Help I Have A Friction Burn on My Penis! – Urologists Advice

Last updated 3/1/2023

Not every male experiences erectile dysfunction or other problems with sex performance. Many males believe that everything is “doing wonderfully.”

We’ve all been there: one night, you and your lover may be feeling really sassy, and you two may have an epic session in the bedroom.

You begin to experience some burning as soon as your hormone levels normalize. Oh my! You look at your manhood and notice skin irritation and a penis friction burn. It hurts to have a burn on the penis.

There are many ‘friction burn on penis’ pages on Google, but let’s be real, when your best homie is hurting, you need a Urologist.

At NORMUK, we’re the cream of the crop, so to speak. We’re ready to assist you in giving your penis the attention it deserves. In order to help you heal more quickly and go back to having fun in the bedroom, allow our own Urologist walk through the details of a penis friction burn.

What causes Friction Burn on the Penis?

The force that two things use to rub against one another is known as friction. In this instance, your penis is rubbing against, well I guess only you know what it’s rubbing against.

If you remember from physics class, you can figure out how much friction there is between two objects as depicted below.

Let’s summarize this for those who dislike physics: When something is not slippery and you apply more force, friction increases. In other words, if you don’t use enough lubrication during sexual activity or a ‘Johnson’ session, your penis will get burned by friction.

On the other hand, applying extra lubricant and being a little more careful with your manhood will help prevent penile burns from friction caused by vigorous rubbing.

What lubricant works best for sexual activity? Saliva and other “natural” lubricants can quickly deteriorate and change depending on the partner and the sexual activity. Vaginal dryness can be caused by medications and medical issues.

The preferred “lube” for the majority of couples appears to be water-based lubricants. They seldom cause private irritation, are condom-safe, and guard against friction burns. Some couples might favor lubricants made of oil because they last longer. However, it is acceptable to use some lube to safeguard your company.

What are symptoms of Penis Friction Burns?

If you engaged in strong sexual activity with little to no lubrication and any of the following symptoms, you should be concerned about a friction burn of the penis:

• Skin Irritation
• Redness
• Penis Pain
• Blisters
• Swelling

A motorbike or bike collision could result in road rash. It feels like intense rubbing heat burn, knee scrape meets sunburn. Nearly immediately after the sexual interaction, you might anticipate symptoms like skin irritation, although they could get worse during the next 24 hours. The symptoms will also go away with time, as we’ll see in the therapy section.

What Medical Conditions can be Confused with Penis Friction Burn?

Numerous medical disorders might cause a red, painful burn on your penis. Even something as small as wearing very tight fitting clothing can give your penis heat burn amongst other symptoms.

Let’s examine the appearance of the sensitive skin and observe the variations of the disorders so you can prevent friction burn in the future.

Phimosis

This is the medical jargon for having a tight foreskin. Although the majority of men who maintain good hygiene have no issues with their “turtleneck,” problems retracting this excess skin increase with advancing age. Bacteria and dead skin cells are trapped behind the foreskin, causing persistent irritation. The foreskin becomes thicker and narrower as a result of inflammation.

At the end of the foreskin, a man with phimosis will exhibit fissures and skin deterioration. As you would guess, this might make having sex uncomfortable. It might also cause an infection.

Phimosis has a gradual onset and is more chronic in nature than a friction burn of the penis.

Circumcision is the only effective treatment for balanitis. As an alternative, the inflamed foreskin can be loosened and softened with a topical steroid ointment that is applied twice daily. In the end, this makes hygiene and the retraction of the “turtleneck” easier.

Balanitis

This is an infection of the foreskin and penis head. Uncircumcised males with diabetes, obesity, or poor hygiene are most likely to experience it. Infections of the junk are more frequent when the foreskin is tight, along with sensitive skin resulting in the burn on your penis.

Typical symptoms of balanitis include redness, itching, discomfort, and swelling. Balanitis symptoms are typically more localized beneath the foreskin, making them easier to distinguish from friction burns. The presentation will also be postponed or have no bearing on sexual behavior. We recently wrote a guide about whether balanitis can cure itself or not, check it out if you suspect are noticing the symptoms.

You’ll need some prescription medicine to get rid of it since yeast or bacterial infections are the most common causes of infections. Balanitis can develop on its own or even as a result of penis-related friction burns. Seek medical attention for a diagnosis if the pain and redness are getting worse or lasting longer.

Latex allergy

A serious issue to consider is whether you have allergic reactions or a latex allergy. Approximately 4.3% to 9.7% of the population has a latex allergy. The prevalence is highest among healthcare workers who consistently wear gloves.

Since latex is a common ingredient in condoms, an allergic reaction to the penis and lady parts is possible. Penis Itching is typically what distinguishes an allergy from other conditions. Rarely would someone experience systemic symptoms like wheezing or breathing problems.

How can a latex allergy be treated? Topical steroids like hydrocortisone, antihistamines, or oral steroids can be deployed  if the itching and redness persist.

The best medicine is avoidance. Future incidents can be avoided by using condoms made of polyurethane or lambskin, which is less efficient in preventing sexually transmitted infections. Alternately, try a different method of birth control with only one partner.

How long does it take for friction burn to heal?

The intensity and pain of the friction burn on the penis determines how long the symptoms last. Minor friction burns usually heal in 48 to 72 hours.

Herpes (HSV)

This virus may cause havoc on your trash and is a nasty little thing. It is a sexually transmitted infection, and it manifests as tiny, uncomfortable blisters on the penis. In contrast to a friction burn, which affects a continuous region of skin, the skin in between the blisters will look normal.

Antiviral drugs like valacyclovir or acyclovir are used to treat HSV. These drugs can shorten the duration of the disease and prevent friction burns and HSV recurrences. Sadly, they won’t make herpes go away.

How to Heal and Prevent Friction Burn on Penis

Patience and rest

It may seem like common sense but the best way is to reduce friction in the affected area, and give your friend some time to recover. Masturbation and other ongoing sexual activity will keep the region irritated. How much time will you require a break? You’ll be able to tell based on look and tactile sensitivity.

Additionally helpful are comfortable, wear loose fitting clothing material, breathable clothing like loose fitting underwear. Any direct pressure will not feel pleasant on the injured region. Do not try to fit into your tight jeans at this time.

The most crucial piece of advice is to exercise patience. With tender loving care, a penis friction burn will recover. If it doesn’t, there may be an infection or a more serious problem. If things don’t start to get better after 3 to 5 days, see a doctor.

Topical Ointments and Topical Steroids

The greatest moment to start adding additional lube is while the friction burn is being treated, but not when the burns on the penis still hurt as you may cause further irritation. The majority of topical ointments like petroleum jelly, triple-antibiotic ointment, aloe vera gel will aid in the skin healing process and work just fine. The lubrication, not the ointment’s individual components, is what gives it power.

At least twice a day, the area needs to be kept sufficiently dampened and moisturized. Dry friction penile burns may hurt more and take longer to heal. After applying the moisturizer, you should wrap the penis with some gauze to make it more comfortable and keep the ointment where it belongs.

Summary – Friction Burn of the Penis

Any injury in the bedroom is not enjoyable. Even while penis friction burns is less serious than a penile fracture, it is just as significant to someone experiencing the burn on your penis firsthand.

With a few days on injured reserve and some moisturizer, you’ll be back in the game in no time.

Make sure to seek medical advice if you still are seeing symptoms after 3 to 5 days, as it could be a more serious problem that we discussed previously. And next time, make sure to you to use additional lubrication to prevent friction burns and swollen skin!