All males are born with a foreskin; however, some, if not most, baby boys undergo surgical circumcision to remove the foreskin. But if you have checked below and your foreskin remains intact, here are a few reminders to keep your foreskin life happy and healthy.
Getting To Know Your Foreskin
The foreskin is nothing but a fold of skin that people consider as a structural, integral, and functional unit comprising specialized parts. The foreskin covers the glans or head of the penis, and it represents at least a third of the penile skin. The foreskin increases sexual pleasure by sliding up and down on the shaft. The foreskin also protects the glans from abrasion and contact with clothes. In instances when you are masturbating or engaging in sexual intercourse, the foreskin will increase pleasure by sliding up and down on the shaft. At the same time, the foreskin stimulates the glans by alternately covering and exposing it. Also, with the foreskin, friction is reduced. Thus, the need for extra lubrication is not needed.
Keeping Your Foreskin Healthy
Having a foreskin only requires primary care. When taking a bath, make sure to clean underneath your foreskin. Retract it gently and rinse it with warm water when in the shower. Generally, medical professionals do not advise using soap because harsh chemicals may result in the skin tissue becoming dry, which could then lead to irritation or infection. Moreover, your foreskin tends to produce and build up “smegma, ” a mixture of body oils and dead skin cells that may look like white, pearl-like lumps, which makes cleaning essential.
Because the foreskin is composed of tissues that are more fragile than other parts of the penis, make sure that you handle it with extra care. Never forcibly retract your foreskin. When masturbating, you should consider using lubricants to ensure that you would not be tugging on your foreskin. Afterward, rinse off the oil to avoid having it trapped underneath your foreskin.
What To Watch Out For
The foreskin is not excused from contracting medical conditions. Because infections are somewhat common, they can frequently be confused with sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Firstly, Posthitis and Balanoposthitis. The former is an infection that causes redness, swelling, and discharge, while the latter is accompanied by inflammation and irritation. Both tend to recur and can lead to severe complications. So, if you notice redness, irritation, or a change in discharge, wash your foreskin and see your doctor immediately.
Another foreskin-specific medical condition is Phimosis, which occurs when the foreskin is especially tight. Due to this tightness, you cannot clean your foreskin, which means that you are more likely to get infections. Urine can even get trapped in there. Getting erections can also be painful, and can even cause tearing and bleeding on the foreskin. To resolve this issue, your doctor may provide you with a steroid cream to loosen the skin.
Additionally, your doctor may also recommend a manual stretching routine, which also gradually loosens up the skin over time. In most extreme cases, adult circumcision may be the only solution. However, this is rare.
Lastly, we have Paraphimosis, which occurs when the foreskin gets stuck in a retracted position, essentially choking the penis and cutting off circulation. Emergency intervention may be required when this happens.
Keep these reminders in mind when taking care of your foreskin, and you are guaranteed a healthy and happy foreskin life.
