Foreskin Pain : Common Causes and Treatment Options

Foreskin pain usually comes from things like not keeping the area clean enough, a yeast or bacterial infection, inflammation (called balanitis), a too-tight foreskin (phimosis), or irritation from sex or masturbation. You might also notice redness, swelling, itching, or trouble pulling the foreskin back.

Keeping things clean matters. Wash the area gently with warm water and a mild soap, then make sure it’s dry. Skip harsh soaps or anything with strong chemicals they will just make things worse. If you’ve got redness, itching, or any discharge, that’s probably an infection, and you’ll need to see a doctor.

If the pain sticks around for more than a few days, or if there’s swelling, a foreskin that won’t retract, cracking skin, or trouble peeing, get to a urologist. It’s better to catch these things early.