Symptoms

• Penis symptoms include rash, pain, itching, and swelling. Discharge from the end of the penis is also included.
• Scrotum symptoms include rash, itching, pain and swelling.
• Any genital pain that is not due to an injury is covered.
• Foreskin retraction questions for boys not circumcised are also covered.

Types of Foreskin Retraction Problems

• The foreskin usually causes no problems. However, forceful retraction can cause it to get stuck behind the glans. The glans is the head of the penis. This can cause severe pain and swelling. This is called paraphimosis. It's a medical emergency.
• If retraction is forceful, it can cause a small cut. This cut may cause a small amount of bleeding and pain.
• Sometimes, the cut causes the space under the foreskin to become infected.

1. What You Should Know:
   • Rashes can be caused by skin irritants. Hand-to-penis contact is normal when passing urine. Therefore, the rash is most likely from an irritant that was on the hands.
   • Examples are a plant (such as an evergreen) or chemicals (such as bug repellents). Fiberglass, pet saliva or even food can also be irritants.
   • Most small rashes can be treated at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Cleansing:
   • Wash the area once with soap to remove any irritants.
3. Steroid Cream:
   • For itchy rashes, use 1% hydrocortisone cream. No prescription is needed.
   • Do this 2 times per day for a few days.
4. Antibiotic Ointment:
   • For any cuts, sores or scabs that look infected, put on an antibiotic ointment. No prescription is needed.
   • Use 2 times per day until seen.
5. What to Expect:
   • Small rashes from irritants should go away in 1 to 2 days with treatment.
6. Prevention:
   • Teach your son to wash his hands if they are dirty.
   • Have him clean his hands before touching his penis.
7. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Rash spreads or gets worse
   • Rash lasts more than 3 days
   • Fever occurs
   • Your child becomes worse

1. What You Should Know About the Foreskin:
   • At birth, the foreskin is attached to the head of the penis (glans). It is attached by a layer of cells.
   • Over time, the foreskin will separate from the head of the penis. This is a natural process and occurs over 5 to 10 years. It slowly loosens up (retracts) a little at a time.
   • Normal erections during childhood cause most of the change by stretching the foreskin.
   • If your boy has a normal urine stream, any foreskin movement is normal.
   • There should be no rush to achieve full retraction. This always occurs on its own by puberty.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Cleansing Before Age 1 Year:
   • During the first year of life, only clean the outside of the foreskin.
   • Don't make any attempts at retraction.
   • Don't put any cotton swabs into the opening.
3. Foreskin Retraction:
   • Begin gentle partial retraction at 1-2 yrs of age.
   • It can be done once per week during bathing.
   • Gently pull the skin on the shaft of the penis backward towards the stomach.
   • This will make the foreskin open up. You will be able to see the end of the glans (tip of the penis).
   • Be gentle. Retraction should never cause pain or crying.
4. Cleansing After Age 1 Year:
   • As the foreskin becomes able to retract on its own, cleanse beneath it. This helps to prevent infections.
   • Wash the exposed part of the glans gently with warm water. Then, dry it.
   • Do not use soap or leave soapy water under the foreskin. This can cause redness and swelling.
   • Wipe away any whitish material (smegma) that you find there.
5. Reposition:
   • After cleansing, always pull the foreskin forward to its normal position.
6. Avoid Forceful Retraction:
   • This can cause bleeding or tears of the tissue.
   • It also may cause the foreskin to become stuck behind the head of the penis.
   • Retraction is too hard if it causes any pain or crying.
7. Teach Child:
   • By age 5 or 6, teach your son to retract his own foreskin.
   • Teach him to clean beneath it once a week during bathing.
   • This will help to prevent poor hygiene and infection.
8. Pain Following Recent Attempt at Retraction:
   • The attempt to retract the foreskin has probably caused a small cut or tear. Raw surfaces are painful.
   • Cover the raw area with a layer of antibiotic ointment.
   • If you don't have one, use petroleum jelly.
   • Once the raw surface is protected from the air, the pain should go away. The pain should slowly improve over a few hours.
   • Continue twice a day until healed. This takes about 1 or 2 days.
9. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Pain lasts more than 24 hours
   • Foreskin looks infected
   • Other foreskin problems occur

1. Smegma - General Information:
   • Smegma is the small pieces of whitish material found under the foreskin. It can build up under the foreskin. This happens if the foreskin is not pulled back and cleaned regularly.
   • Smegma also can occur before the foreskin becomes retractable. It lies under the foreskin that is still stuck to the head of the penis. It can't be removed.
   • Smegma is made up of dead skin cells. These cells are shed from the lining of the foreskin and the penis. It becomes trapped under the foreskin.
   • Smegma is normal and harmless. It is not a sign of an infection. It is produced in small amounts throughout life.
2. Smegma Before Age 1 Year:
   • Sometimes, smegma can be seen through the foreskin. It looks like small whitish lumps.
   • If it lies beyond the level of foreskin retraction, it should be left alone.
   • Wait until normal separation exposes it.
   • During the first year of life, do not make any attempts at foreskin retraction.