Balanitis: causes, symptoms and treatment of glans inflammation

By Cristiano Antonino On Dec 8, 2022

The term balanitis refers to an inflammation or infection of the glans. Sometimes the process also extends to the foreskin, giving a classic picture of balanopostitis

Most of the time, the causes of balanitis are infectious, most often mycotic in nature and sometimes bacterial

Let’s not forget, however, irritative forms of balanitis, often due to contact with synthetic fibres, or in response to excessively acidic vaginal PH during unprotected intercourse.

The presence of an excessive foreskin, sometimes with a phimotic attitude, or a short frenulum, which prevent normal hygiene, can be predisposing causes of balanitis.

There are also particular forms such as balanopostitis in diabetics or forms of autoimmune dermatitis such as lichen sclerosus.

How it manifests: symptoms of balanitis

Balanitis usually manifests as redness of the glans, sometimes spreading to the foreskin, itching and serous discharge resulting in difficulty with penetrative activity during sexual intercourse.

Care and treatment of balanitis

The main prevention of balanitis is obvious: it would be first and foremost to have protected intercourse in order to avoid contamination during sexual activity, whether of a fungal or bacterial nature.

It would be advisable for patients with an excess foreskin or phimosis to undergo minor circumcision surgery.

In fungal forms, local antifungal therapy is usually recommended for about 10 days, often combined with the use of neutral or alkaline soaps, in addition to classic washes with water and bicarbonate of soda.

For bacterial forms of balanitis, classic antibiotic therapy is recommended.

Andrology once recommended, excluding viral and bacterial forms and therefore including only irritative forms, the use of salt and water washes twice a day and the application of 2 – 3 drops of almond oil, again twice a day, with the aim of modifying the PH and making the big man’s skin more trophic, thus reducing redness.

Diseases Of The Male Reproductive System: Varicocele

Varicocele: What Is It And What Are The Symptoms?

Male Pathologies: What Is Varicocele And How To Treat It

Pelvic Varicocele: What It Is And How To Recognise The Symptoms

What Is Varicocele And How Is It Treated?

Varicocele: Symptoms And Treatment

What Is Syphilis

Anal Warts (Condyloma): How To Recognise And Eliminate Them