Can Balanitis Cure Itself?

Last updated 2/16/2023

Balanitis is an inflammation of the prepuce, the foreskin and the head of the penis. Children’s Balanitis can occur from an infection, or simply be brought on by a simple irritant like an unknown allergy.

Young boys frequently develop balanitis, and it normally goes away in two to three days. Most instances resolve on their own without needing any special care or leaving any scars. In rare cases, it will come back causing discomfort, drainage, and scarring issues.

In adult men, it’s important to locate the cause of the Balanitis so you can properly asses the situation. For example, if a sexually transmitted infection is what caused your Balanitis, it’s unlikely to go away on its own.

If poor hygiene is the culprit, well… the solution is to just stop being lazy and fix that! Take care of yourself with proper hygiene. Spend some time thoroughly reading this article so you fully understand the causes of Balanitis to properly assess your situation.

Let’s get into it.

Does Balanitis Go Away on its Own?

Balanitis can be brought on by a variety of factors, so if you suspect you may be suffering from it, you should always visit your doctor or a sexual health clinic.

Balanitis in children is often not dangerous because the symptoms will usually go away in a few days. For some young boys, it can be quite unpleasant and keep returning, so it’s crucial to visit a doctor if you think your son is impacted.

For men, in order to assess if a specific case of Balanitis will cure itself, it’s important to understand the symptoms and causes of Balanitis so you can properly decide based on your specific case.

Realistically though, it is doubtful that balanitis would go away without treatment on its own if a bacterial infection is the culprit. It could be a serious situation, or caused by something as simple as an allergic reaction to a material located in a penis pump or an allergy to latex condoms.

Micaceous Balanitis is a rare condition in men over 60 occurring on the head of the penis. It’s usually identified by the scaly warts that form on the glans, and doesn’t go away on its own.

Antibiotics, lotions, or antifungal creams may be used to treat any infection and soothe the inflammation. Your doctor might even suggest a natural home remedy if the situation isn’t serious.

Related Post: Home Remedies for an Itchy Penis

Let’s thoroughly review the causes and risk factors of Balanitis so you can assess when to see a doctor to treat balanitis.

Symptoms of Balanitis

Balanitis symptoms may be quite unpleasant and noticeable, making them pretty simple to identify. Most boys will express discomfort with the child’s penis. It might be itchy, have a red, irritated foreskin and head of the penis, and cause problems urinating.

Balanitis can also cause foreskin pain and make the foreskin to look tight, and a previously retractile foreskin may no longer be so.

Balanitis symptoms include:

• Difficulty or pain while urinating
• Redness
• White spots
• Penis Swelling
• Pubic Skin Irritation
• Inflammation of the head of the penis
• Soreness
• Itchiness
• Accumulation of thick fluid
• An unpleasant odor
• Tight foreskin

You should consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms or if your kid complains of pain or discomfort. Finding the source of these symptoms is crucial since they may indicate an illness that needs to be treated.

There is a chance that an infection that is causing the symptoms of balanitis can move into the urinary tract and result in other issues. An infection-related balanitis may sometimes present with other symptoms, such as a fever.

The doctor will also be able to provide you advice on how to stop the symptoms of balanitis from recurring. Balanitis in children often doesn’t result in any major complications or the need for surgery. However, if the symptoms persist or recur frequently, surgical balanitis treatments might be suggested.

Causes of Balanitis

Nearly all men with an intact foreskin can get balanitis, albeit in a mild form. The majority of instances are quite minor. The majority of children experience what is known as chemical balanitis, which is a tiny bit of redness linked to the foreskin releasing. A 5% prevalence of boys under the age of five get true infected balanitis.

Balanitis can be associated with:

• Poor personal hygiene resulting to the accumulation of a substance called smegma under the foreskin
• Irritation caused by harsh soaps, shower gels, or other items (possible allergic reaction)
• Irritation from Urine that hasn’t been dried after peeing causes irritation
• Fungal (yeast) or bacterial infections in the head of your penis
• Skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis
• Irritation brought on by kids pulling or touching the foreskin excessively

It’s important to note that even in boys who have been circumcised can get balanitis. However, Balanitis symptoms are more prevalent in uncircumcised males with an intact foreskin, resulting in the glans becoming inflamed. The disorder is frequently referred to as balanoposthitis if both the foreskin and glans are afflicted.

Balanitis might be more likely to affect boys with diabetes. It can also happen in boys who have skin problems like eczema that may damage the genitals because it has been connected to skin conditions. Balanitis, however, may afflict any guy and is more prevalent in children under the age of five.

Children who have phimosis, which occurs when the foreskin is too tight to retract, may also get balanitis. Between the ages of 2 and 6, the foreskin often separates from the glans and becomes retractable. If the foreskin is tight at a later age or before it has fully retracted, balanitis symptoms are more likely to develop. If untreated, recurrent balanitis in childhood can further increase the likelihood that phimosis will last into adulthood.

Treatment of Balanitis

A penile physical examination is typically enough to identify balanitis. If the cause is related to a friction burn on the penis, it’s easy to treat by wearing looser closing. To rule out illnesses like infections that might produce similar symptoms, extra testing may occasionally be needed. To test for a bacterial or fungal infection that could be the source of the symptoms of balanitis, a sample of urine or any discharge may be collected with a swab.

Balanitis is typically be treated conservatively and without surgery in infants and young men. Retracting the foreskin is generally not advised since hygiene is crucial to maintaining the area’s cleanliness. The penis should be kept as dry as spotless as you can. Water that is lukewarm should be used to wash it.

Use of soap or other products like baby wipes, might irritate the sensitive skin in this region, is not essential. Before dressing, the penis should first be properly dried. After urinating, the penis should be carefully dried.

However, you shouldn’t pull back a foreskin that hasn’t yet retracted because doing so could be painful and could potentially harm it. If the foreskin has retracted, the area underneath can be cleaned and dried carefully as well.

Boys should learn how to take care of their bodies as they get older so that they may continue to practice excellent hygiene for themselves. Clean the penis daily to practice good hygiene to prevent balanitis.

Parents will be in charge of making sure the penis is taken care of appropriately throughout the early years. Balanitis symptoms can be relieved and the likelihood of the problem recurring in the future decreased by adequately cleaning the penis.

Antibiotics and topical creams have a function from time to time. To address various irritants, several balanitis therapies might be suggested. For instance, a doctor could advise medicines to treat a bacterial illness while a dermatologist might advise antifungal treatments to treat yeast infections.

Balanitis in youngsters is frequently brought on by irritation rather than an infection. In order to relieve the symptoms of balanitis, a steroid cream may then be advised.

Within a few days, balanitis symptoms should start to lessen, but if a doctor has given any medicine, it’s crucial to finish the entire course of balanitis therapy. Treatment for balanitis is typically highly successful, and with proper personal cleanliness, the likelihood of recurrence of symptoms can be reduced.

FAQ

Does Balanitis Go Away Without Treatment?

Visit your doctor or a sexual health clinic as soon as you feel you may have balanitis because there are many different things that might cause it.

Children’s balanitis is frequently not harmful because the symptoms usually subside within a few days. But if you suspect you or your kid may be affected, it’s critical to see a doctor. For some boys, it may be quite painful and keep coming back.

Understanding the signs, symptoms, and causes of balanitis can help you make an informed decision about whether or not your particular case will go away on its own.

However, if a bacterial infection is the cause, see a doctor as soon as possible. To cure any illness and reduce inflammation, apply creams, lotions, or ointments.

Can penis pumps cause Balanitis?

The use of penis pumps is unlikely to result in Balanitis. However, if you are allergic to a material within the penis pump it’s possible it can cause skin irritation and eventually cause Balanitis. The key is to properly identify your situation, did your problems start from a proper pump or a homemade DIY penis pump that you found on the internet.

Balanitis probably wasn’t caused by a legit brand pump but might stem from a sketchy tutorial you found online using household materials that shouldn’t be on your junk in the first place.

What antibiotic is used for balanitis?

Your doctor could advise taking amoxicillin tablets for seven days if a bacterial infection resulted to your balanitis. This is a form of penicillin, thus erythromycin or clarithromycin may be administered in its place if you are allergic to penicillin.

You could occasionally be prescribed an antibiotic cream like metronidazole or clindamycin.

Does Balanitis Warrant Circumcision Surgery?

Most kids who contract balanitis will experience another episode. However, keeping the penis clean and gently dry helps lessen the likelihood that the problem will recur.

Usually, it is not serious, and circumcision is only occasionally necessary. A circumcision is necessary if the situation is very problematic. information on circumcision

However, circumcision surgery cannot completely prevent the danger of infection and inflammation; it can only lessen the likelihood of balanitis recurring.

Practice excellent hygiene and instruct guys to take care of their bodies since the glans can still become inflamed or infected if it is not properly cared for.

Is balanitis itchy?

Yes, a frequent sign of balanitis is an itchy penis. Additional indications of the condition include:

• Pain when urinating,
• Tight foreskin that won’t pull back (Phimosis),
• Redness,
• Swelling,
• Soreness around the penis’ head,
• Unpleasant odor,
• Thick discharge under the skin,
• Rash,
• Ulcers.

Can Balanitis be transmitted?

If a sexually transmitted illness or thrush is the source of the balanitis, it may be contagious. If so, you should often wait to have sex until the infection has been treated.

It is impossible to spread balanitis that isn’t brought on by an infection.

Find out from your doctor if the source of your balanitis can be spread.

Can you Masturbate with Balanitis?

Rubbing your penis vigorously will aggravate the condition and make your symptoms worse if you have balanitis. It would be preferable to wait until your skin has had a chance to recover before masturbating.

Can balanitis cause cancer?

Certain kinds of penile cancer may be more likely to occur in people who have ineffective balanitis on a regular basis (often in those with phimosis). This is due to the fact that frequent infections might impair your immune system.

Rarely, balanitis might be mistaken for an early stage of skin cancer that produces inflammation at the penile end.

Can balanitis be transmitted orally?

If chlamydia or gonorrhea (two sexually transmitted infections) caused your balanitis, you run the risk of spreading the illness if you engage in oral sex before finishing your treatment.