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Balanitis -- Causes and Cures Related Links Normal Penis Size Prostate Cancer -How It is Linked to a Fatty Diet Prostatic Hypertrophy-Causes and Top 10 Natural Remedies Prostate Cancer-Top 10 Signs Enlarged Prostate-Causes and Top 10 Natural Remedies Stop Burning When You Urinate Why Do My Balls Itch?-Causes and Cures 10 Superfoods for Mens Health Beer and Prostate Cancer -What Are the Facts? Yoga to Strengthen Erectile Performance Yoga At Your Desk to Release Tension Foods That Help You Maintain Your Erection Normal Penis Size Get Lean Diet for Men June 17, 2012, last updated April 3, 2013 By Stephen Kintz, Contributing Columnist If you have ever had balanitis, you know it's not a pretty sight. According to the National Institutes of Health, balanitis is an inflammation of the foreskin or head of the penis. Typically, balanitis presents with a red rash on the foreskin or head of the penis, a foul smelling discharge, and, sometimes, pain. Unfortunately for men, balanitis is common in men and boys, affecting around 11% of the male population. Herzog and colleagues published a study in 1986 in the “American Journal of Diseases of Children” that claims uncircumcised boys (6%) are more prone to balanitis than circumcised boys (3%). However, it is difficult to determine the number of men with general balanitis symptoms since balanitis is a symptom and attributed to numerous causes and ailments. What causes balanitis? Are there any natural remedies that prevent or treat balanitis? Balanitis Causes As mentioned above, balanitis is more of a symptom caused by numerous diseases and conditions. Therefore, it has a myriad of causes. The National Institute of Health claims that the most common causes are bacterial infection, fungal infection, skin disease, reactive arthritis, and allergic reaction. However, many of these causes stem from improper hygiene. Balanitis can also be caused by diabetes and sexually transmitted diseases. There are many different types of balanitis, including balanitis xerotica obliterans, zoon balanitis, candida balanitis. It is important to determine the cause of your balanitis before seeking treatment. Almost all the treatments for balanitis are specific to the ailment or condition causing it. Therefore, it is important to speak with your doctor or pharmacist before starting most of the treatments listed below. Treatments and Natural Remedies for Balanitis I have read several website claiming that garlic, yogurt, tea oil, calendula, and coconut oil can be used to treat balanitis. However, I have found no study to back up this information. It appears the general belief is these items have natural anti- fungal or anti-bacterial properties, which may be true. Yet just because something might have anti-fungal properties, does not mean it can cure a balanitis fungal infection. I cannot stop you from rubbing garlic on your penis, but there is not a study claiming garlic helps with balanitis that I have found. The 10 treatments listed below will probably be more helpful: 1. Good Hygiene Can Prevent Balanitis Balanitis is generally not a serious condition. If you keep your penis clean and dry (circumcised or uncircumcised), you should not have a problem with balanitis. According to Edwards who published an article in Genitourin Medicine from Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, UK, balanitis is generally an infection caused by poor hygiene in uncircumcised men. Also, according to the National Health Services in the United Kingdom, keeping your hands clean and washing your penis might relieve the symptoms of balanitis, unless it has blossomed into a full blown infection. (Read more about how to clean your penis.) 2. Remove Irritants to Get Rid of Balanitis The National Institute of Health and the National Health Services in the United Kingdom recommend removing any irritants that might cause an allergic reaction. This can include harsh soaps, bubble baths, baby wipes, certain condoms, latex, and hygiene sprays. It can also include urine. You should wash your penis if you pee all over it. In most cases of balanitis because of allergic reaction, the removal of any irritants will solve the problem and doctor intervention is not required. 3. Steroid Creams (corticosteroid) Can Help Of course, if the irritation continues, you might want to use a topical steroid cream. You should probably consult with your doctor or pharmacist before trying a topical steroid cream. Steroid creams will reduce penis inflammation. Yet if the penis is not kept clean or the irritant is not removed, the steroid creams will not cure your balanitis. The National Health Services in the United Kingdom says that if symptoms persist for 14 days, you should definitely seek the help of a doctor. The doctor will be able to prescribe better steroids (generally, not topical) or determine another cause for your balanitis. 4. Anti-Fungal (Clotrimazole) A Fungal infection is a very common cause of balanitis. If you have recently had sex, you might have caught a yeast infection. You might have also contracted a fungal infection from poor hygiene. If your symptoms persist for several days with no improvement, you should consult your doctor for help. If the cause of your infection is fungal in nature, the National Institute of Health and National Health Services of the United Kingdom recommend an anti-fungal cream, like Fluconazole. 5. Antibiotics -A Solution in Some Cases of Balanitis A bacterial infection is also very common. And much like a fungal infection if your symptoms persist for several days with no improvement, you should consult your doctor for help. If the cause of your infection is bacterial in nature, the National Institute of Health and National Health Services of the United Kingdom recommend antibiotics, like amoxicillin, erythromycin, or clarithromycin. 6. Epsom Salt May Help Balanitis Epsom salt is not really a treatment. However, the National Institute of Health claims that Epsom salt can be used to treat irritation and inflammation. Typically, balanitis patients should add the salt to a warm bath. However, the soaking treatment should not be used by people with diabetes, and you might want to consult a doctor or pharmacist before attempting the soaking treatment. 7. Avoid Sugars to Reduce Balanitis Drivsholm and colleagues published a 2005 study in Diabetologia from Copenhagen, Kommunehospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark that says that balanitis is a common symptom of men with high levels of glycaemia (or diabetes). Unfortunately, diabetics are susceptible to many different skin conditions; fortunately, if diabetics avoid sugars and take their medication, these skin conditions will often go away. However, if left untreated, the skin condition can quickly develop into a bacterial or fungal infection. 8. Laser Treatment Can Help Balanitis If your penis inflammation is chronic or the foreskin is too stiff to properly move for hygienic purposes, your doctor will properly recommend a surgical treatment. Luckily for men, Wollina published a 2010 study in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy from the Academic Teaching Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt in Dresden, Germany that claims laser therapy might be a viable treatment instead surgery. Wollina treated 20 men for chronic balanitis and found that laser treatment was not only effective and safe, but the laser treatment had very few side effects and almost no pain. While it might seem odd to have a laser on your penis, most men will probably agree it is better than a scalpel. 9. Dorsal Slit If you need surgical intervention because of chronic balanitis or stiff foreskin but want to avoid circumcision, you might want to ask your doctor about a dorsal slit. A dorsal slit is a small slit on the top of the foreskin that provides the same relief as circumcisions, but it is less radical and requires less recovery time. Thiruchelvam and colleagues published a paper in 2004 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine about an emergency dorsal slit conducted at North Hampshire Hospital in Basingstoke, UK. Thiruchelvan and colleagues favor the dorsal slit because it retains the foreskin of the patient, but it still allows for the drainage of pus and the foreskin to be moved to allow proper hygiene. 10. Circumcision For most men, however, the National Institute of Health and National Health Services of the United Kingdom recommend circumcision for men with chronic balanitis and tight foreskin. They may also recommend circumcision for men when the underlying cause of the balanitis (infection, irritant, etc.) cannot be determined. Generally, before surgery of any kind is performed or recommended, your doctor should refer you to a dermatologist. So don’t let you your doctor be cut happy if you can avoid it. Related: What to Eat If You Have Prostate Cancer Foods That Strengthen Erectile Performance Stop Burning When You Urinate Normal Penis Size Bad Bed Habits That Turn Her Off Eating Soy Reduces Sperm Count Whey Versus Creatine -Which One Is Better? Why Asian Men Don't Get As Much Prostate Cancer |
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