The foreskin covers and protects the sensitive, uncircumcised head of the penis. Most teens and men can pull their foreskin easily and painlessly. However, if pulling on the foreskin causes severe pain or bleeding, if there is redness or swelling behind it, call your doctor immediately. Otherwise, there are techniques to loosen the foreskin that can be used to deal with this problem. Of course, you should always keep the foreskin clean and be extra careful when handling the foreskin of children.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Treating a Tight Foreskin
Step 1. Pull the foreskin slowly and gently
In most cases, the foreskin can be moved back easily with a finger and exposed the head of the penis. However, if your foreskin is tighter than normal, slide it back more slowly and carefully to reduce pain and the chance of injury.
- If you feel pain (not just discomfort), stop trying to retract the foreskin. You can tear sensitive skin. Switch to another method of loosening the foreskin.
- A tight foreskin is known as phimosis. This condition is common in uncircumcised children, but usually goes away in adolescence. However, this condition can also be a problem in adults.
Step 2. Pull your foreskin during a shower or bath
Warm water and moist air will help soften and loosen the foreskin. Do it slowly and carefully with your fingers to guide the foreskin back to the shaft of the penis.
For teens or adults, clean the part behind the foreskin every time you shower. Pull the foreskin back, use a mild soap and plenty of water to gently clean the area, rinse thoroughly, and return the foreskin to its original position
Step 3. Pull the tight foreskin back gradually over several days or weeks
If you can't fully retract the foreskin without pain because it's too tight, try stretching it slowly. On the first day, gently pull the foreskin back until you feel some discomfort. The next day, pull the foreskin a little further back, and continue 1-2 times per day for up to several weeks.
Over time, this process will usually stretch the foreskin and make it easier and more comfortable to retract
Step 4. Try more extensive foreskin stretching exercises
If a gradual approach doesn't help much, try a more focused stretching program. If the ring at the tip of your foreskin is tight, use your fingers to gently stretch it for 20-30 seconds at a time. If other areas of the foreskin are tight enough, you can also use your hands to gently stretch them out.
- Do this exercise for 3-5 minutes, up to 3 times per day. It can take a few weeks to a year or more before the results are more obvious.
- You may also consider using a “flesh tunnel”, which is a silicone ring that is placed under the tip of the foreskin for several hours each day. This tool will help stretch the foreskin gradually.
- Stop exercising if you experience pain, redness, or bleeding. Consult a doctor for directions.
Step 5. Consult a doctor if your foreskin is very tight
If stretching exercises don't help you loosen your foreskin painlessly, or if you experience ongoing redness, swelling, or discharge, call your doctor. He will provide several treatment options for you.
- Your doctor can prescribe a topical steroid cream for you to use every day. Topical steroids can help stretch the foreskin.
- If you have an infection due to a tight foreskin, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream or antibiotics.
- In some cases, circumcision (surgical removal of the foreskin) may be the best option. For adults, this quick procedure is usually done under local anesthesia and will heal within 1-2 weeks.
Method 2 of 3: Caring for Your Child's Foreskin
Step 1. Try not to stretch the child's foreskin forcibly
At birth, and for several years afterward, most of the foreskin usually remains attached to the head of the penis. The foreskin usually detaches from the tip of the penis (so it can be retracted) by 5 years of age, but sometimes it can reach puberty. Until that time, do not force the foreskin that is still attached to the head of the penis.
Pulling the foreskin that is still attached to the penis will cause severe pain and can tear the skin, causing bleeding, sores, and possibly nerve damage
Step 2. Try not to worry about cleaning a prepubescent child's foreskin
Before puberty, usually the foreskin does not need to be pulled back to clean the part behind it, even though it has separated from the head of the penis. Regularly cleaning the outer surface of the penis with mild soap and clean water is more than sufficient under normal conditions.
- The accumulated smegma will cause odor or discomfort, and the foreskin should be off so you can pull it out and clean it.
- If smegma deposits are causing discomfort behind the foreskin that has not come off, consult a doctor for help.
Step 3. Teach your child to keep the foreskin clean when it can be retracted
If the foreskin is detached from the head of the penis and can be retracted, teach the child to clean the penis properly. Guide the child to gently pull the foreskin to reveal the head of the penis while bathing.
After pulling the foreskin, guide the child to wash the head of the penis and under the foreskin using a mild soap, and rinse thoroughly with cold water, then return the foreskin to normal
Step 4. Consult a doctor if the foreskin cannot be retracted after puberty
If your child's foreskin is still connected to the head of the penis, or can't retract because it's too tight (phimosis), make an appointment with a doctor. He or she may recommend stretching exercises for the foreskin, prescribe topical steroids, or simply tell you to wait for further monitoring of the condition.
In rare cases, circumcision is recommended as the best way to treat severe phimosis
Method 3 of 3: Treating Other Foreskin Problems
Step 1. Get medical help if the foreskin is stuck in a retracted position
If you pull the foreskin to reveal the glans of the penis, but can't return it to its original position, you have a condition called paraphimosis. Since a trapped foreskin will cut off blood flow to the tip of the penis, you should call your doctor or go to the hospital as soon as possible.
Sometimes this problem can be solved by taking a warm bath to soften and expand the foreskin, but don't push too hard when returning the foreskin to its original position. You could tear the skin or cause other damage
Step 2. Clean the penis regularly to prevent smegma deposits
Smegma is nothing more than a deposit of dead skin under the foreskin. However, if not cleaned regularly, smegma can produce a mucus-like texture and unpleasant odor, and harbor bacteria that can cause infection.
- Teens and adults should clean the underside of the foreskin every time they shower with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.
- Young children usually do not need to worry about smegma deposits, unless there is inflammation or discharge. If so, see a doctor immediately.
Step 3. Use a topical medication to treat redness and inflammation
If you have redness and/or inflammation behind the foreskin, the tip of the penis, or both, you may have a yeast infection. Apply a commercial antifungal ointment to the area (according to the product guide) to see if the problem resolves within a few weeks.
