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What is
Balanitis?
Balanitis, often called "smegma," is an inflammation of the glans penis. It's a common condition,
affecting about a third to half of all men at some point during their lives.
The condition almost always develops after someone has undergone surgery for circumcision or genital
trauma and infection in that part of the body. The warm, moist environment of your anus allows the
balanitis-causing bacteria or fungi to thrive, causing intense itching and burning while urinating
or having sex. This condition often occurs due to friction or chafing of the skin due to poor
hygiene and tight clothing.
Balanitis generally results in a red lump on the skin near a man's penis or scrotum. This can be
embarrassing for men, and they might avoid going to the online doctor for balanitis. However, it’s
important to know that the condition is easily treatable with medication provided by your virtual
doctor for balanitis after your symptoms have been diagnosed.
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Symptoms Of Balanitis
The most common symptom of balanitis is an itchy, burning feeling due to abscess formation at the
base of the penis. The affected area can become inflamed, and repeated friction against your
penis can cause pain during urination or sexual intercourse. Pain during urination is often
accompanied by blood in the urine and cloudy urine (hematuria).
Other symptoms may include a red and swollen penis, yellow-white discharge from your penis,
fever, lethargy, red and inflamed spots on your foreskin, tenderness, shooting pain when
touching the affected area, and prolonged erections that feel painful. Thus, keeping your penis
clean and dry when you're not having sex is important. In addition, you should ensure proper
penis hygiene to prevent balanitis from developing.
If you have balanitis, your online doctor for balanitis will probably test your urine to check
for bacteria that may be causing the inflammation. If these tests are negative, your doctor may
prescribe an antibiotic to treat your condition.
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What Causes Balanitis?
The causes of balanitis are many and varied, but in general, they fall into two main categories:
1. Infection of the gland: This includes bacterial and fungal infections, as
well as other types of infection (e.g., viral).
2. Inflammation of the gland: This is caused by an overgrowth or irritation of
the skin’s surface layers (the epidermis), which can be caused by many factors such as friction,
heat, moisture, and trauma.
Here are some common causes of balanitis:
HPV infection
The most common cause of balanitis is human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. If you are circumcised, you can get HPV from your partner's genital area during sex. Some types of HPV may cause no symptoms at all, while others like HPV strains 16 and 18, cause genital warts and sometimes even cancer.
Folliculitis
This condition occurs when bacteria gets into your hair follicles, causing an infection that leads to redness and inflammation around the base of your shaft or the head of your penis (glans).
Local inflammation
This occurs when a small amount of bacteria in the skin's folds becomes trapped and dies off due to friction or other things that irritate the skin. The result is an inflamed area where bacteria dwell, causing irritation and pain.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
STDs are viruses that can cause sores if they get into your body during sex (or any contact with another person's body fluids). If you have an STD and don't let a virtual doctor treat it with medicine or prevent it from passing onto another partner, it can cause balanitis.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
IBD is inflammation of the digestive system that may cause symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation, or bloating after eating food (which can make your penis look bigger). Balanitis is one symptom of IBD, which may be caused by a virus or bacteria that live in your intestines.
Oral Sex
Oral sex is a major risk factor for developing chronic balanitis, especially when a person has had oral sex with many partners or if there are any cuts or abrasions in the area where your mouth comes into contact with your partner's genitals. Oral sex is also a risk factor for developing bacterial infections like syphilis and gonorrhea. The bacteria that cause these infections can survive on a man's penis for up to two weeks after he has had intercourse with someone else.
Risks and Complications Associated
With The Condition
There are several potential health risks associated with balanitis. These include:
- Inability to achieve or maintain an erection The most common complication associated with balanitis is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection. This may be related to the pain associated with balanitis. If you are unable to achieve or maintain an erection, you must speak with a virtual doctor for balanitis to find a medication that can help you deal with the pain associated with the condition.
- Infection in the penis (penile discharge) Balanitis can lead to infection. This is most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. The infection can spread from the penis to the rest of the body, which is known as cellulitis. Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that causes redness, warmth, and tenderness in the affected area. It can be very painful and require antibiotic treatment to prevent further complications.
- Rupture of the foreskin A rupture of the foreskin is a situation when the skin on the glans penis becomes detached from its underlying structures. The skin may appear to be torn, but it does not need to be surgically repaired for effective treatment to begin. The patient's physician will discuss proper care for his condition before any treatment begins to ensure the patient understands what needs to be done and how long it will take to see results from each step of treatment.
- Scarring Another significant risk is the possibility of developing scarring, which may make the condition difficult to treat or cause it to recur. Scarring can occur if the infection spreads beyond the head of the penis, where it originated. In this case, it would be called penile fibrosis. This is not a common problem but can occur in up to 20% of cases.
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Treatment For Balanitis
Treatment for balanitis depends on the cause of your symptoms and whether they are mild or severe. In some cases, you may need medical treatment from an online doctor for balanitis who can recommend antibiotics or other medications to treat any underlying infection. If you have mild symptoms and no signs of an underlying bacterial or fungal infection, the western medicine listed below may help you manage your balanitis without too much fuss.
1. A steroid cream or ointment
A mild steroid cream or ointment is usually effective at reducing inflammation and itching in balanitis. You can apply this directly to the affected area, or you can put it on your underwear to protect against skin-to-skin contact with other people.
2. Antifungal cream
The most effective treatment for balanitis is an antifungal cream or ointment. These products contain the active ingredient miconazole nitrate, which is a powerful antifungal that can be used to treat the infection. The medication comes in the form of a cream and ointment, and you apply it directly to the inflamed area. You should apply this medication to your penis once daily for three days. Some men may find that using this product more frequently than once daily helps them feel better faster.
3. Antibiotics
If you're experiencing a severe case of balanitis, or if the condition is accompanied by other symptoms such as pain or swelling, your online doctor for balanitis will most likely prescribe an oral antibiotic. You must take this medication exactly as directed by your virtual doctor for balanitis to avoid any unwanted side effects. Antibiotics can help relieve the symptoms of a mild case of balanitis. To completely heal your infection, it's recommended that you keep taking the medication for at least three weeks after symptoms have gone away. If you still have a lot of redness or pain around your penis, you may want to see our doctor at TelMDCareright away.
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FAQS
Balanitis occurs in one out of three uncircumcised males and about two percent of circumcised males. Balanitis may occur at any age, but it most often affects children between the ages of six and twelve.
If you have had sexual relations with someone who has genital herpes, get in touch with our online doctor for genital herpes to get treated for the condition right away. If you need to be tested for the condition, we can provide the lab order to you.
The less common symptoms of balanitis include discharge and odor from your penis. The discharge can be yellowish-green or clear and sticky. The odor can be mildewy or fishy-smelling. In addition to these signs, you may also notice an increase in the size and appearance of your testicles due to swelling in this area as well.
The cause of balanitis may be related to poor hygiene practices or sexual abuse. Some cases are associated with a specific bacteria that causes inflammation under the foreskin (balanoposthitis).
Balanitis can range from mild irritation to potentially life-threatening infection. If left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to the penis shaft and surrounding tissue, which may require surgical repair.
If you have any symptoms such as redness, swelling, or itching around the head of your penis, see our online doctor right away for balanitis treatment online because these symptoms may indicate that you have an infection and need treatment immediately!