Patient's question:
Why is there a little redness and swelling in the foreskin?Doctor's answer:
The causes of balanitis (redness, swelling, and itching of the foreskin) include the following:1. Excessive foreskin: Due to an overly long foreskin, secretions from the inner foreskin cannot be cleaned promptly, allowing pathogens to grow and multiply, leading to local inflammation. Balanitis manifests as redness, swelling, burning pain, and worsening during urination, with purulent discharge from the foreskin opening. If the foreskin is retracted, the inner foreskin and glans may appear congested, swollen, and in severe cases, shallow ulcers or erosions with purulent exudate.
2. Excessive masturbation: Young men often have high libido and may masturbate frequently. Sometimes, overly rough masturbation motions can cause varying degrees of foreskin damage. Due to the high level of excitement during masturbation, the injury may be minor and go unnoticed. However, the foreskin is easily contaminated with bacteria, which can trigger balanitis.
3. Candida infection: Candida infection is also a cause of balanitis, as it is a conditionally pathogenic fungus. Candida balanitis often occurs secondary to diabetes, elderly wasting diseases, or prolonged antibiotic or hormone treatment. It can also be primary, often transmitted from a partner with candidal vaginitis. The glans and coronal sulcus may develop superficial red erosions and thin-walled vesicles, though Candida may not be found locally. This could be due to a local allergic reaction caused by Candida.
Advice: Since the foreskin is an important part of the reproductive system, if it develops issues—especially symptoms like redness, swelling, and itching—prompt treatment is crucial to prevent sexual dysfunction, male infertility, and other complications. Therefore, it is recommended that men seek professional medical evaluation and treatment at a urology hospital as soon as possible if they experience these symptoms.