Balanitis is inflammation of the glans, which is the final part of the penis. The glans is the final portion of the spongy body, which is the smallest of the three columns of erectile tissue found in the penis (the other two are the corpora cavernosa, which are two parallel structures located on top of it) . When inflammation also affects the foreskin it is known as balanoposthitis.
Balanitis is inflammation of the glans, which can be caused by many causes, from poor hygiene to pre-malignant lesions that progress to penile cancer.
The balanitis produces in almost all cases redness of the glans and prepuce, and other lesions can appear at that level as blisters, erosions or whitish or grayish spots, depending on the cause that produces it. When there is inflammation, there is pain in the vast majority of cases, and may also cause itching and stinging. The intensity of these symptoms is variable. In addition, it is not uncommon for other alterations to appear, such as the emission of malodorous secretions.
The balanitis, inflammation of the glans, can be produced by multiple causes, the most common being the lack of intimate hygiene in uncircumcised patients and the use of soaps, perfumes or condoms that contain chemicals that irritate the glans.
Although there are many other reasons that can originate it, ranging from banal conditions to more serious premalignant lesions. The most important causes of the appearance of balanitis are:
Infections:
- Mushrooms (Candida albicans).
- Bacteria of different types (G. Vaginalis, Streptococcus group A, Staphylococcus aureus, T. vaginalis or syphilis).
- Virus: herpes virus, human papilloma virus (HPV).
Dermatological diseases:
- Lichen sclerosus.
- Circinated balanitis.
- Psoriasis.
- Pemphigus.
- Zoon’s Balanitis.
- Premalignant lesions, such as erythroplasia of Queyrat or Bowen’s disease.
Other causes of balanitis:
- Irritants (soaps, perfumes, intimate hygiene creams …).
- Lack of hygiene.
- Contact dermatitis (irritation of the glans when coming into contact with different types of products).
- Drugs (fixed drug erythema).
- Injuries.
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
With proper penile hygiene many cases of balanitis can be avoided. For this it is necessary to carry out a complete washing of the latter, which includes retraction of the foreskin to expose the glans, thus being able to clean it comfortably. This prevents the accumulation of dirt on the frenulum and the glans. Afterwards the area will be dried as it is done with the rest of the body. An excessive washing is not good, because it favors the appearance of irritation.
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