Patient's question:
I noticed that my glans looks quite red and swollen, and sometimes it feels painful. Occasionally, I also see some white discharge. What are the causes of balanitis?Doctor's answer:
The common causes of balanitis can be attributed to infectious and non-infectious factors. Due to unprotected sexual contact, infections with Candida, Trichomonas, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae can all lead to balanitis. Non-infectious factors are often related to excessive foreskin, insufficient hygiene, and the accumulation of unclean substances between the foreskin and the glans, known as smegma, which can irritate the local foreskin and mucosa, triggering inflammation.