Phymosis is the inability to retract the skin of the penis to expose the gland, which creates the feeling that there is a ring at the tip of the penis that prevents the skin from slipping normally. After birth, it is common for babies to have these types of problems, but until age 3, the skin of the penis usually relaxes spontaneously, starting to function normally.
There are several forms of treatment, which must be evaluated and guided by the pediatrician, depending on the degree of phymosis. Thus, for more benign cases, only small exercises or ointments can be used, while for the more severe ones, surgery may be necessary, for example.
Treatment of phymosis is based on the severity of symptoms, which may include:
To treat infant phymosis, an ointment with corticosteroids, such as Postec and Betnovate, can be applied, which works by softening the foreskin tissue and thinning the skin, facilitating the movement and cleansing of the penis.
This ointment is usually applied twice a day for about 6 weeks to months, according to the pediatrician’s advice. Learn how to correctly put the ointment for fimosis.
Exercises on the foreskin should always be indicated by the pediatrician and consist of trying to move the skin of the penis slowly, stretching and narrowing the foreskin without forcing or causing pain. These exercises should be performed for approximately 1 minute, 4 times a day, over a period of at least 1 month for improvements.
Fimosis surgery, also called circumcision or postectomy, involves removing excess skin to help cleanse the penis and reduce the risk of infection.
The surgery is performed by a pediatric urologist, lasts approximately 1 hour, includes the use of general anesthesia and in children, is recommended between 7 and 10 years. Hospitalization lasts about 2 days, but the child may return to the normal routine 3 or 4 days after surgery, taking care to avoid sports or games that affect the area for about 2 to 3 weeks.
The installation of the plastic ring is done by quick surgery, which lasts between 10 and 30 minutes and does not require anesthesia. The ring is inserted around the acorn and under the foreskin, but without squeezing the tip of the penis. Over time, the ring will cut the skin and release its movement, falling after about 10 days.
During the period of ring use, it is normal for the penis to red and swell, but this does not prevent urination. In addition, this treatment does not require bandages, using only an anesthetic ointment and lubricant to facilitate recovery.
Signs and symptoms of fimosis in children may be noticed in the first few years of life, during which excess skin is observed at the end of the baby’s penis. As your child develops, other signs and symptoms may appear, such as:
It is important to remember that fimosis does not interfere with the normal growth and development of the penis, but should be treated to avoid complications, such as serious infections at the site, due to difficulty washing the area.
When phymosis occurs at birth, it is not possible to prevent it, but throughout life, it is very important to perform good hygiene of the penis every day with water and mild soap, cleaning the whole area under the skin so that they do not accumulate dirt and secretions, they become an infection. In order not to aggravate the problem, it is also important to increase the frequency of cleaning the premises and go to the doctor to start treatment.
When left untreated, fimosis can lead to complications such as frequent urinary tract infections, penis infections, increased risk of contagion from sexually transmitted diseases, pain and bleeding during intimate contact, and increased risk of penile cancer.