If you feel pain (not just discomfort), stop trying to pull back your foreskin. You could cause a painful tear in the sensitive skin. Move on to trying methods to loosen the foreskin. A tight foreskin is known as phimosis. It’s common for a child’s uncircumcised penis to have this condition, but it typically goes away during adolescence. It can be an issue for adults as well, though. You can stretch your foreskin up to twice a day. [3] X Expert Source Scott Tobis, MDBoard Certified Urologist Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.
As a teen or adult, you should clean beneath your foreskin every time you bathe anyway. Pull the foreskin back, use a mild soap and lots of water to gently clean the area, rinse thoroughly, and guide the foreskin back into position.
Over time, this process will typically stretch out the foreskin and make it easier and more comfortable to pull back.
Do the exercises for 3-5 minutes, up to 3 times per day. It could take several weeks to a year or more to get noticeable results. You might also consider using a “flesh tunnel,” which is a silicone ring you place under the top ring of your foreskin for a few hours at a time each day. The device will help to incrementally stretch the foreskin. Stop the exercises if you experience pain, redness, or bleeding. Talk to your doctor for guidance.
They may prescribe a topical steroid cream for you to apply daily. Topical steroids help to stretch the foreskin. If you have an infection because of a tight foreskin, you might be prescribed an antifungal cream or antibiotics. In some cases, circumcision—the surgical removal of the foreskin—might be recommended as the best option. For adults, this is typically a quick procedure done under local anesthesia, with a healing time of 1 to 2 weeks.
Forcibly pulling back an attached foreskin will cause a great deal of pain and can lead to skin tears, bleeding, scarring, and possibly nerve damage.
If smegma buildup is causing odor or discomfort, and the foreskin has detached so that it can be pulled back, go ahead and start cleaning beneath it. If smegma buildup is creating discomfort under a foreskin that hasn’t yet detached, talk to a doctor for guidance.
After they pull back the foreskin, instruct them to gently wash the penis head and underside of the foreskin with a mild soap, rinse the area thoroughly with clean water, and slide the foreskin back into place.
In rare cases, circumcision may be recommended as the best course of action for severe phimosis.
Taking a warm shower may help soften and expand the foreskin enough to solve the problem, but don’t be too forceful in trying to slide the foreskin back in place. You could cause the skin to tear or other damage.
Teens and adults should clean beneath their foreskins every time they bathe or shower, using a mild soap and plenty of rinsing water. Younger children generally don’t have to worry about smegma buildup, unless there is inflammation or discharge. In this case, see a doctor.
If OTC antifungals don’t help, or if the area becomes more painful, inflamed, or swollen, contact your doctor. Applying hydrocortisone cream can help you stretch your foreskin. Ask your doctor about a 1 month topical steroid treatment. [17] X Expert Source Scott Tobis, MDBoard Certified Urologist Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.
