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's balanitis. How should I treat recurring balanitis and glansitis?Doctor's answer:
Phimosis and balanitis are caused by excessive foreskin, accumulation of smegma, and bacterial growth leading to infection. The best treatment is to undergo circumcision as soon as possible, which reduces the production of smegma and prevents recurrent balanitis. If your balanitis has recently occurred, circumcision should be delayed until the inflammation subsides. In the meantime, you can apply topical gentamicin ointment and take oral antibiotics, which should resolve the inflammation within about 7 days. Balanitis can be stabilized, but the treatment period is usually long, and relapse is common after recovery. Therefore, it is crucial to actively cooperate with your doctor and use medication appropriately during treatment.