Penis care (uncircumcised)
Key points
- An uncircumcised penis is one with its foreskin intact.
- An infant boy with an uncircumcised penis requires no special care.
- It is NOT recommended to retract (pull back) the foreskin for cleaning during infancy and childhood as this may injure the foreskin and cause scarring that could make retraction painful and difficult later in life.
- Teenage boys should be taught to gently retract the foreskin during bathing and clean the penis thoroughly.
Alternative names
Uncircumcised penis - bathing
Information
An uncircumcised penis is one with its foreskin intact. An infant boy with an uncircumcised penis requires no special care. Normal bathing is enough to keep it clean. It is NOT recommended to retract (pull back) the foreskin for cleaning during infancy and childhood as this may injure the foreskin and cause scarring that could make retraction painful and difficult later in life.
Teenage boys should be taught to gently retract the foreskin during bathing and clean the penis thoroughly. After cleaning the penis, dry the area completely. Then, it is very important to pull the foreskin back over the head of the penis. Otherwise, the foreskin would slightly constrict the head of the penis, causing swelling and pain. This would require medical treatment.
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
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