Balanitis: Home Treatment, Causes, Symptoms, Picture & Prevention

Balanitis is common male problem which cause inflammation of glans( head of your penis). Generally balanitis mostly occurs in uncircumcised men. Now a days in America it is not considered important to circumcise male organ. It is uncomfortable and may cause pain sometimes. Male baby under the age of 4 and uncircumcised men have high chances of suffering from this unusual health condition. It is not limited to this age group, any men can suffer from balanitis. Studies says that 1 in every 25 male suffer from infection in their glans. Fortunately there are effective home remedies for balanitis which can help treat its symptoms.

In kids under the age of 4, there foreskin is too tight which can lead to this problem. Once they enter in the 5th year, foreskin loosen up and glans get enough blood supply.
Balanitis in women is not unusual as the inflammation of clitoris is considered the same. However, that is another topic which needs to be addressed in other article.

Diabetic people are at higher risk of developing balanitis. So control your sugar levels to avoid this embarrassing health condition.

What are the symptoms of balanitis

There are various signs you may notice when you suffer from this disease. Here is the possible list of side-effects and symptoms men may go through.

• Inflammation of the foreskin.
• Tightened foreskin.
• Tightness of skin around glans.
• Swelling of glans.
• Itching and redness.
• Mild to sever pain.
• Constant irritation.
• Pain during sex.
• Lump discharge under foreskin.
• Soreness all the time.
• Sudden shock of pain.
• Unpleasant smell.
• Pain while urinating.
• Swollen glands near penis.
• Uncertain pain in testicles.
• Sore glans.

What causes balanitis

You can get balanitis due to many reasons. In infants and baby under 4 year, suffer from this disease due to too tight foreskin on glans. For adult here are some of the common causes.

• Sexually transmitted infection (STIs): Common infectious elements like herpes simplex virus, syphilis and chlamydia.
• Lichen planus: One kind of skin disease causing small, pink or purple spots on skin.
• Bacteria: Due to poor personal hygiene bacteria can multiple rapidly in wet and humid area like under foreskin.
• Candida albicans: Candida is the fungus that causes yeast infection and can lead to balanitis. It causes swelling of glans and acute pain.
• Irritants: Some irritants can cause balanitis in penis. Some common irritants are chemical in condom, lubricants or adult toys. Few more household irritants are soap, detergent, perfume and metal rich water.
• Women with vagina thrush: Participating in sexual behavior with infected women can trigger balanitis in men.

Home Remedies for Balanitis

1. Ice Cubes

This is genital infection which causes irritation and soreness of glans. Ice cube is an excellent home remedy for balanitis. Coldness can help you get relief from symptoms like redness, itching and irritation.
Ice cubes stimulate the blood vessels which help reduce inflammation. When you will put ice on your penis head(glans) you will experience instant relief from itching. It also provide relief from pain caused by inflammation of skin tissues.
How to treat balanitis with ice cubes:

• Rinse your genital area with lukewarm water.
• After 10 minutes put few ice cubes on inflamed penis head.
• Keep it until you can stand it or until ice melt down.
• Use this home cure 3 times a day to get fast relief.

2. Coconut Oil for Balanitis

Thanks to coconut antibacterial properties, it can help you get rid of genital infection. Coconut oil is widely used for cooking and keeping skin nourished. People regularly uses coconut oil as natural cosmetic to protect their skin from bacteria and rashes.
A study published in 2008 found that coconut oil is beneficial for improving skin condition when affected by dermatitis(1). It help treat staphylococcus aureus (SA) infection effectively. Coconut oil can help cure candida balanitis as it depicts similar symptoms of Atopic dermatitis.
Coconut oil is potent antibacterial and hold skin nourishing abilities. It help regenerate damaged skin cells. Topical uses of this essential oil on red and inflamed penis head can help reduce symptoms like pain. irritation, burning sensation, and pain while urinating.
How to use:

• You will need 100% organic coconut oil.
• Rinse the affected area with lukewarm water.
• Apply several drops on red glans and cover it with foreskin(if you have uncircumcised penis).
• Keep the oil for 30 minutes.
• Rinse again with lukewarm water.
• Use this home remedy 3 times in 1 day until infection is gone.

3. Oregano Essential Oil

Oregano is a powerful herbal medicine which comes with amazing health benefits. It has potent antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties(2). Thanks to its medicinal properties oregano oil is an effective balanitis home treatment.
The only part which is unlikable about this remedy it that oregano sting. People having sensitive skin can dilute this essential oil with some other carrier oil. Coconut oil is an excellent carrier oil which can protect and execute this remedy effectively.
Many herbal antifungal cream for balanitis contains oregano essence for added benefits. It eliminates bacteria and candida which increase healing speed.
How to use:

• You will need 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 1 teaspoon of oregano oil.
• Mix these essential oils and keep them in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Pull down your foreskin and apply the oil on penis head(glans).
• Keep it on for 30 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water.
• Repeat this home remedy 3 times in 1 day for several weeks.

4. Tea Tree Oil for Balanitis

If your glans are red and painful then probabbly you spent night with an infected partner. Yeast infection and candida is the most common cause of men suffering from infected penis head.
Tea tree oil is natural antibacterial which help eliminated bacteria causing balanitis(3). It is also helpful in treating candida and other sexually transmitted infections such as herpes simplex virus.

Tea tree oil is one of the best natural antimicrobial agent(4). It erode the top layer of a bacteria and kill them effectively. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties, tea tree oil can help you get rid of balanitis symptoms quickly. It help calm down itching and irritation and remove dead mucus formed inside foreskin.
How to use:

• First of all take one hot water shower and clean the area of foreskin.
• Take one cup of lukewarm water.
• Mix 3-5 drops of tea tree oil.
• Wash your genital area with this solution.
• Use this remedy 3 times in 1 day until your condition improves.

5. Sitz Bath for Balanitis

A sitz bath is a warm shallow water bath which cleans the perineum and genital area. Many people often take sitz bath regularly to get rid of pain and itching in genital area(5). Adding Epsom salt will enhance the effect of sitz bath in treating balanitis naturally.
Epsom salt is a naturally occurring compound of magnesium and sulfate. Both magnesium and sulfate are easily absorbed by the skin which makes it an excellent home remedy for candida balanitis. Many people often refer this condition as male yeast infection.

How to use:

• Fill a bath tub with warm water.
• Pour 2 ounce of Epsom salt in 2 different socks each.
• Throw them in the warm water bath tub.
• Soak your lower body in the bath tub.
• Stay inside for 20 minutes then take hot water shower.
• It will help you get rid of inflammation caused by bacterial and fungal infection.
• Use this home remedy 3-4 times in a week.

6. Calendula for Balanitis

Calendula is an excellent skin moisturizer which reduce skin irritation. It is highly beneficial for reducing swelling and pain caused by balanitis. People also uses calendula for dry and chapped skin. Topical use of its oil can help you reduce irritation and constant itching caused by bacterial infection.
There is a simple difference between calendula and american marigold. It is cultivated in Europe and often called as pot marigold which comes with health benefits(6,7). It’s commonly used in herbal medicines for fungal infection.
How to cure balanitis fast with calendula:

• Take one tablespoon of coconut oil.
• Mix 2 teaspoon of calendula oil.
• Apply it gently on inflamed penis head(glans).
• Keep it on for 20-30 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water.
• Remove white mucus like cells from under the foreskin.
• Use this remedy 2 times a day.

7. Garlic

Roasted garlic has an irresistible aroma which enhance our good mood. Garlic has been in the family of Ayurvedic medicines for various health conditions(8). It is potent antiviral which make it amazing balanitis home treatment.
People eat garlic to treat indigestion and improve immune system. Eating garlic can also reduce diabetes levels which is one of the causes of balanitis in men.
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, garlic can reduce inflammation and eliminate bacteria from glans. Garlic will reduce irritation and itching under your penis foreskin and provide long lasting comfort.
How to treat balanitis with garlic:

• For overall good health, include garlic in your diet.
• Take one cup of boiling water.
• Add 1 whole garlic clove and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
• Remove the garlic from water and use this lukewarm water to rinse your foreskin.
• Make a thick paste/cream of boiled garlic clove.
• Apply this cream on balanitis.
• Keep it on for several minutes.
• Use this remedy before going to bed.

8. Aloe Vera for Balanitis

Aloe vera has soothing effect on irritated skin. It help recover from skin burns and injuries. Aloe vera help treat itching caused by candida and other sexually transmitted bacterial infection.
During old times aloe vera was only considered as wild plant. All the perception towards this shrub changed when researches claimed it to be highly beneficial for our skin(9). Thanks to its antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera can cure glans inflammation and itching on skin around foreskin.
Topical use of aloe vera on infected skin soothes rashes and skin irritations. It has been used from centuries to treat acne, eczema, fungal infection and other forms of dermatitis.
How to cure balanitis with aloe vera:

• Pluck 1 matured aloe vera leaf.
• Cut it open and take out all the gel.
• Keep the gel in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Apply it directly on infected penis head.
• Keep it on for 15-20 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water.
• Use this home cure 2 times in 1 day.

9. Cayenne Pepper

Note: Don’t use cayenne pepper topically on glans. It will make irritation worse and causes acute pain.
Cayenne pepper contains an active compound called capsaicin. This compound is the reason why cayenne is bitter and hot. Cayenne pepper is very beneficial for health. It improve health immune system and support proper functioning of white blood cells.
Strong immune increase the healing speed by curing balanitis from inside. Cayenne pepper also improve blood circulation and transport good amount of white blood cells. These cells are our defense system which fight against bacteria and treat painful balanitis in men.
How to use:

• Use cayenne pepper powder in salads.
• Include this pepper in preparation of your meal.
• You can include few pinches of cayenne pepper in lemon juice.

Bacterial Balanitis in Men

Balanitis Treatment Over The Counter

If your penis disorder has been caused by fungus then you will be advised to apply antifungal cream.
Clotrimazole: It is an cream which is applied topically on skin infection. Clotrimazole is sold under various names but famous two are Lotrimin and Mycelex. They help reduce swelling and irritation caused by fungus.
Antibiotic Cream: If you have been infected by bacteria then it is advised to apply antibiotic cream on balanitis. Eating natural antibiotic food can help increase the healing speed.
Circumcision: The last step you can take to prevent recurrent balanitis. It help diagnose infection in a better way. Consider this as last way to get rid of balanitis.
Also read: How to get rid of ingrown hairs

Is Balanitis Contagious

There are claims that it is contagious but the very meaning of contagious nature contradict the situation. First of all it does not spread from one male to another which make this genital infection non contagious.
However, balanitis is caused by Sexually Transimitted Infections (STIs) such as herpes simplex virus and Chlamydia. Such form of spreading make it contagious.
So eventually the question of its contagiousness depends on the possible ways of interaction. Participating in sexual intercourse with an yeast infected women can increase the chances of you getting balanitis.

Is Balanitis an STD

The possibility of defining balanitis in STD or not STD depends upon the factor of its causes.
If your infection is caused by bacteria due to poor personal hygiene then it is not an STD. However, bacterial infection is not the one possible way you get this penis disorder.
Candida balanitis is often used term for the infection which is caused by candida virus(fungus). Mostly this is the same virus which causes yeast infection in women. Hence you can get infected while having intercourse with an infected women. Sometimes people often call this as male yeast infection.

How Long Does Balanitis Last

Balanitis symptoms often evolve over 3 to 7 days. Once these symptoms such as irritation, itching, red dots on penis head, pain and swelling reach the peak then it start coming down with proper care.
If the infection is caused by bacteria then it might take 2-3 weeks until your symptoms of balanitis go away. It will be only possible if you are treating it properly and may use natural remedies to speed up the healing process.
When infection is caused by fungus(candida) then it might take up-to 6-8 weeks. Fungal infection around genitals remain for long time. Due to moist and humid nature of genital area it becomes hard to treat balanitis in 1 week.

How to Prevent Balanitis from Recurring

There are certain lifestyle changes which can help you prevent this infection from recurring.

• Use protection while having sex.
• Avoid consumption of alcohol.
• Wear cotton undergarments.
• Start taking antibiotic pills (consult doctor first).
• Use antifungal cream on affected area.
• If you have uncircumcised penis then opt for circumcision.
• Eat foods which are natural antibiotics.
• Start eating probiotics.
• Drink lemon juice to boost immune.
• Finally, clean your genital area everyday in shower

Now you know best remedies for treating balanitis at home. Use multiple home remedies for speedy recovery. Consult your doctor if you are suffering from acute pain. If you sweat a lot then wear breathable clothes.

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