Balanitis is a rare condition that occurs in men’s penis. It is characterized by inflammation of the penis glans or the penis head. This condition may happen to both men who are already circumcised or uncircumcised. Men or boys with this disease often experience itchiness, redness and blotchiness in the penis head.

As oppose to the belief of many, balanitis is not acquired from sexual intercourse. It occurs when there is tightness in the foreskin which is generally present in young boys. The tight foreskin makes it very difficult to pullback during circumcision. This is condition is called phimosis.

Phimosis is the condition when the foreskin of the penis head could not be retracted. Accordingly, the foreskin in the penis head originally was hard to pull back and retract. This is common to all infant boys. However, the general condition should be, as the infant grows up, the foreskin should become more flexible. This was the reason why in the past, circumcision is done at a certain age when the penis has already developed and so as the foreskin making it easy for doctors to take back the foreskin which is the general method of circumcision.

According to an examination done in 1989, the risk for balanitis that appears in younger uncircumcised boys is only 4% making it a very rare condition. Nowadays, circumcision may already be done upon birth. This condition decreases the risk for balanitis. However, there are some cases why this condition occurs. Poor hygiene may cause this condition to develop. Infrequent bathing or having shower may increase the risk for this condition to develop. Human body is very much exposed to bacteria and micro-living organism that may only be removed through proper cleaning. If a male rarely takes a shower, the micro-living organisms grow and overgrow most especially that the environment in this area is moist and warm making it very fast and rapid for these micro-living organisms to grow and multiply.

Treatment for balanitis is rather simple, in fact simpler than how a person got it. Medications are not really prescribed. A person with this condition is just required to keep his body clean most especially the portion of the foreskin in the penis head. Use of ointment may also be necessary to quicken the treatment and drying of the blotchiness in the affected area. Keeping this area clean, dry and maintained will help the person overcome this irritating and annoying condition.