How To Keep A Penis Clean
David King, The University of Queensland
Growing up, no one ever gave me the rundown on how or what I should exercise to keep my penis clean […] I've never read any reliable reply across washing it with water. Do I use lather? Any lather? How normal is smegma? If my penis gets itchy from smegma should I go see a doctor? If then, my GP or a urologist? — Anonymous
Key points
- clean under the foreskin, using soap, but not too much
- smegma is normal
- if you have any concerns, see your GP.
Information technology'due south a shame some people call back talking about cleaning and caring for our genitals is embarrassing or taboo. We probably know more nigh hair care than penis care.
The penis is simply another office of our beefcake, and so cleaning should be relatively straight forward.
If you've been circumcised, where your foreskin was removed soon later on birth, your penis volition await something like the i in the diagram (beneath, right), with the head (or glans) always exposed.
But if you have a foreskin (below left and centre), in that location are some extra things to think well-nigh when washing, which nosotros'll get to presently.
Foreskin facts
But first, some foreskin facts. From around the time you turn 5, your foreskin separates from the head of your penis, bit by bit. This allows yous to pull back your foreskin (retract information technology). In some boys, the foreskin can stay partially stuck to the caput of the penis until puberty.
You should never forcibly pull back your foreskin. That'll be painful, you could drain, you could scar, or take other complications.
OK, now for the washing part
In one case your foreskin separates hands from the glans, gently retract and clean underneath the foreskin with each bath or shower. Then, after washing, pull the foreskin frontward to its normal position.
When information technology's time to dry off, retract the foreskin again and so you can dry the head of the penis with a towel. Then, you lot guessed information technology, pull the foreskin forward to its normal position.
It'due south OK to clean with soap whether you accept a foreskin or non. Only generally, too much soap is worse than none at all. Excessive cleaning removes essential body oils that would normally keep our skin moist and reduce friction. If you take sensitive skin, y'all can apply a lather-free wash from the chemist.
What about smegma?
Smegma is a thick, whitish discharge consisting of a build-upward of dead peel cells, oil and other fluids under the foreskin. And it's very useful. It protects and lubricates the penis.
Some people have oilier pare than others and tend to have more smegma. So some smegma is normal, but if you have besides much or it becomes smelly, you may demand to make clean more.
Things to watch out for (and when to meet your GP)
If the head of your penis becomes painful, red, itchy and has a discharge, you lot may have a treatable condition called balanitis.
It's more mutual if yous take a foreskin. And the leaner and fungus that cause it similar the warm and moist conditions nether at that place.
Skin disorders, infection, poor hygiene, friction from sexual activity, and using too much lather all cause the condition.
Read more: How to brand your next sexual wellness check less, erm ... awkward
Y'all can articulate a mild example with adept hygiene and simple treatments, such every bit an antiseptic or antifungal cream. Yous can buy these from any pharmacy. In add-on to the medication, the cream itself helps protect and moisturise the inflammed skin.
If you take balanitis you may demand to be more careful than usual to avoid urine irritating your inflamed skin. Retract your foreskin when you urinate. Dry the head of the penis gently after you finish.
If your penis is still inflamed afterwards a calendar week of these simple measures it'south best to see your GP. They can then investigate other causes, such as psoriasis or an allergy.
I Need to Know is our series for teens in search of reliable, confidential advice about life's catchy questions. Here are some questions we've already answered. 
David Male monarch, Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Source: https://medicine.uq.edu.au/article/2019/12/%E2%80%98how-do-i-clean-my-penis%E2%80%99
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