What to do if there is dirt in the foreskin

Dirt in the foreskin can be treated through daily cleaning, topical medications, anti-infective treatment, circumcision, and regular review. Smegma is usually caused by excessive foreskin, poor local hygiene, bacterial infection, fungal infection, balanitis and other reasons.

1. Daily cleaning

Gently clean the inside of the foreskin and glans with warm water every day and avoid using irritating lotions. When cleaning, turn the foreskin completely, remove the white or light yellow secretions, and then wipe dry. The moist environment in the foreskin cavity can easily breed bacteria. Keeping the area dry after cleaning can help reduce the accumulation of smegma. Infants and young children need the help of their parents to complete the cleaning, and the movements must be gentle to avoid damaging the mucous membranes.

2. External use drugs

When redness, swelling and itching occur, you can use erythromycin ointment, clotrimazole cream, compound ketoconazole ointment and other topical preparations as directed by your doctor. Erythromycin ointment is suitable for increased smegma caused by bacterial infection, and clotrimazole cream is suitable for white bean-like discharge caused by Candida albicans infection. Clean the affected area before applying the medication, and avoid wearing tight clothing immediately after applying a thin layer of medication.

3. Anti-infection treatment

When accompanied by obvious inflammation, oral administration of cefaclor dry suspension, azithromycin granules, fluconazole capsules and other drugs is required. Cefaclor dry suspension is suitable for balanitis caused by Gram-positive bacteria, azithromycin granules are effective for mycoplasma infections, and fluconazole capsules are used for recurrent fungal infections. During medication, it is necessary to observe whether adverse reactions such as diarrhea and rash occur.

4. Circumcision

People with excessively long foreskin or recurrent infections may consider surgical removal of the excessively long foreskin. Both traditional circumcision and stapled circumcision can effectively solve the problem of secretion accumulation in the foreskin cavity. It is necessary to keep the wound clean and dry after surgery and avoid strenuous exercise that may cause wound dehiscence. Children's surgery needs to be performed under general anesthesia, and parents should cooperate with postoperative care instructions.

5. Regular review

People with stubborn smegma or recurrent infections need to go to the urology department for review every 1-3 months. Identify the type of pathogen through secretion culture and adjust the medication regimen. Diabetic patients who develop smegma need to monitor their blood sugar levels at the same time. During the review, the doctor will evaluate the degree of foreskin adhesion and inflammation control to determine whether further intervention is needed.

You should choose breathable cotton underwear for daily use to avoid sitting in a humid environment for a long time. Reduce the intake of spicy and irritating foods in the diet, and appropriately supplement vitamin B to enhance the resistance of the skin and mucous membranes. Teenagers and adults need to avoid foreskin damage caused by excessive masturbation. When changing diapers of infants and young children, parents should pay attention to observe whether there are any abnormal secretions from the foreskin opening. If smegma is accompanied by symptoms such as painful urination, bloody discharge, or fever, you should seek medical attention immediately to rule out complications such as urinary tract infection.