How to Treat Balanitis

If you have balanitis, you will notice itching, redness, and sometimes swelling around the tip of the penis. It can cause discomfort, sometimes pain when urinating. ^{[1] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source} Balanitis most commonly occurs in uncircumcised individuals. While it’s a little sensitive, you have no reason to be embarrassed about bursitis – it’s quite common, and fortunately relatively easy to treat with topical medications.

Table of Contents

Relieve unpleasant symptoms and apply medication

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Wash the skin underneath the foreskin with warm water daily. Many cases of balanitis are caused by the tip of the penis not being properly washed regularly. If you have balanitis, you need to get into the habit of washing your penis in the shower every day or at least 4-5 times a week. Pull down the foreskin and rinse with warm water. Avoid soap, as soap can irritate the tip of the penis. ^{[2] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

The tip of the penis is also the medical term you may have heard doctors or medical professionals refer to. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
If you feel the need to use fresh soap, choose a mild, unscented soap.
Keeping the tip of the penis clean is an effective way to prevent bacteria from accumulating under the foreskin and to prevent most cases of balanitis.
If you suspect you have contact dermatitis, avoid using soap to prevent further irritation.

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Soak in a salt water bath to relieve itching and pain. The head of the penis with foreskin is usually red, itchy, and often swollen. If you experience burning or pain, try a salt water bath to soothe the itch. Fill the tub with warm water (don’t use hot water) and add 2 cups (400g) of salt to the water. Stir the water with your hands to dissolve the salt and soak in the bath for at least 15-20 minutes. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

You can soak as many times as needed to reduce discomfort. However, you need to know that no matter how many times you soak, this therapy will not really cure balanitis.
You can also wash the affected area with salt water if you don’t want to soak in the tub.

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Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream to soothe itching. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of cream onto your fingertips. Pull the foreskin down and apply the cream to the tip of the penis until the red, itchy areas are covered. Apply the cream twice daily or as directed by your doctor. Hydrocortisone cream will soothe damaged skin, reduce itching and swelling in 1-2 weeks. Continue applying 1% hydrocortisone cream for another 7 days after symptoms have disappeared. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Your doctor will probably recommend hydrocortisone cream if they suspect you have a mild allergic reaction to the penis.
You can buy 1% hydrocortisone cream over-the-counter in pharmacies.

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Use antifungal cream or antibiotic cream if the penis is infected. If your doctor diagnoses your balanitis as a fungal or bacterial infection, you will be prescribed an antifungal cream such as clotrimazpe 1% or miconazpe 2%. Apply the cream by pulling down the foreskin and squeezing a pea-sized amount of cream onto the tip of the penis. Use 2-3 fingers to rub the cream and pull the foreskin back. Apply cream twice daily for 7 days or until symptoms disappear. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Over-the-counter antifungal and antibiotic creams are available at drugstores.
If you have a severe infection or don’t respond to over-the-counter medications, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications for you.

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Try a prescription steroid cream to reduce inflammation. In cases of balanitis caused by allergies or irritation from physical triggers, your doctor may prescribe a topical steroid cream to reduce inflammation. Unless otherwise directed by your doctor, you should apply a thin layer of steroid cream to the tip of your penis once a day for 2–3 weeks or until your symptoms are completely gone. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Your doctor may also prescribe a steroid cream in combination with an antibiotic or antifungal cream.
Do not use steroid creams if you have an infection of the tip of the penis – whether it is symptomatic or for other reasons. Steroid creams can make the infection worse.

Avoid irritants

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Try using a latex-free condom if you are sexually active. Balanitis can be a result of allergies, and many people have a latex allergy without knowing it. If you normally use latex condoms during sex, try switching to a non-latex condom for at least 1 month. If the disease clears up after this time, you can be sure that your balanitis is caused by a latex allergy. ^{[8] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

Visit the pharmacy to browse the condoms and choose one that is latex-free.
If you’re not sure if you have a latex allergy, you can ask your doctor. Your doctor can help you with allergy testing in the clinic.

Tip : If you have sex or masturbate without using a condom, wash your penis with warm water after each sexual activity. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Wash hands thoroughly after handling chemicals. Maybe you’re working in a lab, in an industry, or in a factory that deals with chemicals every day. Before going to the bathroom or touching your genitals, wash your hands with soap and water. Rub soap for 10-20 seconds and rinse thoroughly. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Wash the penis with soap and water if you are concerned that the penis will also be contaminated with chemicals.

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Change laundry soap or stop using scented paper to dry clothes. Fragrant laundry soaps can cause a variety of rashes and skin problems, including balanitis. If the illness doesn’t go away after you’ve switched to a fragrance-free laundry soap, stop using scented paper to dry your clothes. ^{[11] X Research Source}

If you still prefer to use scented laundry detergent and dryer sheets, try washing and drying your underwear separately. So you can use fragrance-free soap and skip the scented paper when washing your underwear.

Go to the doctor

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See your doctor if your balanitis doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medications. You should also see your doctor if you have recurring balanitis within a few months. Describe your symptoms to your doctor. Your doctor will have to examine the tip of your penis to assess for color and inflammation. If an immediate diagnosis is not possible, they may take a sample of the tip of the penis for testing. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Your doctor may also examine the skin above and around the penis to make sure you don’t have dermatitis, a more serious skin disease that often occurs on the genitals.
In some cases, you will be referred to a dermatologist. Technically, balanitis is a skin disease, so a dermatologist will have more experience in diagnosing and treating it.

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Get a diagnostic test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from your doctor if you are sexually active. Most cases of balanitis are not caused by STIs, but some cases lead to balanitis. In these cases, your doctor can cure balanitis by treating the underlying STI. If you’re sexually active, see your doctor for a diagnostic test for an STI. STIs most likely to cause balanitis include: ^{[13] X Research Source}

Chlamydia disease
Genital herpes
Gonorrhea

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Tell your doctor if you have diabetes and are experiencing balanitis. If you have diabetes and have balanitis, this could be a sign that your blood sugar levels are not stable. ^{[14] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source} Ask your doctor to measure your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is too low, your doctor will probably adjust the daily dose of insulin you’re taking.

Although changing the dose of insulin may cure balanitis, your doctor may also prescribe topical medication to help reduce itching and inflammation.

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Talk to your doctor about circumcision if you have recurring balanitis. In cases where the inflammation of the foreskin seems severe and difficult to cure, or if the penis is often infected, circumcision may be the most practical option. This measure can effectively prevent balanitis. Your doctor may recommend gentler treatment by making a small incision on the top of the foreskin to allow air to flow between the tip of the penis and the foreskin. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Your doctor will talk to you about possible complications after circumcision. If you are an adult, it will take 7-10 days for you to recover before you can walk normally.
Although it may seem annoying, if it can help you prevent recurring balanitis, it is well worth it!

Advice

Balanitis is quite common in uncircumcised men. In fact, one out of every 30 uncircumcised men will experience a case of balanitis at least once in their lifetime. ^{[16] X Research Source}
Balanitis is very common in children under 4 years of age. If you have young children, check their penis every 1-2 months to make sure there are no signs of balanitis. If so, take your child to the pediatrician. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Warning

Do not use medical products without consulting your doctor. Your doctor can tell you which topical medications are most effective for treating balanitis. Taking the wrong medication can make the infection worse.

Steps

Relieve unpleasant symptoms and apply medication

Avoid irritants

Go to the doctor

Advice

Warning

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