Balanitis is a medical condition where the head of the penis gets swollen. It is typically an infection of the skin on the head of the penis. This urological condition can be uncomfortable, intolerable, and sometimes painful, but it is usually not severe and can be cured with topical medication. Balanitis is not at all contagious. However, despite that, an individual can transfer the underlying infection that occasioned it. Here are some facts to consider and keep in mind about Balanitis:
USFDA Approved Procedures
No Cuts. No Wounds. Painless*.
Insurance Paperwork Support
1 Day Procedure
No A 24 Hauz Khas Delhi Delhi - Delhi
Plot No. 86, RTC Colony Trimulgherry Secunderabad Hyderabad Hyderabad -...
No B 6, Jayesh Apartment Chandavarkar Road Borivali West Mumbai...
SCO 309, 2nd Floor Sector 29, Huda Market Road Huda...
Balanitis is divided into three types:
This is the most common type of Balanitis. It impacts uncircumcised, middle-aged, and older men, resulting in an inflamed, red penis tip. It is also known as plasma cell balanitis. The starting treatment procedure may involve maintaining good hygiene and using emollient creams. Circumcision is curative.
It happens because of reactive arthritis. It is a kind of arthritis that evolves in reaction to an infection in the body. In addition to redness and inflammation, Circinate Balanitis also leads to small lesions (sores) on the tip of the penis. At the earlier stage, people experience mini dots with a white plaque. It then grows into red areas not bordered by white plaque. Patients do not suffer from itching or burning, nor do they go through bad smells.
This type of Balanitis causes warts on the glans. It is a very rare urological condition affecting men over 60 years. The condition is typically asymptomatic, but maceration, fissuring, and irritation may be linked. The clinical course of PKMB is chronic and can be recurrent after treatment.
Balanitis is caused by a fungal infection, such as a yeast infection. But it can also be caused due to bacterial infections. In addition, it happens because of hygiene issues because the foreskin can suck in moisture and give an environment for yeast and bacteria to grow. Some of the causes of Balanitis are mentioned below:
Various germs on the skin may enhance and cause infection. Therefore, a prevalent cause of Balanitis is a yeast or bacterial infection prompted by a fungus- candida.
Some sexually transmitted infections can also cause balanitis. But it takes place occasionally. Precisely, an STI happens if you have swelling of the urethra.
Certain skin conditions can also cause Balanitis- for example, psoriasis can affect the penis. In addition to psoriasis, other skin conditions can cause Balanitis but are unfamiliar.
Skin is a very sensitive part of the human body, and it can get swollen if it gets affected by specific procedures, chemicals, or other irritants. For example:
Poor hygiene around the penile area, accompanied by a tight foreskin, can result in irritation caused by smegma. Smegma is a cheesy substance that develops under the foreskin if the glans are not cleaned.
Majorly, a scraping of skin is examined under the microscope. Then, it may be sent to the laboratory for further testing. When Balanitis appears distinct from a typical infection, your doctor can advise you to see a skin specialist or that a biopsy is performed. In a skin biopsy, a piece of skin is taken out and examined. It helps in knowing whether you have an abnormal type of infection.
The treatment of Balanitis depends on the cause. If a yeast infection triggers the problem of Balanitis, then your doctor will advise you to use an antifungal cream. Furthermore, if you have an infection caused by a skin bacteria, you will be advised to apply an antibiotic cream and to wash the area properly. Sometimes antibiotic pills may be required.
You must keep the area clean and dry when the skin is swollen but not infected. Soaps, skin lotions, or other chemicals that aggravate the condition should be avoided. In uncircumcised men, circumcision is the best method of treatment for Balanitis. Circumcision is a procedure performed to remove the foreskin from the head of the penis.
It prevents recurrent infections, primarily in men with tight and difficult-to-retract foreskin. This is because the removal of the foreskin stops the accumulation of urine or any residual matter that leads to Balanitis in the first place. In the absence of the foreskin, there is no longer an environment for an infection or inflammation that can result in Balanitis. Hence, a permanent solution for balanitis can be stapler circumcision.
Balanitis is a medical condition that advances very slowly. Therefore, it doesn’t possess the power to hinder any physiological function. But, prolonged Balanitis can have severe complications if left untreated and can lead to chronic inflammation and other complications, like:
The possibility of risks and complications after balanitis surgery (Circumcision) is quite low. However, it does not mean it can’t cause any complications at all. Therefore, listed below are some possible risks and complications associated with circumcision surgery that you must be aware of:
So it is always recommended to do laser circumcision surgery from experienced urologist for safe and secure procedure.
The cost of balanitis surgery in India ranges between INR 30,000 to INR 35,000. However, the final cost of surgery is calculated after considering various factors, including the choice of treatment city and hospital, the type of surgery, the experience of the urologist, etc.
Like most surgeries, Balanitis surgery is also covered under insurance. At Pristyn Care we offer complete insurance assistance and have a dedicated team that helps patients throughout the claim process. To know more about the insurance coverage of Balanitis, get in touch with our medical coordinators.
Yes, the pain caused by the swollen foreskin increases when you have an erection. It destroys the thought of sex and can lead to erectile dysfunction.
No. Balanitis can not result in the death of a person because it is not such a life-threatening condition. But it should never be ignored and left untreated. The pain can become intolerable and unendurable if balanitis is undiagnosed and left untreated.
Balanitis is uncomfortable but is not dangerous. It can be relieved with the help of topical medication. But, when left untreated, it can result in Balanoposthitis- a term that describes long-term chronic inflammation. It can also lead to Phimosis.
Yes, Balanitis is a urological condition that can be cured properly and completely. Your doctor can put you on antibiotics or other medications like creams or lotions to medicate the problem. But, the forever solution to this problem is circumcision.
If the inflammation is fungal, the doctor will prescribe an antifungal medication. Balanitis symptoms include burning, swelling, redness, and itching around the penis head. If bacteria cause the infection, the doctor will prescribe certain antibiotics like erythromycin. Symptoms of bacterial infection are lesions (sores) in the glans.
It is believed that a rash on the penis is a major symptom of HIV. But it is also a sign of Balanitis, occurring in uncircumcised middle-aged and older adults. It is usually the result of a bacterial or yeast infection.
Yes, you can indulge in sexual activities if you have Balanitis. But not in the case where STDs cause Balanitis.
Balanitis is manageable in most cases, if the affected individual follows some care tips. Listed below are some Do’s of Balanitis that will help you manage this disease and prevent it from turning serious:
Balanitis generally forms in uncircumcised men as infections, both yeast, and bacteria, get the ideal environment under the foreskin to grow. Additionally, it also affects men with phimosis, a condition that causes the foreskin to become tight and difficult to retract.