Burning area on foreskin

Men's health
1

Lately I've had an area on my foreskin that burns. I've looked at the area where the burning is and don't really see anything unusual. From what I can tell it is on the inner foreskin.

I think I might know what caused it. A few weeks ago I started pulling my foreskin back and examining it a lot because I had learned more about circumcision and though I'm circumcised I was left with a lot of foreskin. Enough that when I'm flaccid most of my glans is covered. I was pulling it back multiple times a day and examining it for about a week or so. I had never done this before. In fact I rarely ever touch that area at all. So I think I might've irritated the skin. However this was over 2 weeks ago and the burning is still there.

The burning only seems to happen if the area comes into contact with my urine or if I get aroused at all. I don't even have to get an erection. It's like as soon as any blood starts flowing down there it burns. It's not a constant burning but comes and goes. The burning isn't severe but it is very uncomfortable. I have taken a break from masturbating for the past 10 days but I can't really tell if it's getting better. Also rarely I will experience an itching sensation in that area for a moment or two.

Does this seem like something serious? I've never had any problems like this before and I am a bit worried since it has lasted so long.

2

Hi, what you may have is some form of Balanitis - check-out the link to detailed information on the various Balanitis conditions elsewhere on this web site at the bottom of my reply ..

Really, the only way to be sure of what you have going on is to see a Urologist.  If you can get to a Specialist Sexual Health Service, such as a GUM Clinic, you can often ask to speak to one who is on duty at the time.

In the mean time what I would suggest is that you follow the Penile Hygiene regime I detail immediately below >>>>

* What I do know is the when you have ANY condition affecting the penis you need to implement squeaky clean hygiene practices to rule out the real possibility that it is simply an irritant creating the condition you have!  Here is some of the stuff I previously posted on penile hygiene:

>>>>>> The skin on the penis is more sensitive than any other part of the body, particularly the head of the penis.  During sex or self-pleasuring there is a whole lot of friction going on for this area of skin - if you use condoms, there is often a whole load of chemicals on the inside that certainly don't help if your skin is reacting to irritation!

Try this for a while (2 / 3 weeks) - prevent as far as possible, soap, or shower gel, hair shampoo etc., or skin cream / lotion or any form of lube (oil based particularly) from getting on your penis.  Always wash with water ONLY (never hot water) after urinating (in public toilets go in a cubicle and use toilet paper to ensure the head and surrounding area is 100% dry) when showering – if possible, make sure the skin of the penis is drawn forward to cover the head to protect the area from soap / shower gel, etc. getting on it.  At the end of the shower - make sure the entire penis is 100% dry afterwards.

  YOU can also combine this with giving your penis an 'exercise holiday' - no masturbation or sexual activity, you may need to do this for as long as 5 or 6 weeks.>>>>>  {Your penis could simply) be reacting to an irritant, usually some form of chemical - from anything from a specific soap, washing powder you use on your clothes, (and so on) or something related to your sexual practices: lube, lotions, gels, condoms etc. - or if you have a sexual partner, it could be a chemical substance they are using regularly, quite innocently, I must add!  

Here is the link to check-out the Balanitis details ....

https://patient.info/health/penis-problems/balanitis

3

Thanks for your reply. Unless Balanitis can only affect the foreskin I'm not sure if that's it. My glans is fine. But seeing skin irritation as a cause makes me think it could be. I'm a virgin and have never engaged in any kind of sexual activity with another person.

The only thing out of the ordinary that I've done lately is pull my foreskin back and touch it excessively.

Also I have another question not related to my problem. As I mentioned I'm circumcised but still have quite a bit of foreskin. When flaccid my glans is 90% covered. There is an opening just a bit smaller than a dime. When I pull my foreskin back after a while the glans feels moist but not moist enough to get my fingers wet. It feels every so slightly sticky. The closest thing I think of to compare it touching the inside of your lip though again not enough moisture to wet your finger. Is this normal? Is my foreskin working correctly? It's always been like this.

4

Your Glans may appear okay but eventually may show signs of the Balanitis.   Sexual activity has nothing to do with the forms of Balanitis I am familiar with  - I think it says this in the leaflet link I provided.  You say "circumcised" and having a foreskin too.  So obviously you were not 'done' correctly - as the idea id the glans should be exposed all the time.

You therefore will experience only some of the presumed benefits of circumcision, but quite literally, most of the impact of having a fair proportion of your foreskin will also be present.  Essentially, you cannot talk about what is "normal" as you are a bit of both here.

By the way, if you want to restore the entire protection a fully intact foreskin would provide, as you have such a high proportion of it remaining, you can set-about that process.  Search for Foreskin Restoration if this is of interest.

Depending on your age, you could get a professional opinion - and as I say, the best person to give this would be a Urologist.  On the other hand, you can simply have a lot of fun finding out how to get the best pleasurable sensation during self-pleasuring / masturbation.

So give you penis as long a rest as you can, then, limit masturbation once you re-start, try twice a week only.  If things are going good in terms of the burning add another and so on each week to the frequency you want to achieve.  If the burning returns back-off for 2 or 3 weeks.

And Yes, the wet touch is likely to be as normal as you are ever going to be .....

5

Well after 12 days of not masturbating I gave in and did it anyway even though the burning was still there. The burning has been going on now for nearly a month.

My glans is still completely fine. It's only one specific spot on my foreskin. It hasn't spread and the burning doesn't seem to have gotten any worse. Another thing I forgot to mention is that around the time it started I was masturbating quite a lot more than I normally do so maybe it's just some kind of friction burn. I guess I'll just try to avoid masturbating for a long time and see if it gets better and if not then I'll have to go see a specialist.

My circumcision status is uncommon I think because I was cut a birth. Usually infant circumcisions don't leave anywhere near this much skin as far as I'm aware. But I'm glad that my circumcision turned out like this. I've looked into foreskin restoration but honestly I'm happy and attached to the way I am now and I don't think I'd want it any other way.

Thanks for being so informative and helpful.

6

Glad to have helped ....