to treat phimosis at home? You can find the answers to these questions in this article.
Definition
The formation of the penis begins in the 7th week of pregnancy and is completed by the 17th. The skin in front of the penis folds, forming the foreskin. It covers the penis, glans, and urinary canal. The foreskin performs many functions: protective, immune, and erogenous.
Phimosis is a condition in which boys, adolescents, or men cannot fully retract the foreskin over the glans of the penis. In other words, the opening of the foreskin is too narrow to allow full exposure of the glans. This anomaly sometimes has a much deeper impact on a man’s life than just an anatomical feature. For many men, phimosis becomes a constant source of discomfort in intimate life.
Classification
According to ICD-10, phimosis is coded as N47 “Excess foreskin, phimosis, and paraphimosis.”
Doctors distinguish two types:
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Physiological phimosis: the foreskin cannot be retracted, but there is no pain during urination and no urinary tract infections. It is common up to the age of 3 and does not require surgery.
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Pathological phimosis: caused by scar tissue formation. It is often associated with balanitis (inflammation of the glans) or lichen sclerosus. Surgical treatment, especially circumcision, is usually required.
Diagnosis of Phimosis
Which doctor should you see? Parents should consult a pediatric urologist and pediatrician for examination. Not always is treatment necessary. In many newborns, the foreskin is fused with the glans. This usually resolves naturally between ages 5 and 18.
Symptoms
Typical symptoms include narrowing of the foreskin, penile pain, pain during intercourse, erectile dysfunction, painful erections, difficulty urinating, dysuria, ulcers, urethral itching, chronic irritation, bleeding, recurrent foreskin infections, urinary tract infections, burning, lower abdominal or back pain.
Causes
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In 96% of newborn boys, the foreskin is fused (physiological phimosis).
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Pathological phimosis in adolescents may arise from infections, scarring, adhesions, trauma, inflammation, or swelling.
Risk Factors
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More common in boys, but also seen in adolescents and elderly men.
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Risks include trauma, bacterial infections (e.g., balanitis), and poor hygiene.
Untreated balanitis may cause painful scarring and premature impotence.
Treatment
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Physiological phimosis: usually no treatment needed. Proper hygiene and observation are sufficient. If redness, pain, or difficulty urinating occurs, medical care is required. Topical steroids may be prescribed.
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Pathological phimosis: circumcision is often the only solution. Steroid creams help only in mild cases.
Parents must never forcibly retract the foreskin — this can cause pain, scarring, and worsen the condition.
Medication Therapy
Steroid creams are the standard home treatment, prescribed by a doctor. Possible side effects: cataracts, osteoporosis, hypertension, high blood sugar, infections.
Alternative/Home Remedies
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Stretching exercises: gently pull the foreskin daily (without pain) for several minutes.
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Herbal/folk remedies: chamomile cream (anti-inflammatory), calendula cream, cucumber seed oil (omega-rich), sea buckthorn oil (healing, regenerating), licorice cream (anti-inflammatory).
Key Points
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Treatment not always necessary – children often outgrow phimosis.
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Early treatment gives good results.
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Circumcision is urgent in paraphimosis cases.
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Recovery after circumcision is fast, especially in infants.
Complications
Untreated phimosis may lead to balanitis, balanoposthitis, urinary tract infections, or erectile problems.
Prevention
Proper hygiene and, in some cases, circumcision reduce risk. Daily washing with warm water helps prevent infections.
