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Suggest Treatment For Tightness Of The Foreskin And Slight Bleeding On The Head Of The Penis
Question: Hi. I've been having problems with my penis. I wasn't circumsized when I was born, and I've noticed that my foreskin has gotten very dry (and sometimes cracked) in the last year. It's sometimes uncomfortable for me to pull my foreskin back, and I've also noticed small drops of blood on the head of my penis sometimes. What should I do? Is there some sort of ointment or cream that would help me with my problem?
Brief Answer:
Steroid creams are used for phimosis (tight foreskin)
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The blood can be due to different possible causes but if there is history of difficultly retracting the foreskin then trauma to the area is the most likely cause.
Difficultly retracting the foreskin in adults can be due to persisting inflammation or scarring. Unfortunately this can lead to build up under the foreskin which is called smegma, smegma itself can also irritate/inflame the penis.
Inflammation can lead to the presence of blood.
Treatment- the best treatment would be circumcision
(2) if this is not an option at this time then you can consider treatment with a mild steroid cream daily for 2 weeks. Each day, twice daily, you would pull back as far as allowed without too much discomfort, apply a steroid cream such as 2.5% Hydrocortisone or Betamethasone 0.05% or 1% to the area.
You may need prescription from your doctor for the creams.
The cream may help with the dryness as well if inflammation is also contributing to this symptom.
If there is no improvement then you may want to consider circumcision.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Dr. Michelle Gibson James
General & Family Physician
Steroid creams are used for phimosis (tight foreskin)
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The blood can be due to different possible causes but if there is history of difficultly retracting the foreskin then trauma to the area is the most likely cause.
Difficultly retracting the foreskin in adults can be due to persisting inflammation or scarring. Unfortunately this can lead to build up under the foreskin which is called smegma, smegma itself can also irritate/inflame the penis.
Inflammation can lead to the presence of blood.
Treatment- the best treatment would be circumcision
(2) if this is not an option at this time then you can consider treatment with a mild steroid cream daily for 2 weeks. Each day, twice daily, you would pull back as far as allowed without too much discomfort, apply a steroid cream such as 2.5% Hydrocortisone or Betamethasone 0.05% or 1% to the area.
You may need prescription from your doctor for the creams.
The cream may help with the dryness as well if inflammation is also contributing to this symptom.
If there is no improvement then you may want to consider circumcision.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Dr. Michelle Gibson James
General & Family Physician
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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