Patient's question:
Recently, I noticed mild redness and swelling of the penis foreskin and glans, significant swelling of the foreskin, and severe itching. Please check if it is balanitis. How should I treat recurring balanitis and glans inflammation?Doctor's answer:
Phimosis is caused by excessive foreskin, accumulation of smegma, and bacterial growth leading to recurrent infections. The best treatment is to undergo circumcision as soon as possible, as this will reduce the production of smegma and prevent phimosis from recurring. If your phimosis has recently flared up, circumcision should be delayed until the inflammation subsides. In the meantime, you can apply topical tetracycline ointment and take oral antibiotics, which should help reduce the inflammation within about 7 days. Phimosis can be stabilized, but the treatment period is usually long, and relapse is common after treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to actively cooperate with your doctor and use medications appropriately.