Infectious processes and swelling
Often infection with various infections leads to negative changes on the skin of the penis.
Naturally, we are talking about those diseases that have the ability to be transmitted from person to person through sexual contact.
Among them:
- chlamydia is a common pathology caused by chlamydia
- herpes is a viral disease that leads not only to redness, but also to ulceration of the skin, followed by a rather long healing period
- indurative edema in syphilis is a variant of the body’s reaction to the penetration of Treponema pallidum into it
- candidiasis of the head and foreskin is an infectious disease of fungal origin, infection of which does not necessarily occur after sexual contact, since candida is an opportunistic microorganism that does not always provoke the development of the disease
It is important to understand that infectious processes in most cases are accompanied by additional symptoms.
If the patient can ignore them, it is with great difficulty.
When changes occur in the area of the glans penis, in most cases it is STIs that are diagnosed.
Since patients go to the doctor with them much more often.
Causes
There are several factors that can provoke the inflammatory process. In most cases, the causes of the disease are:
- wearing tight synthetic underwear, which can injure the delicate skin in the groin area;
- allergic dermatitis, which develops when choosing inappropriate intimate cosmetics, lubricants, condoms;
- failure to comply with intimate hygiene rules;
- complications of diabetes and other endocrine diseases;
- obesity, which provokes a decrease in the body's defenses;
- alcohol abuse and frequent smoking;
- frequent stress, overwork, nervous tension.
Often inflammation occurs not as an independent disease, but as a complication of balanitis. The risk of developing an inflammatory process also increases if the frenulum of the foreskin is too small. During intimacy, tears or microcracks appear on it, in which pathogenic microorganisms can begin to multiply.
Other causes of penis swelling
Often patients are interested in the question of why the head swells after circumcision.
In this case, swelling is a normal temporary reaction of the body.
The body thus reacts to external invasion, responding to surgical intervention with an inflammatory process.
As doctors note, postoperative swelling subsides in patients quite quickly (on average, no more than 4 days are required).
If swelling not only lasts too long, but also severe pain or other changes in well-being appear after surgery, there is a high probability of infection.
In this case, you should see a doctor!
Another reason why the skin around the head may be affected is diabetes.
The fact is that with this endocrine pathology, the composition of urine changes.
It begins to negatively affect the skin around it due to the high glucose content.
It is also worth remembering that altered urine becomes an excellent breeding ground for the proliferation of various pathogenic microorganisms.
This only increases negative symptoms.
Main reasons
The causative agents of the inflammatory process in the tissues of the penis can be:
- pathogenic bacteria and fungi - you can catch the infection through unprotected sexual contact or using other people's hygiene items;
- own opportunistic microflora - always present in the groin, can be activated with decreased immunity, decompensated diabetes mellitus, deficiency of vitamins and minerals.
The risk of developing inflammation increases:
- if the rules of intimate hygiene are not observed, the smegma that accumulates under the foreskin is a favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microflora;
- the presence of wounds or microcracks on the skin of the penis or scrotum - they reduce local immunity, through which pathogens can easily penetrate deep into the tissues;
- stress, bad habits, poor diet - all these factors weaken the immune defense.
Allergy is also a common cause of redness of the tissues of the penis. It can be caused by latex contraceptives, household chemicals, and intimate cosmetics.
Swelling and possible additional symptoms
Often changes in the skin of the penis are not the only symptom that worries patients, forcing them to seek help from a doctor.
There is nothing surprising in this, because most diseases have additional symptoms.
True, as doctors note, the differences in symptoms and signs are so small that it is not possible to make a diagnosis based on complaints alone.
However, it is worth considering additional complaints that the patient may present at the appointment.
Among them:
- complaints of itching and burning sensations, which reduce the quality of life by an order of magnitude, sometimes even disrupting the night’s sleep of patients
- the appearance of problems with the process of urination (there may be complaints of soreness, sluggishness of the stream, the urge to go to the toilet without ultimately performing the action, etc.)
- the appearance of general symptoms of intoxication, such as fever, weakness, drowsiness, decreased performance, etc.
- the appearance of rashes on the skin, which may differ in shape, size, color and other parameters for different pathologies
- the appearance of discharge that is atypical in a normal state, which can be serous or purulent in nature (sometimes there are even streaks of blood, which is considered an alarming sign)
Naturally, all symptoms must be taken into account.
However, unfortunately, it is impossible to make a diagnosis based on them.
Which doctor should I go to for help with a swollen head?
Representatives of the stronger sex, when faced with a problem for the first time, tend to hide the presence of pathological symptoms and try to self-medicate.
It is a bad idea.
It is best to seek help from a competent doctor who can provide professional assistance.
However, not all patients know which doctor to contact if suspicious symptoms appear.
In fact, there are not as many options as you might think.
Representatives of the stronger sex should first of all visit a urologist.
It is urologists who deal with problems with urination and diseases of the male genitourinary system in general.
True, unlike a gynecologist, a urologist can also provide assistance to a woman if she needs it.
In addition to the urologist, it is worth visiting a venereologist.
The doctor deals with the diagnosis and treatment of infections that can be sexually transmitted.
A venereologist often combines his work with dermatology, which means he can also provide assistance with skin diseases.
In some cases, if an allergic reaction is suspected, the patient is recommended to visit an allergist-immunologist.
Consultation with this physician will also be needed when choosing treatment for infectious pathologies.
Since many patients require selection of drugs to correct their immune status.
Ways to diagnose swelling around the head
Men often ask questions about what tests to take if changes appear in the skin of the glans penis.
There is a whole range of studies that are designed to help the doctor determine the diagnosis and select the optimal therapy.
First of all, it is recommended to exclude sexually transmitted pathologies.
To do this, in most cases, the first step is to take a smear from the urethra.
The resulting material is examined in various ways to exclude the presence of various pathogenic agents in the body.
Also, if there are no signs of damage to the urethra, PCR can be performed from the surface of the skin.
In this case, preference is given to collecting material from those places where pathological changes are most visible.
Blood tests may also be done to diagnose infections and allergic reactions.
Different doctors use different methods to evaluate this biological material depending on the suspected pathology.
The choice of the optimal method is made based on the symptoms present in a particular patient, as well as his medical history.
Treatment
Treatment of inflammation of the frenulum of the foreskin is prescribed taking into account its causes. In most cases, surgery is not required; conservative treatment is sufficient. Therapy includes:
- antibiotics,
- anti-inflammatory drugs,
- immunomodulators,
- antimycotics.
If the cause of the disease is a short frenulum, surgery is indicated. Sometimes circumcision of the foreskin is performed at the same time. Frenumplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that usually does not require hospitalization.
Frenumplasty and laser circumcision in Moscow are performed by qualified specialists from our clinic. Make an appointment by phone.
Medicines that can help treat swelling
Often representatives of the stronger sex wonder what to anoint changes on the skin in order to quickly get rid of them.
No competent doctor will recommend ointments and creams without establishing the reason why negative changes have developed.
Once the cause has been determined, the following medications may be recommended:
- antibiotics – drugs intended to combat pathogenic microorganisms (both broad-spectrum and narrowly targeted ones are used, depending on the specific pathogen)
- antimycotics (for example, Fluconazole) - drugs designed to fight fungal infections, such as candidiasis
- antiviral drugs (Acyclovir) designed to cope with diseases caused by viruses (most often herpes)
- anti-inflammatory medications that help relieve negative symptoms and alleviate the overall severity of the disease
- antihistamine ointments and creams that eliminate the effect of the allergen, as well as relieve itching and burning, etc.
Ointments for treating the penis can only be selected by the attending physician!
It is not recommended to choose medications on your own, so as not to aggravate the situation.
Short frenulum of the foreskin
It is possible to identify a short frenulum of the foreskin only starting from adolescence, so young men in puberty need to consult a urologist or andrologist. Diagnosing a short frenulum of the foreskin is not difficult and is based on an analysis of the patient’s complaints and data from an objective examination of the penis. Timely diagnosis of a short frenulum of the foreskin allows one to prevent complications of this pathology.
The only possible treatment option for a short frenulum of the foreskin is surgical, aimed at increasing the length of the frenulum. For this purpose, plastic surgery of the short frenulum of the foreskin (frenulotomy) is performed, and sometimes removal of the frenulum (frenulectomy) is performed using conventional surgery, as well as with a laser or radio wave scalpel. Contraindications to surgery are inflammatory diseases of the external genitalia, including STDs. Frenulotomy is a minimally invasive procedure performed on an outpatient basis, usually under local anesthesia. In the absence of previous ruptures of the short frenulum of the foreskin, a standard transverse-longitudinal frenulotomy is advisable, which consists of a transverse dissection of the frenulum and subsequent suturing of the wound edges in the longitudinal direction.
It is important to carry out the operation in advance, avoiding spontaneous rupture of the frenulum. If it ruptures, it is necessary to stop the bleeding, treat the wound with an antiseptic, apply a sterile bandage and immediately consult a doctor. In order to eliminate the rupture of the short frenulum of the foreskin, it is sutured, antibacterial ointments and local baths with herbal decoctions and antiseptics are prescribed. In the presence of previous ruptures and cicatricial deformation of the short frenulum of the foreskin, a Z-shaped frenulotomy is performed, which allows, due to the zigzag shape of the postoperative scar, to avoid its excessive tension during sexual intercourse. When a short frenulum is combined with phimosis, partial or complete circumcision of the foreskin (circumcision) is also performed.
After frenulotomy, the length of the frenulum increases by 1–1.5 cm, its elasticity and sensitivity are preserved. Complete healing of the wound occurs within 2 weeks. During the postoperative period, the patient is able to work, but must abstain from sexual intercourse.
Prognosis of a short frenulum of the foreskin
In the absence of correction of the short frenulum of the foreskin during sexual intercourse, there is a high risk of permanent ruptures of the frenulum with scar deformation and aggravation of the clinical manifestations of the pathology. Timely treatment of a short frenulum of the foreskin allows you to avoid its trauma in the future and restore the patient’s normal sex life.
Other treatments for swelling around the glans
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to cope with the disease using only local therapy methods.
In this case, other treatment methods come to the rescue.
If a patient has a severe infection, be it fungal, viral or bacterial, they may be prescribed oral medications.
As with ointments, the optimal medicine and its dose are selected individually depending on the doctor’s recommendations.
If treatment with systemic medications does not work or is delayed, surgery may be required.
Without it, for example, it is rarely possible to manage with phimosis of the genital organ.
In this case, the doctor cuts the foreskin, freeing the head.
Then it removes excess tissue, including those affected by inflammation.
Only the attending physician can decide what to do if the skin around the head is swollen.
Self-medication in this case is strictly not recommended.
Many representatives of the stronger sex try to use traditional therapy methods, but this is also not an option.
The fact is that traditional therapy can only be used as an aid to the main treatment.
But not as the only method.
Even when using traditional methods as auxiliary ones, medical consultation is necessary.
Possible complications
The inflammatory process that begins in the tissues of the external genital organs, without treatment, can affect the prostate and other parts of the genitourinary system. Dangerous complications of chronic inflammation also include decreased elasticity of the frenulum, accompanied by severe pain and ruptures during erection. Only surgery will help to cope with them. Our clinic’s specialists use a radio wave knife for plastic surgery of the foreskin frenulum, which makes the procedure as safe as possible. The cost of such treatment can be clarified by calling the number provided.
Swelling around the head: possible complications
It is important to remember that treatment for swollen skin around the head of the penis should not be delayed.
After all, this condition can be caused by both harmless reasons and serious, even dangerous changes in the body.
Among all complications, phimosis is the most dangerous.
It can cause disturbances in the process of outflow of urine and sperm.
Phimosis is considered an emergency condition requiring surgical correction.
In addition to phimosis, infectious processes can cause complications.
Infections can progress, affecting, for example, the prostate, bladder, and kidneys.
The consequence will be diseases such as prostatitis, cystitis, urethritis.
Naturally, infectious pathologies with complications are much more difficult to treat than an acute form of the disease without complications.
Allergies lead to various scratches and damage to the skin.
The consequence may be an infectious process with nonspecific microflora, which will also negatively affect the patient’s condition.
Diagnosis and treatment
To determine the cause of redness of the frenulum of the penis, examination of smears taken from the affected areas and tests for genital infections are prescribed. Based on the diagnostic results, the doctor selects drugs that can destroy the infectious agent, as well as local drugs that promote wound healing, reduce swelling, itching and burning. The following help speed up recovery and reduce the risk of complications:
- physiotherapy,
- vitamin complexes and products that strengthen the immune system,
- compliance with the rules of intimate hygiene.
