• United Kingdom
• Change

Bupa members

Support and offers for individual members and customers

Chronic balanitis in adults Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, September 2008.

Answers to questions about chronic balanitis in adults

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email. This section will expand over time.

• What is the difference between chronic and acute balanitis?
• If I have chronic balanitis will I have to be circumcised?
• How should I clean my penis to help prevent balanitis coming back?

 

---

What is the difference between chronic and acute balanitis?

Answer

The main differences between chronic and acute balanitis are the length of time you have symptoms for and the causes of the condition.

Explanation

Both chronic and acute balanitis are conditions that cause the head of your penis (glans) to become inflamed. They can also affect your foreskin and the shaft of your penis.

Chronic balanitis is when your symptoms last for several weeks, months or longer - the term chronic refers to time, not how serious the condition is. The causes of chronic balanitis can include:

• skin conditions, such as balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO), Zoon's balanitis, psoriasis or seborrhoeic dermatitis
• skin cancers, such as erythroplasia of Queyrat and penile squamous cell carcinoma
• skin irritants, such as latex condoms or soap
• reactive arthritis

Acute balanitis is when symptoms only last a short period of time, usually for a couple of weeks. The causes of acute balanitis differ from those causing chronic balanitis and can include:

• infection, most commonly Candida albicans
• sexually transmitted infections, such as genital herpes or gonorrhoea
• diabetes
• skin irritants, such as antiseptics or detergents
• side-effects of some medicines
• injury (trauma) to your penis

Chronic and acute balanitis can be recurrent. This means that your symptoms keep coming back. This usually happens if your balanitis is caused by skin irritants or infection, especially if you have a phimosis and are unable to pull your foreskin back to clean underneath it properly. Symptoms may settle down once you stop using the product causing your balanitis, but they will return if you start using it again. If phimosis causes your balanitis to keep coming back you may need to be circumcised.

If you have any concerns about inflammation around the head of your penis, it's important to see your GP to get a diagnosis and treatment.

Sources

• Balanitis. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. http://cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 14 February 2008
• 2001 National Guideline on the Management of Balanitis. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. www.bashh.org, accessed 12 February 2008
• Simon C, Everitt H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007

---

If I have chronic balanitis will I have to be circumcised?

Answer

Having chronic balanitis does not automatically mean you will need to be circumcised. Circumcision is usually only considered if your symptoms are severe and for certain types of balanitis.

Explanation

Chronic balanitis has several different causes, and as such requires different types of treatment. Circumcision is a relatively rare treatment and is only considered for certain types of skin disorders or skin cancers affecting your penis.

Balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) and Zoon's balanitis are both skin conditions affecting your glans and foreskin which may need to be treated using circumcision. This is especially so for BXO, which if left untreated, can eventually cause your urethra (the tube for passing urine and semen) to narrow, making it very difficult for you to pass urine.

Penile squamous cell carcinoma and erythroplasia of Queyrat are both types of skin cancer that affect the penis. Early pre-cancerous lesions on the head of the penis may look red and inflamed or dry and flaky. If the cancer is caught early, you may only need to have a cream applied to treat the condition. In almost all other cases, surgery is required to remove the cancerous growth or lesion, and this may also include being circumcised.

Circumcision is an operation that involves surgically removing your foreskin (the sleeve of skin that surrounds the head of your penis). The procedure is usually carried out as a day case under general anaesthesia - this means you will be asleep during the operation. You may be uncomfortable for a few days after, especially when going to the toilet.

If your urethra has narrowed as a result of your balanitis, additional surgery may be required to open it up.

The decision to circumcise should not be taken lightly. It's important to look at all the treatment options available and talk the matter through with your GP or consultant first.

Sources

• 2001 National Guideline on the Management of Balanitis. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. www.bashh.org, accessed 12 February 2008
• Management of foreskin conditions. British Association of Paediatric Urologists. www.baps.org.uk, accessed 22 February 2008
• Penile squamous cell carcinoma. eMedicine. www.emedicine.com, accessed 15 February 2008

---

How should I clean my penis to help prevent balanitis coming back?

Answer

To help prevent balanitis you should wash and dry your penis and underneath your foreskin thoroughly every day, especially if you are uncircumcised.

Explanation

Keeping your foreskin and the head of your penis (glans) clean and dry may help to prevent balanitis, especially if you have had an infection.

Pay particular attention to the end of your penis when showering. Slide your foreskin back so your glans is exposed. Wash the area with warm water only. Using soap can irritate the area, and is the most common cause of recurrent balanitis (when symptoms keep coming back). If you wish, you can use an aqueous cream (such as E45) to clean the area rather than soap, but make sure it's completely rinsed off.

After you have finished washing, dry the area thoroughly. The glans should be completely dry before placing your foreskin back. Use a soft towel and be careful not to dry yourself too vigorously as this may cause irritation.

Some men are prone to developing balanitis after having sex. If this is the case for you, use a non-latex condom or make sure you wash and dry your penis shortly after sex.

Balanitis can develop as a result of irritation to soap, washing powder, latex condoms, lubricants or antiseptics. Use unperfumed soaps, non-biological detergents or products specifically for sensitive skin. If you know that a certain product causes your symptoms, avoid using it or try an alternative brand. Also, feminine hygiene sprays can sometimes cause balanitis, so talk to your partner about any products she may be using.

If you have any questions or concerns about balanitis, talk to your GP.

Further information

• Malehealth
  www.malehealth.co.uk

Sources

• Balanitis. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. http://cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 14 February 2008
• 2001 National Guideline on the Management of Balanitis. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. www.bashh.org, accessed 12 February 2008
• Balanitis. New Zealand Dermatological Society. www.dermnetnz.org, accessed 14 February 2008
• Penis problems. Malehealth. www.malehealth.co.uk, accessed 18 February 2008

---

RThis information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Consultant Urologist Raj Persad, MB BS, ChM, FRCS(Urol), FEBU at United Bristol Health Care Trust, and by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: September 2008