Patient's question:
For a while now, I've noticed that my glans is particularly dry, and it seems to have some flaky stuff falling off, like dandruff. I also feel itchy and painful. Is this balanitis? Please ask: Can redness and swelling of the glans lead to balanitis?Doctor's answer:
The redness and swelling of the glans are usually caused by balanoposthitis, which is the term used when balanitis and posthitis occur simultaneously. Balanoposthitis can be infectious or non-infectious, and clinically, infectious balanoposthitis is more common. Infectious cases are often caused by unprotected sexual contact, which can transmit Candida albicans, Trichomonas, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or other bacteria. Non-infectious factors are often due to excessive foreskin, insufficient hygiene, or the accumulation of unclean substances between the foreskin and glans, known as smegma. This accumulation can irritate the local foreskin and mucosa, leading to inflammation and causing the foreskin to become red and swollen.