Balanitis What is Balanitis? Balanitis is the inflammation of the skin of the glans penis (head of penis). This inflammation can sometimes affect the surrounding foreskin as well. What would you experience when you have balanitis? You may experience the following signs and symptoms:

Pain and redness of the glans penis Pain and difficulty when retracting foreskin Pain when passing urine Itch Foul Smell Discharge Erosions and/or Ulcers (rare) Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area

What causes Balanitis? There is a wide range of causes of balanitis, from infection to skin irritation to underlying medical condition such as:

Medical / Skin Conditions Organisms & Viruses Other Causes Diabetes Eczema* Psoriasis** Reiter Disease Zoon Balanitis Penile Pre-cancer

Candidal species (a kind of yeast infection, most common associated with diabetes)

Genital Herpes Genital Warts (HPV

infection) Trichomonal Species Other bacteria

Poor personal hygiene Irritants (e.g. Lubricants,

soaps) Obesity Long term use of antibiotics Allergy reaction to latex

condoms

Eczema* Eczema is due to sensitive skin and can affect the genitalia. It is made worse by the use of strong soap and excessive washing. Individuals with latex allergy may find rashes appearing when they use latex condoms. Psoriasis** Psoriasis is a skin disease where one can get red patches with silver scales on the scalp, trunk and limbs. It can also affect the penis, causing red patches to appear. How is Balanitis treated? Treatment for balanitis is based on the cause and other underlying predisposing medical conditions.

Cause(s) Treatment(s) Yeast Infection Anti-fungal cream Herpes Anti-viral Medication HPV infection Condition appropriate treatment Skin irritation Anti-inflammatory cream

(you are advised to stop using strong soap and excessive washing) Other Skin Disorder Condition appropriate treatment

What can I expect when seeking treatment for Balanitis?

Doctor consultation & Genital examination Relevant tests e.g. Skin Scrape and/or Skin Biopsy Test to determine possible cause of

your Balanitis. How can I avoid getting Balanitis again? Prevention of balanitis is also used on the cause and other underlying predisposing medical conditions. Appropriate measures can include:

Good control of your diabetes status Avoiding unnecessary long course of antibiotic therapies Avoiding the use of strong soaps Avoiding excessive and frequent washing Circumcision (for troublesome recurrent Balanitis)